Guidance

Competition Handbook

The YNEPF Competition Handbook serves as a casual reference for YNEPF competitions and is in no way officially endorsed by the IPF.

Last updated 09 November 2023

It is strongly recommended that lifters and coaches acquaint themselves with the IPF Technical Rules. Compliance with these rules is the individual responsibility of the lifter.

Order of events

The following will guide you through how a competition generally runs and what to attended to as a lifter.

• Two hours prior to lift-off, weigh-in, kit check, and rack heights will be available. Timings will be specified in the flight orders.
• Weigh-in concludes after 90 minutes, 30 minutes before lifting begins.
• Kit check and rack heights will stay open until approximately 5 minutes before lifting starts, but it's recommended to complete both right after weigh-in.
• It's advisable to begin warming up about 30 minutes before your scheduled lift-off time or when the preceding flight begins lifting.
• After all flights in a session finish squats, there will be a 10 minute break before the bench press begins, and a similar break between bench press and deadlift.
• Once all lifts are completed, the medal ceremony for the AM session will be held (if time allows).
• PM flights will follow the same procedure, with rack heights opening after the AM session's medal ceremony concludes.

Weigh in

Weigh-in is required for all International Powerlifting Federation competitions at every level and must be conducted no more than two hours before lifting commences.

• Queue outside designated room until your name is called.
• Sub-junior lifters must have a parent or adult guardian present for weigh-in.
• Age category lifters (Sub-junior, Junior and Masters) must provide ID to verify their age. (Not applicable for open competitions).
• You must display your British Powerlifting membership card or number (either physically or digitally).
• Provide your first squat, bench press, and deadlift attempts.
• Once inside the weigh-in room, you may chose to strip down to underwear and socks. An official will ask you to step on the scale for your weight to be recorded.
• If you miss weight, you can re-weigh if necessary until weigh-in concludes (30 minutes before liftimg begins).
• If you fail to make weight before weigh-in closes, you may still compete as a guest, but you cannot place.

Kit check

An official will check your clothing and equipment you intend to lift in for the competition.

• Queue near the designated kit check table, be prepared to present all the equipment you intend to use.
• Equipment classifies as t-shirt, singlet, wrist wraps, belt, knee sleeves, long socks and shoes.
• Make sure all your equipment meets the rule book standards, items not in the IPF approved kit list will be rejected.
• All kit must be clean and in good condition.
• If you're uncertain about a particular item, share a photo on the YNEPF Facebook Group for confirmation.

Rack heights

To speed up the order of lifting, we take rack heights before lifting commences.

• We'll assist you in determining rack heights between weigh-in and lifting, either on the platform or elsewhere for afternoon sessions.
• Simply set up as you usually would in the gym, and we can make height adjustments if necessary.
• If you need blocks under your feet while bench pressing, please inform the volunteer or official taking rack heights.
• Centre or side hand outs/lift offs can be requested while taking rack heights.
• Use your squatting footwear for accuracy and to avoid surprised when lifting.

Attempts

During the competition, lifters or their handlers are required to submit attempt cards for their second and third attempts.

• Each lifter will receive eleven attempt cards: three for squat, three for bench press, and five for deadlift.
• Attempts are submitted to a volunteer, seated at ‘the table’ near the platform.
• Cards must be named and signed before submission in order to be valid.
• Responsibility for submitting attempts rests with the lifter or coach.
• A lifter can change the weight of their first attempt, either higher or lower, up to three minutes before the start of the first round.
• After the opening lift, the lifter or their coach has one minute to submit the weight for their second attempt on the card.
• Second round weights on all lifts and third round squat and bench press attempts cannot be changed once submitted.
• In the third round of deadlift, two weight changes are allowed, provided the lifter has not been called to the bar already loaded with their submitted weight by the MC.