Olympic Lifting / Powerlifting Safety:

*If the lifter at any time experiences pain the test will be stopped and must be rescheduled to retest.  Tester must ask the lifter before each test if there is any reason they shouldn’t perform the test and if they have any questions.  After each test, the tester will ask the lifter if they had any pain during the test. Lifter is exempt from test out if they have official records from a sanctioned competition.

​

Olympic Lifting Test Out:

Lifter must have a combined Sinclair score of 160 for males and 100 for females.

​

Clean and Jerk:

Lifter performs Clean and Jerk with proficiency according to the following guidelines set by the International Weightlifting Federation. A final judgment will be made by the tester.

 

The barbell is placed horizontally in front of the lifter’s legs. It is gripped, palms downwards, and pulled in a single movement from the platform to the shoulders, while either splitting or bending the legs. During this continuous movement, the barbell may slide along the thighs and the lap. The barbell must not touch the chest before the final position. It then rests on the clavicles or on the chest above the nipples or on the arms fully bent. The feet return to the same line, legs straight before performing the Jerk. The lifter may make this recovery in his or her own time and finish with the feet on the same line, parallel to the plane of the trunk and the barbell.

 

The athlete bends the legs and extends them as well as the arms to bring the barbell to the full stretch of the arms vertically extended. He or she returns the feet to the same line; arms and legs fully extended and waits for the Referees’ signal to replace the barbell on the platform. The Referees give the signal to lower the barbell as soon as the lifter becomes motionless in all parts of the body.

 

The Snatch:

Lifter performs Snatch with proficiency according to the following guidelines set by the International Weightlifting Federation. Final judgment will be made by the tester.

 

The barbell is placed horizontally in front of the lifter’s legs. It is gripped, palms downwards, and pulled in a single movement from the platform to the full extent of both arms above the head, while either splitting or bending the legs.

During this continuous movement, the barbell may slide along the thighs and the lap. No part of the body other than the feet may touch the platform during the execution of the lift.

The weight, which has been lifted, must be maintained in the final motionless position, arms, and legs extended, the feet on the same line, until the Referees give the signal to replace the barbell on the platform. The lifter may recover in his or her own time, either from a split or a squat position, and finish with the feet on the same line, parallel to the plane of the trunk and the barbell.

​

The Referee gives the signal to lower the barbell as soon as the lifter becomes motionless in all parts of the body.

 

Powerlifting Test Out:​

Lifter must have a combined DOTS score of 280 for males or 220 for females.

 

Squat:

Lifter performs Squat with proficiency according to the following guidelines set by the International Powerlifting Federation. A final judgment will be made by the tester.

 

The lifter shall face the front of the platform. The bar shall be held horizontally across the shoulders, hands, and fingers gripping the bar. The hands may be positioned anywhere on the bar inside and or in contact with the inner collars.

 

After removing the bar from the racks, (the lifter may be aided in removal of the bar from the racks by the spotter/loaders) the lifter must move backwards to establish the starting position.

 

When the lifter is motionless, erect (slight deviation is allowable) with knees locked the Chief Referee will give the signal to begin the lift. The signal shall consist of a downward movement of the arm and the audible command “Squat”. Before receiving the signal to “squat” the lifter may make any position adjustments within the rules, without penalty. For reasons of safety the lifter will be requested to “Replace” the bar, together with a backward movement of the arm, if after a period of five seconds he is not in the correct position to begin the lift.

 

Upon receiving the Chief Referee’s signal, the lifter must bend the knees and lower the body until the top surface of the legs at the hip joint is lower than the top of the knees. Only one decent attempt is allowed. The attempt is deemed to have commenced when the lifter's knees have unlocked.

The lifter must recover at will to an upright position with the knees locked. Double bouncing at the bottom of the squat attempt or any downward movement is not permitted.

 

When the lifter is motionless (in the apparent final position) the Chief Referee will give the signal to rack the bar. The signal to rack the bar will consist of a backward motion of the arm and the audible command “Rack”. The lifter must then return the bar to the racks. Foot movement after the rack signal will not be a cause for failure.

 

For reasons of safety, the lifter may request the aid of the spotter/loaders in returning the bar to and replacing it in the racks. The lifter must stay with the bar during this process.

 

Bench Press:

Lifter performs Bench Press with proficiency according to the following guidelines set by the International Powerlifting Federation. A final judgment will be made by the tester.

 

The bench shall be placed on the platform with the head facing the front or angled up to 45 degrees. The Chief referee shall position himself on the head side of the bench press rack. The lifter must lie on his back with head, shoulders, and buttocks in contact with the bench surface. The feet must always be in contact with the floor. Hands and fingers must grip the bar positioned in the rack stand with a thumbs-around grip. This position shall be maintained throughout the lift. Foot movement is permissible but must remain on the platform.

 

During the set-up on the bench, the hair must not hide the back of the head when lying down on the bench.

 

To achieve firm footing the lifter may use flat surfaced plates or blocks.

After correctly positioning himself, the lifter may enlist the help of the spotter/loaders to remove the bar from the racks. The lift-off if assisted by the spotter/loaders must be at arms’ length.

 

After removing the bar from the racks, with or without the help of the spotter/loaders, the lifter shall wait with straight arms and elbows locked for the Chief Referee’s signal. The signal shall be given as soon as the lifter is motionless, and the bar properly positioned.

 

For reasons of safety, the lifter will be requested to “Replace” the bar, together with a backward movement of the arm, if after a period of five seconds, he is not in the correct position to begin the lift.

 

The signal to begin the attempt shall consist of a downward movement of the arm together with the audible command “Start”.

 

After receiving the signal, the lifter must lower the bar to the chest or abdominal area whereby the underside of both elbow joints is lowered to level with or below the top surface of each respective shoulder joint (the bar shall not touch the belt), hold it motionless, after which the Chief referee will signal the audible command "Press". The lifter must then return the bar to straight arms’ length elbows locked. When held motionless in this position the audible command “Rack” shall be given together with a backward motion of the arm. If the bar is lowered to the belt or does not touch the chest or abdominal area, the Chief Referee ́s command is “Rack”.

 

Deadlift:

Lifter performs a Deadlift with proficiency according to the following guidelines set by the International Powerlifting Federation. Final judgment will be made by tester.

 

The lifter shall face the front of the platform with the bar laid horizontally in front of the lifter’s feet, gripped with an optional grip in both hands, and lifted until the lifter is standing erect. On completion of the lift the knees shall be locked in a straight position and the shoulders back.

 

The Chief Referee’s signal shall consist of a downward movement of the arm and the audible command “Down”. The signal will not be given until the bar is held motionless and the lifter is in the apparent finished position.

​

Any rising of the bar or any deliberate attempt to do so will count as an attempt. Once the attempt has begun no downward movement is allowed until the lifter reaches the erect position with the knees locked. If the bar settles as the shoulders come back (slightly downward on completion) this should not be a reason to disqualify the lift.