WPA POWERLIFTING RULEBOOK

I. GENERAL RULES

A. THE WPA AND AFFILIATE FEDERATIONS RECOGNIZE THE FOLLOWING LIFTS. THESE LIFTS MUST BE TAKEN IN THE SAME SEQUENCE IN ALL
COMPETITIONS CONDUCTED UNDER WPA RULES: 1) SQUAT 2) BENCH PRESS 3) DEADLIFT 4) TOTAL (ADDITION OF THE BEST OF 1,2, &3.

B.THE WPA AND AFFILIATE FEDERATIONS RECOGNIZE AS VALID ONLY THOSE LIFTS AND/OR TOTALS PERFORMED IN ACCORDANCE WITH
WPA RULES OF POWERLIFTING COMPETITION IN WHICH THE MEET DIRECTOR HAS SECURED AN OFFICIAL SANCTION AT LEAST 30 DAYS PRIOR
TO THE EVENT.

2. THE WPA AND AFFILIATE FEDERATIONS RECOGNIZE AND REGISTER NATIONAL/WORLD RECORDS WITHIN THE AGE CATEGORIES
DESCRIBED HEREUNDER:

1) SENIOR: 13 YEARS UPWARDS (NO RESTRICTIONS)
2) PRE-TEENAGE: 11-12 YEARS
3) TEENAGE: 13-15, 16-17, 18-19
4) JUNIOR 20-23
5) SUBMASTER 33-39
6) MASTER 40-44, 45-49, 50-54, 55-59, 60-64, 65-69, 70-74, 75-79, 80 AND UPWARDS

3. OFFICIALLY RECOGNIZED BODYWEIGHT CATEGORIES

A. MEN: 114.5, 123.5, 132.25, 148.75, 165.25, 181.75, 198.25, 220.25, 242.50, 275.50, 308.75, SUPERHEAVYWEIGHT
B. WOMEN: 97.0, 105.75, 114.5, 123.5, 132.25, 148.75, 165.25, 181.75, 198.25, UNLIMTED

*A LIFTER MAY APPLY FOR RECORDS ONLY IN THE WEIGHT CLASS OR HE/SHE COMPETED IN. IF A PERSON IS IN A LIGHTER CATEGORY SUCH
AS THE 132.25 CLASS HE/SHE CANNOT ATTEMPT TO SET A RECORD IN THE 148.75 CLASS. IF THE CONTEST HAS NO AGE CATEGORIES THE
LIFTER MAY STILL APPLY FOR A RECORD IF HE MEETS THE AGE CRITERIA FOR THE RECORD.

A CHAIRPERSON OR MEET DIRECTOR MAY REQUEST A SET OF WORLD RECORDS PRIOR TO HOLDING AN EVENT. RECORDS ARE NOT MAILED
OUT ON A ROUTINE BASIS BECAUSE THE RECORDS CHANGE ON A WEEKLY BASIS. A LIST OF STATE RECORDS MAY BE OBTAINED THROUGH
YOUR STATE CHAIRPERSON.

4. TEAM COMPOSITION

EACH TEAM IS ALLOWED A MAXIMUM OF 12 COMPETITORS SPREAD THROUGHOUT THE RANGE OF THE 12 WEIGHT CLASSES FOR MEN AND 10
COMPETITORS SPREAD THROUGHOUT THE SAME RANGE OF 10 BODYWEIGHT CATEGORIES FOR WOMEN. TWO ALTERNATES OR RESERVES
MAY BE SUBSTITUTED AT ANY TIME PRIOR TO THE ACTUAL WEIGH-IN FOR THEIR CATEGORY. TEAM ROSTERS MUST BE SUBMITTED PRIOR TO
THE TIME THE MEET BEGINS. THE ALTERNATES AND THEIR WEIGHT CLASSES MUST BE INDICATED AT THAT TIME.

5. POINT SCORING IN TEAM COMPETITION

POINT SCORING IS OPTIONAL AND AT THE DISCRETION OF THE MEET DIRECTOR WITH THE EXCEPTION BEING AT WORLD, CONTINENTAL,
NATIONAL, AND REGIONAL CONTESTS IN WHICH CASE THE SCORING WILL BE 12,9,8,7,6,5,4,3,2,1, FOR THE FIRST 10 PLACINGS IN ANY WEIGHT
CATEGORY.

6. TEAM AWARDS

TEAM AWARDS SHALL BE GIVEN TOTHE FIRST 3 PLACES AT WORLD, NATIONAL, CONTINENTAL, OR REGIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS. AT ALL
OTHER LEVEL COMPETITIONS TEAM PLACEMENTS SHALL BE GIVEN AT THE MEET DIRECTORS OPTION. IN THE CASE OF A TIE BETWEEN
TEAMS HAVING THE SAME NUMBER OF FIRST PLACES, THE TEAM HAVING THE MOST 2ND PLACES WILL BE CLASSIFIED FIRST AND SO ON
THROUGHOUT THE PLACINGS.

7. ROUNDS SYSTEM

ONLY THE ROUND SYSTEM SHALL BE UTILIZED. EACH LIFTER TAKES HIS FIRST ATTEMPT IN THE FIRST ROUND. THE LIFTER TAKES HIS
SECOND AND THIRD ATTEMPT IN THE RESPECTIVE ROUNDS EVEN THOUGH ANY OF THESE MAY HAVE BEEN UNSUCCESSFUL IN THE PREVIOUS
ROUNDS. IF THE LIFTER MISSES AN ATTEMPT DUE TO A MISLOADED BAR OR ERROR OF A SPOTTER PROVIDED BY THE MEET DIRECTOR, THE
LIFTER WILL BE GRANTED ANOTHER ATTEMPT AT THE SAME WEIGHT AT THE END OF THE CURRENT ROUND. THE BAR MUST BE LOADED ON A
PROGRESSIVE BASIS DURING A ROUND FROM LIGHTEST TO HEAVIEST. THE LIFTER IS NEVER ALLOWED TOTAKE A LOWER ATTEMPT ON HIS
NEXT LIFT IN THE FOLLOWING ROUND.

LIFTING ORDER IS DETERMINED BY THE WEIGHT ON THE BAR. EACH LIFTER MUST GIVE STARTING WEIGHTS FOR ALL THREE LIFTS AT THE
WEIGH-IN. THE LIFTER IS ALLOWED TO CHANGE, "BUT ONLY ONCE", THE FIRST ATTEMPT FOR EACH LIFT. IF HE IS IN THE FIRST GROUP THIS
WEIGHT MAY BE CHANGED UP TO 5 MINUTES BEFORE THE FIRST ROUND FOR THAT LIFT. IF HE IS LIFTING IN THE FOLLOWING GROUP, THE
WEIGHT MAY BE CHANGED UP UNTIL THE TIME WHEN NOT LESS THAN 5 ATTEMPTS REMAIN FOR THE PREVIOUS GROUP. AN EXCEPTION TO
THIS RULE IS THE DEADLIFT, WHERE THE LIFTER MAY CHANGE HIS ATTEMPT UP UNTIL THE POINT THAT THE LIFTERS NAME IS CALLED AS
BEING IN THE HOLE.

8. PERMITTED WEIGHT USE

COMPETITIONS AT ANY LEVEL MAY BE CONDUCTED IN EITHER POUND OR KILO SETS.

9. SPECIAL RULINGS FOR HIGH SCHOOL, NOVICE, SPECIAL OLYMPICS, AND PRISON COMPETITIONS
LIFTERS IN THESE DIVISIONS MAY WEAR SHORTS AND TEE SHIRT INSTEAD OF THE STANDARD ONE PIECE LIFTING SUIT. IN PRISON MEETS THE
LIFTER MUST WEAR A STANDARD ONE PIECE LIFTING SUIT HOWEVER, IF HE IS GOING TO APPLY FOR A NATIONAL OR WORLD RECORD.

II. EQUIPMENT AND SPECIFICATIONS

1.PLATFORM
MUST BE LARGE AND SECURE ENOUGH TO ASSURE SAFETY FOR THE LIFTER, SPOTTERS AND LOADERS. BOUNDRIES SHALL BE CLEARLY
MARKED FOR THE KNOWLEDGE OF COACHES AND OFFICIALS. THIS IS THE AREA IN WHICH THERE CAN BE NO COACHES OR SPECTATORS. NO
ONE IS ALLOWED ON THE PLATFORM EXCEPT THE LIFTER, DESIGNATED SPOTTERS/LOADERS AND REFEREE'S. OTHER OFFICIALS ARE
ALLOWED IN THE PLATFORM AREA AS DESIGNATED "AS NEED ARISEDS".

2. BAR AND DISCS: ALL BARS MUST BE OF THE OLYMPIC STYLE AND NOT THE STANDARD 1 1/8TH TYPE. SPECIFICALLY DESIGNED SQUAT AND
DEADLIFT BARS MAY BE UTILIZED BUT MUST CONFORM TO ALLOWABLE RANGE OF DIMENSIONS LISTED IN BAR SPECIFICATIONS.

THE BAR SHALL BE WELL KNURLED OR GROOVED AND CONFORM TO THE FOLLOWING:

TOTAL LENGTH SHALL NOT EXCEED 7.5 FEET WITH DISTANCE BETWEEN COLLAR FACES NOT LESS THAN 4.27 FEET OR MORE THAN 4.76FT.
DIAMETER OF BAR SHALL NOT EXCEED 30MM. OR BE LESS THAN 27.5MM.

WEIGHT OF THE BAR WITH COLLARS SHALL BE 55 LBS. THE BAR MUST HAVE DIAMETER MACHINE MARKING OR BE TAPED SO AS TO MEASURE
31.6 INCHES BETWEEN THE MACHINING OR TAPE.

DISCS MUST BE USED IN THE FOLLOWING RANGE: 1OOLB, 45, 35, 25, 10, 5, 2.5 - FOR RECORD PURPOSED LIGHTER DISCS MAY BE USED ON A 4TH
ATTEMPT TO ACHIEVE A WEIGHT OF AT LEAST 500 GRAMS MORE THAN THE EXISTING RECORD. DISCS MUST BE CLEARLY MARKED AND
LOADED IN THE SEQUENCE OF HEAVIER DISCS INNERMOST AND SMALLER DISCS IN DESCENDING WEIGHT ARRANGED SO THE REFEREE'S CAN
READ THE NUMBERS ON EACH DISC. THE FIRST AND HEAVIEST DISC ON THE BAR MUST BE LOADED FACE IN, WITH THE REST OF THE DISCS
LOADED FACE OUT AS THE WEIGHT IS LOADED.

3. COLLARS: SHALL ALWAYS BE USED AND SHALL BE TIGHTENED SNUG TO THE DISCS. THEY MUST WEIGH 5 POUNDS EXCEPT WHEN USING
THE SPECIAL SQUAT BAR, IN WHICH CASE THEY MAY BE LIGHTER.

4. SQUAT RACKS: SHALL BE ADJUSTABLE TO ACCOMMODATE THE LIFTERS. HYDRALIC RACKS MUST BE CAPABLE OF BEING SECURED AT
REQUIRED HEIGHT BY PINS. THE MONOLIFT IS ALLOWED IN WPA COMPETITION.

5. LIGHTS: A SYSTEM OF LIGHTS OR FLAGS SHALL BE PROVIDED WHEREBY REFEREE'S DECISIONS ARE MADE KNOWN. WHITE REPRESENTS A
GOOD LIFT, RED REPRESENTS A BAD LIFT.

6. BENCH: THE BENCH SHALL BE STURDY FOR MAXIIMUM STABILITY AND CONFORM TO THE DIMENSIONS SPECIFIED BELOW:

A. LENGTH NOT LESS THAN 4 FEET AND SHALL BE FLAT AND LEVEL
B. WIDTH BETWEEN 11.5 TO 12 5/8 INCHES
C. HEIGHT 16.5-17 3/4 INCHES MEASURED FROM FLOOR TO TOP OF PADDED SURFACE WITHOUT BEING COMPRESSED OR COMPACTED.
NON-ADJUSTABLE BENCHES SHALL HAVE UPRIGHTS 34-39 INCHES FROM FLOOR TO BAR REST POSITION WHILE ADJUSTABLE
BENCHES SHALL BE 32.25 TO 39 INCHES.
D. MAXIMUM WIDTH BETWEEN INSIDES OF BAR RESTS SHALL BE 3FT 7 1/8 INCHES