Rules & Regulations
Age brackets
Competitors are grouped into different age brackets to ensure fair competition. They are as follows:
Attempts
Participants have three attempts in total. The weight increments after attempts will be determined by the lifter but can be no less than 5 Lb increments.
Commands
Participants must follow specific commands given by the judges. The commands include "Up", which signals the participant to unrack the barbell (lift of may be assisted by spotters), "start," which signals the participant to begin the descent, "press" which signals the participant to begin the press upwards to a full extension of the arms, and "rack," which indicates that the lifter should return the barbell to the rack. Failure to follow commands can disqualify a lift.
Technique and Range of Motion
The bench press must be performed with the head, shoulders, and buttocks in contact with the bench throughout the lift. The feet must be flat on the floor and an even width apart. Their hands must be on or inside the notches of the bar and may not shift outwards. The barbell must touch the lifter's chest, and a brief pause must occur before the lifter presses the bar upward. During the press, there must be no downwards motion, there must be a relatively even extension of the arms, and at the apex of the press, both arms must lockout simultaneously. Failure of proper technique and range of motion can disqualify a lift.
Lifting Off
Lifters will not receive a lift-off assistance from spotters. They are responsible for unracking the barbell on their own.
Judging
Lifts are judged by a judge who determines the lift's validity based on factors such as proper setup, range of motion, control of the barbell, and adherence to commands. The decision of the judge is final.
Scoring
The heaviest successful lift is recorded as the lifter's official result. Each lifter's result is compared using a bodyweight to weight lifted ratio to determine rankings across age classes.
Qualifications
**There are no minimum qualifications. This is a beginner friendly competition. However, we do have a recommended self-minimum-qualification for those unsure if they are ready yet to compete. (Keep in mind, even if you may not meet these qualifications, you are still allowed to register. We do not want to turn anyone away from their chance at getting some fun competition experience). Below are the recommended self-minimum-qualifications:
Men
Sub-Junior: (14-17) - 0.8x body weight for a 1 rep max
Junior: (18-21) - 1x body weight for a 1 rep max
Intermediate: (22-30) - 1x body weight for a 1 rep max
Open: (31-45) - 1x body weight for a 1 rep max
Masters: (46+) - 0.8x body weight for a 1 rep max
Women
Sub-Junior: (14-17) - 0.4x body weight for a 1 rep max
Junior: (18-21) - 0.6x body weight for a 1 rep max
Intermediate: (22-30) - 0.6x body weight for a 1 rep max
Open: (31-45) - 0.6x body weight for a 1 rep max
Masters: (46+) - 0.4x body weight for a 1 rep max