IPF Powerlifting Rules

The IPF have established that the lifts for a Powerlifting competition are carried out in order as follows

* Squat
* Bench Press
* Deadlift

For each lift the Powerlifter is allowed three attempts at lifting the heaviest they can. The highest weight from a valid lift is counted towards their overall score.

Once all lifts are completed the winner is the Powerlifter who achieves the highest total weight lifted over the three lifts in their bodyweight/sex/age category. The highest total weight lifted is their total score...

Example

Squat - 300lbs
Benchpress - 280lbs
Deadlift - 400lbs

Total Score 980lbs

The bodyweight categories for Powerlifting competitions for men and women are as follows

MEN

56.0 kg Class up to 56.0 kg.
60.0 kg Class (56.01 to 60.0 kg)
67.5 kg Class (60.01 to 67.5 kg)
75.0 kg Class (67.51 to 75.0 kg)
82.5 kg Class (75.01 to 82.5 kg)
90.0 kg Class (82.51 to 90.0 kg)
100.0 kg Class (90.01 to 100.0 kg)
110.0 kg Class (100.01 to 110.0 kg)
125.0 kg Class (110.01 to 125.0 kg)
125+ kg Class

WOMEN

48.0 kg Class up to 48.0 kg.
52.0 kg Class (48.01 to 52.0 kg)
56.0 kg Class (52.01 to 56.0 kg)
60.0 kg Class (56.01 to 60.0 kg)
67.5 kg Class (60.01 to 67.5 kg)
75.0 kg Class (67.51 to 75.0 kg)
82.5 kg Class (75.01 to 82.5 kg)
90.0 kg Class (82.51 to 90.0 kg)
90+ kg Class

Support Costume

Supportive costumes that have been officially approved by the IPF technical committee are allowed and must bear the emblem of the national Powerlifting association that the Powerlifter is registered with.

The support costume must be a one piece full body costume with hems no greater than 3cm in width and 0,5cm in thickness. Any protective covering of the seams may only be no greater than 2cm in width and 0.5cm in thickness.

The support costume must have leg sections no smaller than 3cm and no greater than 15cm in length.

T-Shirt

A T-shirt or support shirt can be worn as long as it is worn under the support costume for the bench press and squat. The support shirt shall be no greater than one ply in material that stretches.

Again any support shirt must be approved by the IPF technical committee.

Underwear

Men must wear briefs of normal high street shop standards, boxer shorts are strictly forbidden.

Socks

Socks may be worn as long as they are not long enough to come in contact with knee supports.

Belt

A belt may be worn on top of the clothing as long as it only has one or two prongs on the buckle, is no larger than 10cm in width or 13mm in thickness.

The Referee has three cards that can be shown so a lifter knows their lift has failed, these different coloured cards represent different reasons for failing.

Failure number 1 = Red Card
Failure number 2 = Blue Card
Failure number 3 = Yellow Card

To confuse things further the reasons for the failure with each coloured card also changes dependant on the lift.

Red Card - Failure to squat down far enough so the hips and top surface of the legs are lower than the joint of the knee.

Blue Card - Not standing upright at the start of the lift or downward movement of the bar (from its starting position on the body).

Yellow Card - Stepping forward or backward after the lift has commenced.

Red Card - Bar is not lowered till it touches the chest.

Blue Card - The bar moving down towards the chest during the press movement or the arms not fully extending to complete the bench press.

Yellow Card - If the bar becomes motionless on the chest then no heaving or jerking the bar to aid the lift.

Red Card - Not locking the knees or standing erect with shoulders back to complete the lift.

Blue Card - Once the bar is lifted from the floor no downward movement of the bar may occur until the lift is complete and no use of resting the bar on the thighs during the lift.

Yellow Card - Lowering the bar once the lift is complete until the signal from the referee has been given.

Click Here to download the full IPF Powerlifting Federations rules in PDF