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Below are links to the complete USA Powerlifting and International Powerlifting Federation Rule Books.

We have also included a summary of personal equipment and the rules pertaining to the rules of performance of the competition lifts. These will get you started and following them should allow to perfrom well in any competition however we highly recommend that you familiarize yourself with the entire rule book.


PERSONAL EQUIPMENT

There are detailed rules in the rule books regarding what can be worn on the platform. This is a BRIEF summary

1. Suit - a wrestling singlet or a single ply polyester lifting suit are legal. If you order a suit from Inzer, Titan or Crain they can tell you which ones are USAPL legal.
  •     You must wear s singlet or a lifting suit. The only exception to this is in High School only or Teen only meets, lifters can wear a t-shirt and shorts. Shorts must be snug fitting (not baggy or excessively long) to allow the judges to see the lifters knees and hips clearly.

2. Shirt - A regular cotton T-shirt, a specialized Bench Press shirt or an Erector shirt are legal  with the following stipulations:
  •   T- Shirts can be v- necked or round necked but must have sleeves. A regular short sleeve shirt is fine. 
  • A shirt is required for all lifters in the squat and bench press. Women must wear a shirt for the deadlift.
  • T- shirts can not have pockets or long sleeves.
  • T-shirts with logos are allowed as long as the logos are
    • USAPL related or
    • are powerlfitjng related or
    • they are not obscene or degrading or
    • they promote a drug free attitude or
    • they do not represent a federation other than USAPL, the IPF or it's member federations
  • Bench press shirts must be single ply polyester and can not have velcro openings. Denim or canvas shirts are not allowed.  Again, if you are ordering a shirt from Inzer, Titan or Crain they can tell you what is USAPL legal.
3. Socks and underwear
  • Socks are optional but long socks are recommended for the Deadlift to reduce bleeding from the shins. 
  • Underwear - A standard commercial “athletic supporter” or standard commercial briefs (not boxer shorts) of any mixture of cotton, nylon or polyester shall be worn under the lifting suit.
    • Swimming trunks or any garment consisting of rubberized or similar stretch material except in the waistband, shall not be worn under the lifting costume.
    • Groove Briefs, Power Briefs are not legal in USAPL.
  • Women may also wear a commercial or sports bra -however the garment must not be supportive - cup may not retain it's shape when places upright on a horizontal surface -  and may not contain wire etc. 
  • The use of tampons, sanitary napkins or related articles used for feminine hygiene protection is permitted without inspection.
  • Shoes - must be worn. Traditionally, any shoe (without spikes or cleats) that has a patterned sole as been allowed.  Rules have been modified recently:
Footgear: As of now, footgear used in World Team Qualifiers, which are held under IPF rules must consist of INDOOR ATHLETIC FOOTWEAR. Hiking boots, work boots, etc. are no longer allowed.
Note: the above applies to IPF meets and USAPL meets which are IPF qualifiers. Boots and work boots will still be allowed at local meets.


4. Belt
  • Leather weightlifting belts are allowed. A buckle or a lever are acceptable.
  • No velcro/nylon belts are allowed, nor are belts which exceed 4" in width. 
  • 13 mm is the maximum thickness allowed.
  • Belts can not have any padding or material inserted between the layers.
5. Wraps
  •  2 meter knee wraps are legal such as those made by Inzer, Titan and Crain
  • 2.5 meter knee wraps are NOT legal.
  • knee wraps may not have velcro fasteners
  • wraps can not touch the suit.
  • A knee wrap shall not extend beyond 15 cm above and 15 cm below the center of the knee joint and shall not exceed a total covering width of 30 cm. Alternatively, an elasticised knee cap supporter not exceeding 30 cm in length may be worn.  A combination of the two is strictly forbidden.

  • Wrist wraps are legal provided they do not exceed 1 meter in length (39 3/8").
    • wrist wraps may have velcro fasteners but may not have buckles or metal loops. Inzer, Titan and Crain can inform you as to which of their products are USAPL legal.
  • A wrist covering shall not extend beyond 10 cm above and 2 cm below the center of the wrist joint and shall not exceed a covering width of 12 cm.

POWERLIFTS AND RULES OF PERFORMANCE

Squat
1.     The lifter shall face the front of the platform. The bar shall be held horizontal across the shoulders, hands and fingers gripping the bar, and the top of the bar not more than the thickness of the bar below the outer edge of the shoulders. The diagram on page 14 indicates the legal position of the bar across the shoulders. The hands may be positioned anywhere on the bar inside and or in contact with the inner collars.

2.     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 with knees locked, and the bar properly positioned 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.

3.     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 descent attempt is  allowed. The attempt is deemed to have commenced when the lifters knees have unlocked. The bar may move from its starting position downwards on the lifters back the thickness / diameter of the bar during the performance of the lift.

4.     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.

5.     The signal to rack the bar will consist of a backward motion of the arm and the audible command “rack”. The lifter must then move forward and return the bar to the racks. 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.

6.     Not more than five and not less than two spotter / loaders shall be on the platform at anytime. The Referees may decide to the number of spotter / loaders required on the platform at any time 2,3,4, or 5.

Causes for disqualification of a Squat :
1.     Failure to observe the Chief Referee’s signals at the commencement or completion of a lift.
2.     Double bouncing at the bottom of the lift, or any downward movement during the ascent.
3.     Failure to assume an upright position with the knees locked at the commencement or completion of the lift.
4.     Stepping backward or forward although lateral movement of the sole and rocking the feet between the ball and heel is permitted.
5.     Failure to bend the knees and lower the body until the top surface of the legs at the hip joint are lower than the top of the knees.
6.     Any movement of the bar on the back more than the diameter / thickness of the bar below its starting position.
7.     Contact with the bar or the lifter by the spotter / loaders between the Chief Referee’s signals in order to make the lift easier.
8.     Contact of the elbows or upper arms with the legs, slight contact is permitted if there is no supporting that might aid the lifter.
9.     Any dropping or dumping of the bar after completion of the lift.
10.     Failure to comply with any of the items outlined under Rules of Performance for the squat.                                                                                                                                      
                        


Bench Press
1.     The bench shall be placed on the platform with the head facing the front or angled up to 45 degrees.

2.     The lifter must lie on his back with shoulders and buttocks in contact with the bench surface. The sole and heel of his shoes or any part thereof of the sole and heel must be in contact with the platform or blocks. His hands and fingers must grip the bar positioned in the rack stands with thumbs around grip. His head must be over and above the bench surface i.e. not to one side or hanging over the end of the bench. This body position shall be maintained throughout the lift.

3.     To achieve firm footing the lifter may use flat surfaced plates or blocks not exceeding 30 cm in total height to build up the surface of the platform. Blocks in the range of 5 cm, 10 cm, 20 cm, 30 cm, should be made available for foot placement at all international competitions. Slight or very minor foot movement is allowed for both the platform and on the blocks, i.e. the width of the foot laterally, and half the length of the foot forward or backward.

4.   Not more than three and not less than two spotter / loaders shall be on the platform at anytime. After correctly positioning himself, the lifter may enlist the help of the spotter / loaders in removing the bar from the racks. The lift off, if assisted by the spotter / loaders, must be at arms length.

5.     The spacing of the hands shall not exceed 81 cm measured between the forefingers ( both forefingers must be within the 81 cm marks and the whole of the forefingers must be in contact with the 81 cm marks if maximum grip is used). If in the case of some old injury or anatomically  the lifter is unable to grip the bar equally with both hands he must inform the referees prior to lift-off for each attempt and if necessary the bar will be marked accordingly. The use of the reverse grip is forbidden.

6.     After removing the bar from the racks, with or without the help of the spotter / loaders, the lifter shall wait with 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 “ Re-place” 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.

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

8.     After receiving the signal, the lifter must lower the bar to the chest (the chest, for the purpose of the rule, finishes at the base of the sternum breastbone), hold it motionless on the chest with a definite and visible pause. Motionless to mean : stopped. The one second rule is recommended, i.e. : held for the count of one while motionless at the chest. The lifter must then return the bar to arms length with no excessive / immoderate uneven extension of the arms, both arms locking out simultaneously / together. When  held motionless in this position the audible command “rack” shall be given together with a backward motion of the arm.

9.     If anatomically, the arms cannot be fully extended the lifter shall inform the referees prior to each attempt. 

                       
Causes for Disqualification of a Bench Press
1.     Failure to observe the Chief Referee’s signals at the commencement or completion of the lift.
2.     Any change in the elected lifting position during the lift proper i.e. : any raising movement of the shoulders, buttocks, from the bench, or feet from the floor / blocks - plates or lateral movement of hands on the bar. Slight or very minor foot movement is allowed. Both sole and heel must stay in contact with the floor / blocks.
3.     Heaving, bouncing, or sinking the bar into the chest after it is motionless in such a way as to make the lift easier.
4.     Any pronounced / exaggerated uneven extension of the arms during the lift.
5.     Any downward movement of the bar in the course of being pressed out.
6.     Failure to press the bar to full extension of the arms simultaneously at the completion of the lift.
7.     Contact with the bar or the lifter by the spotter / loaders between the Chief Referee’s signals, in order to make the lift easier.
8.     Any contact of the lifter’s feet with the bench or its supports.
9.     Failure to comply with any of the items outlined under the Rules of Performance.

Dead Lift
1.     The lifter shall face the front of the platform with the bar laid horizontally in front of the lifters feet,  gripped with an optional grip in both hands and lifted until the lifter is standing erect.
2.     On completion of the lift the knees shall be locked in a straight position and the shoulders back.
3.     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. If the bar is shaking when at the knee area, although not exactly pure, this is not cause for failure.
4.     Any raising 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 this should not be reason to disqualify the lift.

Causes for Disqualification of a Dead Lift.
1.     Any downward movement of the bar before it reaches the final position.
2.     Failure to stand erect with the shoulders back.
3.     Failure to lock the knees straight at the completion of the lift.
4.     Supporting the bar on the thighs during the performance of the lift. If the bar edges up the thigh but is not supported this is not reason for disqualification. The lifter should benefit in all decisions of doubt made by the referee. (CLARIFICATION from the USAPL rule book: Support of the bar on the thighs could be determined by an attempt at secondary knee flexion. As the bar is raised from the platform, the knees MUST continually extend without additional flexion taking place at the knees at any time during the uplifting.)
5.     Stepping backward or forward, although lateral movement of the foot or rocking feet between ball and heel is permitted.
6.     Lowering the bar before receiving the Chief Referee’s signal.
7.     Allowing the bar to return to the platform without maintaining control with both hands, i.e. : releasing the bar from the palms of the hand.
8.     Failure to comply with any of the items outlined under Rules of Performance.