Frequently Asked Question's

You do not need to Qualify for local USA Powerlifting Events. All lifters are welcome, ages 8 and up!

Typically lifters should arrive 2.5 hours before scheduled lifting start time. Please check your individual event schedule for details under Athlete Information. 

Only one coach per lifter allowed in lifter area.  No friends, teammates, etc in warmup room.  Only lifters and coaches please. 

Check your individual Event Information for Admissions information.

Please see schedule on Event Information Page.

YES. Spectator tickets are for all day. Lifters can spectate for free.

REGISTRATION: You will check in at the registration table, present your Photo ID. You will get a lifter wrist band, your free t-shirt, and a slip of paper to write your openers and rack heights on.  You will take this with you to weigh-ins.  (Registration begins 30 minutes prior to weigh-ins).

• If your meet offers Early Check-in, you will also be able to get your rack heights at that time. (Check your meet Athlete Information page)

EQUIPMENT CHECK: After registration make your way to the equipment check table.  Your lifting gear (singlets, t-shirts, knee sleeves, etc) will be inspected by referees and approved prior to the start of the competition.  We need to see everything you plan to wear on the platform.  Please see Lifter Attire section for what constitutes legal attire in USA Powerlifting. All items worn on the platform should be clean and in good repair.

• If your meet offers Early Check-in, you will also be able to get your rack heights at that time. 

• While waiting to weigh in, get your rack heights for both squat and bench.  You will want to have this written on attempt/rack height paper.  If you don't state a specific safety height, we will set men's to 4 and women's to 3.  We will be using an TSS Rack for this competition.

• You can get your rack heights at anytime prior to weigh-ins.

• If your meet offers Early Check-in, you will also be able to get your rack heights at that time. 

Bring your PhotoID, Openers, and Rack heights.  Wear something easy to take off for weigh-ins, there are lifters waiting, so the quicker you (and your fellow competitors) can get in and out of weigh-ins, the faster you can eat and prepare for your competition.

Be on time to weigh-ins! The Referee will call you, by name, in order of your assigned Lot Number, NOT by when you show up.  A lot number is a randomly assigned number given to each athlete, within each session. You can find your lot number on the roster.  If you are not present when you are called, you will go to the back of the weigh-in line. Weigh-in Order will be printed and posted near weigh-in area. 

• Lifters 14 yrs old and up, the most you can wear to weigh-in is singlet, t-shirt, socks and undergarments.  

• Youth lifters (8-13yo) must wear singlet, t-shirts, socks and be accompanied by parent or guardian.

• Lifters under the age of 18yo will have two referees in weigh-in room. 

If you enter this event, you may be selected to be drug tested.  Lifters are notified by the Drug Testing Officer (DCO) generally at the completion of the lifting session.  If you have completed all your attempts and want to leave prior to the awards ceremony, you must check in with the DCO to make sure you have not been selected for drug testing.  This includes if you have weighed in and decided not to lift, injured yourself during the competition and withdraw or bomb, you are still in the drug testing pool.

Failure to be available when called for drug testing will be considered a doping failure.

Medications prescribed by your doctor may be considered a prohibited substance.  You must check all your medications.  If the medication is prohibited, it may be allowed by receiving a Therapeutic Use Exemption (TUE).

• Check your medications here: GlobalDRO

• TUE Application

• Anti-Doping Information

Please check out the USA Powerlifting's Anti-Doping page to find more resources.

Please go to our RULES page.  Read rulebook, competition rules, points of performance and please watch rules briefing videos!

All competitors must wear 

• one piece lifting suit or a wrestling singlet

• shoes 

• T-Shirt for Squat and Bench (not required on deadlift)

• knee high socks for deadlifting (must cover entire length of shin up to knee)

Please review the USA Powerlifting Rulebook for appropriate lifting attire.  Your equipment must meet the rulebook specifications.  

Weigh-ins are conducted in a private room with a USA Powerlifting State Referee.  

The lifter has the option of weighing in in the nude, wearing only underwear, OR wearing a singlet and/or t-shirt. No clothing weight allowance is subtracted (except as noted about opposite-sex referees performing weighins). Previously, non-youth lifters couldn't weigh in wearing a singlet or t-shirt

Weigh-ins are conducted by 'Lot Numbers.'  A lot number is a randomly assigned number to each athlete, within each session.

When it is time for your weigh-ins, be there when it starts.  The Referee will call you in order of your assigned Lot Number, NOT by when you show up.  If you are not present when you are called, you will go to the back of the weigh-in order.

American records can only be set at State level meets or higher.  See State Meet website for details regarding American Records at Georgia State Championships.

You CAN set STATE records at any USA Powerlifting sanctioned meet. These will will automatically be credited once results are uploaded into the results database.

Please see our Lifter Briefing videos in "Lifter's Corner" section of this website.

We have three referees judging your lift.  Two side referees and the Chief referee.  Each referee will judge your lift according to the rules.  A white light is good lift, red light is failed lift.  You must get at least two white lights for the lift to pass. (majority rules)

Yes.  However, we ask that if you don't think you will make your weight class please let us know as soon as possible.  Changing your weight class may put you in a different flight, or even a different session. 

Please use the Athlete Change Form on your meet Athlete Information page to register a new weight class. Some meets have deadline for weight class changes. See individual meet information. 

American records can only be set at State level meets or higher. 

You CAN set STATE records and any USA Powerlifting sanctioned meet. These will will automatically be credited once results are uploaded into the results database.

Yes. However, we ask that you 

• Please only apply baby powder on the designated area only, provided in warmup room and by the platform.

• Please be careful! Baby powder is messy, hard to clean off floors, and very slippery.  We ask that you are considerate of all fellow lifters and volunteers who need to clean afterwards.

Please try and have your rack heights before you weigh-in. 

Each meet may have different platform equipment. Most of our meets will use an ER Rack.

You can measure your rack heights at early equipment check-in or before weigh-ins on day of. ER Racks are all the same so if you have access to a ER rack those numbers will be the same.

Raw/Unequipped lifting is defined in USA Powerlifting competition as using only the following gear and accessories as previously described above:

• Non-supportive singlet (REQUIRED)

• T-shirt (REQUIRED) - ONLY CREW NECK - no V-neck or Scoop neck

• Underwear (REQUIRED) - NO Compression types

• Socks - Knee High REQUIRED for deadlift 

• Shoes (REQUIRED) - Close toe athletic shoes, NO "toe" shoes

• Belt

• Wrist wraps

• Single-ply neoprene knee sleeves without attaching and/or tightening mechanisms like Velcro, clips, or straps.

Equipped Lifters wear single-ply squat suits, bench shirts, and deadlift suits.