United States 
            Powerlifting Association 
                                   
                                                 
                                   
                        Technical Rules 
                         January 1, 2022 
         
                                   
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        USPA Technical Rules                            2022v1 
                Contents 
                PART 1. GENERAL RULES ............................................................................................................................... 8 
                  Item 1.1 General Rules .............................................................................................................................. 8 
                  Item 1.2 Age Categories ............................................................................................................................ 8 
                  Item 1.3 Bodyweight Categories ............................................................................................................... 8 
                  Item 1.4 USPA Registration ....................................................................................................................... 9 
                  Item 1.5 Team Competition ...................................................................................................................... 9 
                  Item 1.6 Best Lifter Awards / Meet Director Choice Awards .................................................................. 10 
                  Item 1.7 State Affiliation ......................................................................................................................... 10 
                  Item 1.8 Drug Testing .............................................................................................................................. 11 
                PART 2. EQUIPMENT AND SPECIFICATIONS ................................................................................................ 13 
                  Item 2.1 Platform .................................................................................................................................... 13 
                  Item 2.2 Bars and Plates ......................................................................................................................... 14 
                  Item 2.3 Collars ....................................................................................................................................... 15 
                  Item 2.4 Squat Racks & Combo Squat/Bench Press Racks ..................................................................... 15 
                  Item 2.5 Bench ........................................................................................................................................ 16 
                  Item 2.6 Judging Lights............................................................................................................................ 16 
                PART 3. COSTUME AND PERSONAL EQUIPMENT ....................................................................................... 16 
                  Item 3.1 Singlet ....................................................................................................................................... 16 
                  Item 3.2 Lifting Costume ......................................................................................................................... 17 
                  Item 3.3 Bench Shirt ................................................................................................................................ 18 
                  Item 3.4 Erector Shirts (allowed in Multi Ply only) ................................................................................. 19 
                  Item 3.5 Undershirt ................................................................................................................................. 19 
                  Item 3.6 Underwear ................................................................................................................................ 19 
                  Item 3.7 Support Briefs ........................................................................................................................... 19 
                  Item 3.8 Socks ......................................................................................................................................... 20 
                  Item 3.9 Belt ............................................................................................................................................ 20 
                  Item 3.10 Shoes or Boots ........................................................................................................................ 21 
                  Item 3.11 Wrist & Knee Wraps/ Knee & Elbow Sleeves/Hats, Sweat Bands, Head Gear/Wrist Wraps . 21 
                     Knee Wraps/Knee Sleeves .................................................................................................................. 22 
                     Hats, Sweat Bands, Head Gear ............................................................................................................ 23 
                     Medical Tape/Bandages ...................................................................................................................... 23 
                     Elbow Sleeves: ..................................................................................................................................... 23 
                                                                    
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                USPA Technical Rules                                                                          2022v1 
                  Item 3.12. Blood Management ............................................................................................................... 23 
                  Item 3.13 Shin Guards ............................................................................................................................. 24 
                  Item 3.14 Raw, Classic Raw, Single Ply and Multi Ply Equipment Definition .......................................... 24 
                  Item 3.15 Inspection of Costume and Personal Equipment ................................................................... 24 
                  Item 3.16 General ................................................................................................................................... 25 
                Part 4. POWERLIFTS AND RULES OF PERFORMANCE.................................................................................. 25 
                  Item 4.1 Squat ......................................................................................................................................... 25 
                  Item 4.2 Causes for Disqualification of a Squat: ..................................................................................... 28 
                  Item 4.3 Bench Press:.............................................................................................................................. 29 
                  Item 4.4 Causes for Disqualification of a Bench Press ............................................................................ 30 
                  Item 4.5 Deadlift ..................................................................................................................................... 31 
                  Item 4.6 Causes for Disqualification of a Deadlift ................................................................................... 31 
                Part 5. WEIGHING IN ................................................................................................................................... 32 
                  Item 5.1 Weighing-In of the Competitors ............................................................................................... 32 
                Part 6. RULES OF COMPETITION ................................................................................................................. 38 
                  Item 6.1 The Round System .................................................................................................................... 38 
                  Item 6.2 Appointed Officials ................................................................................................................... 39 
                     Speaker/Announcer responsibilities ................................................................................................... 39 
                     Technical Chair responsibilities ........................................................................................................... 40 
                     Referee Chairman responsibilities ...................................................................................................... 40 
                     Timekeeper responsibilities ................................................................................................................ 41 
                     Expeditors responsibilities .................................................................................................................. 41 
                     Scorekeeper responsibilities ............................................................................................................... 41 
                     Spotter/Loader responsibilities .......................................................................................................... 41 
                       Squat ............................................................................................................................................... 43 
                       Bench .............................................................................................................................................. 43 
                       Deadlift ............................................................................................................................................ 43 
                       Platform / Bars ................................................................................................................................ 43 
                     Records Chairman ............................................................................................................................... 44 
                     State Chairman .................................................................................................................................... 44 
                  Item 6.3 Competition Rules .................................................................................................................... 45 
                Part 7. REFEREES ......................................................................................................................................... 48 
                  Item 7.1 General Rules ............................................................................................................................ 48 
                                                                    
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                USPA Technical Rules                                                                          2022v1 
                  Signals required for the three lifts .......................................................................................................... 50 
                     Squat ................................................................................................................................................... 50 
                     Bench press ......................................................................................................................................... 50 
                     Deadlift ................................................................................................................................................ 51 
                     All Lifts ................................................................................................................................................. 51 
                Referees – General Rules Continued .......................................................................................................... 51 
                  Examples of faults that should be considered a minor oversight........................................................... 51 
                  Examples of infractions that must be corrected prior to the lifter making their attempt are: .............. 52 
                  Examples that should be considered a purposeful attempt to cheat .................................................... 52 
                  Item 7.2 Qualifications for a Referee ...................................................................................................... 52 
                     State Referees ..................................................................................................................................... 52 
                     National Referees ................................................................................................................................ 53 
                     International Referees ........................................................................................................................ 53 
                  Item 7.3 Early Advancement Program .................................................................................................... 54 
                Part 8. RECORDS .......................................................................................................................................... 54 
                  Item 8.1 State and National Records ...................................................................................................... 54 
                Part 9. Our Personal Message for our Special and Disabled Lifters and Religious Requirements ............. 57 
                  Item 9.1 Special Needs, Disabled, Missing Limb, Handicap, Adaptive, Mentally Challenged, Medical or 
                  Religious Restrictions. ............................................................................................................................. 57 
                  Item 9.2 Weight Classes .......................................................................................................................... 58 
                  Item 9.3 Costume .................................................................................................................................... 58 
                  Item 9.4. General .................................................................................................................................... 58 
                Part 10. Multi Ply Division – Annex ............................................................................................................. 59 
                  Item 10.1 Lifting Suit ............................................................................................................................... 59 
                  Item 10.2 Bench Shirt .............................................................................................................................. 59 
                  Item 10.3 Support Briefs ......................................................................................................................... 59 
                  Item 10.4 Elbow Sleeves ......................................................................................................................... 59 
                  Item 10.5 Bench press ............................................................................................................................. 60 
                  Item 10.6 Squat – Platform Personal ...................................................................................................... 60 
                  Item 10.7 Squat – Mono-lift .................................................................................................................... 60 
                  Item 10.8 Squat Bar ................................................................................................................................ 60 
                Part 11. APPROVED EQUIPMENT LIST ......................................................................................................... 60 
                  Item 11.1 Approved Equipment List (https://uspa.net/vendor/approved-gear-2021) ......................... 60 
                                                                    
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                USPA Technical Rules                                                                          2022v1