Your First Meet
What happens between entering a sanctioned meet and finishing with a total: entry, weigh-in, the order of lifting, the referee commands, and what to bring.
Getting Entered
Pick a Meet
Local meets have no qualifying total. Sanctioned meets are listed on the events calendar.
Register
Enter through the meet's registration link, then check your gear against the equipment rules.
How the Day Runs
Weigh-In
Weigh-in opens up to two hours before your session and lasts an hour and a half. You confirm your weight class and declare your first attempt on each lift. Check your squat and bench rack heights before your session starts.
Flights
Lifters are grouped into flights. A flight takes all three squat attempts in rounds before the next flight starts, then the same for the bench press and the deadlift.
Attempts
You get three attempts on each lift. After each attempt you have one minute to give the table your next weight.
Your Total
Your best squat, bench press and deadlift add up to your total. Placings are by total within each weight class and division, and results go to the national results database.
Commands and Lights
Squat
Take the bar out and stand still with your knees locked.
"Squat": start the descent.
Squat until your hip crease is below the top of your knees, then stand back up.
"Rack": return the bar.
Bench Press
Lie on the bench and take the bar with locked arms.
"Start": lower the bar to your chest or upper abdomen.
Hold it still.
"Press": press to locked arms.
"Rack": return the bar.
Deadlift
There is no start command. Pull when ready.
Finish standing tall with your knees locked and shoulders back.
"Down": lower the bar to the floor with both hands on it.
Three referees judge each attempt. White is a good lift and red is no lift. Two white lights make the attempt good.
What to Bring
Singlet. Required for every lifter.
T-shirt. Worn under the singlet on all three lifts.
Socks that cover your shins. Required for the deadlift.
Shoes. Lifting shoes or flat-soled indoor sports shoes, laces or straps fastened.
Belt, knee sleeves and wrist wraps. Optional.
Photo ID. For weigh-in.
Food and water. Meets run most of the day.
Good to Know
A coach or handler can give your attempts to the table and manage your warm-ups. You can also compete without one.
There are no strength minimums at local meets. You choose your openers.
Missing all three attempts on one lift means no total. A conservative opener makes that unlikely.
Find a Meet
Sanctioned meets are listed on the events calendar. A current membership is required to enter.