How Lifts Are Judged
Every attempt at a sanctioned meet is judged by three referees under the IPF Technical Rules. This page covers the commands, what makes a lift good, and what each red light means.
Three Referees, Three Lights
Three referees judge each attempt: the chief referee and two side referees. Each has a white light for a good lift and a red light for no lift.
The lights come on together, so no referee sees another's decision first. Two white lights make the attempt good.
What the Referees Watch
Squat
The lifter stands still and upright with knees locked before the chief referee calls "Squat".
The top surface of the legs at the hip joint must go lower than the top of the knees.
One descent only. Any downward movement on the way up is a fault.
The lifter stands upright with knees locked and waits for "Rack".
Bench Press
Head, shoulders and buttocks stay on the bench and feet stay flat on the floor throughout.
After "Start", the bar is lowered to the chest or abdomen and held still until "Press".
At the bottom, the undersides of both elbows must be level with or below the top of the shoulders.
The bar is pressed to locked arms with no downward movement, then held for "Rack".
Grip is at most 81 cm between the forefingers, thumbs around the bar. A reverse grip is not allowed.
Deadlift
There is no start command. Any deliberate attempt to raise the bar counts as an attempt.
The bar may not move downward before the lifter reaches the finished position.
The lifter finishes upright with knees locked and shoulders back, then waits for "Down".
Supporting the bar on the thighs is a fault. A bar that moves up the thighs without being supported is not.
Why a Lift Gets Red Lights
After a red light, each referee who gave it shows a card for the reason. Card 1 is red, card 2 is blue and card 3 is yellow.
Squat
Red: not deep enough.
Blue: not upright with knees locked at the start or finish, a double bounce, or downward movement on the way up.
Yellow: moving the feet, missing a command, spotter contact, elbows or upper arms touching the legs, or dropping the bar.
Bench Press
Red: the bar not lowered to the chest or abdomen, touching the belt, or the elbows not low enough.
Blue: downward movement of the bar during the press, or arms not locked at the start or finish.
Yellow: heaving or sinking the bar, missing a command, head, shoulders or buttocks lifting off the bench, or feet touching the bench.
Deadlift
Red: knees not locked, or not standing upright at the finish.
Blue: downward movement before the finish, or supporting the bar on the thighs.
Yellow: lowering before "Down", letting go of the bar, or moving the feet.
Attempt Rules
One Minute to Declare
The next attempt is due within one minute of the lights. If nothing is given, the bar goes up 2.5 kg after a good lift or stays the same after a miss.
Changing Attempts
Second attempts can't be changed once given, and neither can third attempts on the squat and bench press. A third deadlift attempt can be changed twice.
Rocking the Feet
On the squat and deadlift, rocking the feet between the ball and heel is allowed.
Read the Full Rules
The IPF Technical Rules govern every sanctioned Powerlifting America meet.