ORDER OF COMPETITION

1 The Round System
(a) At the weigh-in, the lifter or his coach must declare a starting weight for all three lifts. These must be entered on the appropriate first attempt card, signed by the lifter or his coach and retained by the official conducting the weigh-in. The lifter will then be given eleven blank attempt cards for use during the competition. Three for the squat, three for the bench press and five for the dead lift. Each lift is distinguished by using a different colored card. Having made his first attempt at a lift, the lifter or his coach must decide upon the weight required for the second attempt. This weight must be filled in where indicated upon the card and submitted to the competition secretary or other appointed official before the one minute time allowance has elapsed. The same procedure is to be used for second and third attempts on all three lifts. Responsibility for submitting attempts within the time limit rests solely with the lifter or his coach. Under the round system, the need for numerous marshals is eliminated, the attempt card being handed directly to the designated official.
An example of Attempt Card is illustrated below.

Remember that the box for first attempts on the cards in the lifter's possession are only to be used for the permitted first attempt change if required. Similarity, the fourth and fifth boxes on the dead lift card are only to be used for the two permitted changed on the third attempt dead lift if required.

(b) Where 10 or more lifters are competing in a session, groups may be formed consisting of approximately equal numbers of lifter3. However, groups must be formed when 15 or more lifters are competing in the same session. A session can be composed of a single body weight category or any combination of body weight categories at the discretion of the organizer for purpose of presentation.
(c) Grouping shall be determined by examining the lifters' best totals achieved at national or international level during the previous twelve months. The lifters with the lowest totals will form the first group to lift with progressively higher totals forming further groups as necessary. (d) Each lifter will take his first attempt in the first round, his second attempt in the second round and his third attempt in the third round.
(e) When a group consists of less than 6 lifters, compensatory time allowance shall be added at the end of each round as follows: For 5 Lifters add 1 minute; 4 lifters add 2 minutes; 3 litters add 3 minutes. 3 minutes is the maximum allowance permitted at the end of a round.
(f) The bar must be loaded progressively during each round on the principle of a rising bar. At no time will the weight of the bar be lowered within a round except for errors as described in item (i), and then only at the end of a round.
(g) Lifting order within each round will be determined by the lifter's choice of weight for that round. In the event of two lifters
choosing the same weight, the lifter with the lowest lot number drawn at the weigh-in, will lift first.
(h) If unsuccessful with an attempt, the lifter does not follow himself, but must wait until the next round before he can attempt that weight again.
(i) If in a round an attempt is unsuccessful due to a wrongly loaded bar or spotter error, the lifter will be granted a further attempt at the correct weight. However, the extra attempt can only be taken at the end of the round in which the error occurred. If the lifter also happened to be the last lifter in the round, he shall be granted a three minute rest prior to making his attempt (,')A lifter is permitted one change of weight on the first attempt of each lift. The change of weight may be higher or lower than that originally submitted and the order of lifting in the first round will be changed accordingly. If he is in the first group, this change may take place at any time up to within five minutes before the start of the first round of that lift. The following groups are accorded a similar privilege up to within five attempts from the end of the previous group's last round of that lift. Prior notice of these deadlines shall be announced by the speaker.
(k) A lifter must submit His second and third attempts
within one minute of completing his preceding attempt. If no weight is submitted within the one minute time allowance, the lifter will forfeit his next round attempt.
(I) Weights submitted for second round attempts on all three lifts cannot be changed. Similarly third round attempts on the squat and bench press cannot be changed.
(m) In the third round of the dead lift, two weight changes are permitted. The change ot weight may be higher or lower than the lifter's previously submitted third attempt. However, these are only permitted provided that the lifter has not been called to the bar already loaded to his previously submitted weight.
(n) If a lifting session consists of a single group, i.e., up to a maximum of 15 lifters, an interval of not less than 10 and not exceeding 15 minutes shall be allowed between the lifts. This is to ensure adequate time for warm up and platform organization. However, larger flights may be permitted in very large meets.
(0) When two or more groups take part in a sessions upon a single platform, lifting will be organized on a group repetition basis. No time interval will be allowed
between rounds other than that necessary for arranging the platform. For example, if there are two groups taking part in a session, the first group will complete all three rounds of the squat. They will be followed immediately by the second group who will complete their three rounds of the squat. The platform will then be set up for the bench press and the first group will complete their three rounds of the bench press, immediately followed by the second group who will similarly complete their three rounds of the bench press. The platform will then be set up for the dead lift and the first group will complete their three rounds of the dead lift, who will similarly complete their three rounds of the dead lift. This system thus eliminates any time waste other than that necessary for arranging the platform between the lifts.
(p) During any competition taking place on a platform or stage, only the lifter and his coach, members of the Jury, officiating referees and spotter/loaders will be allowed around the platform or on the stage. During the execution of a lift, only the lifter, spotter/loaders and the referees are permitted to present on the platform. Coaches shall remain within the designated coaching area as defined by the Jury or technical officer in charge.
(q) A lifter shall not wrap or adjust his costume within the vicinity of the platform. the only exception to this rule is that he may adjust his belt.
(r) The body weight limits shall be posted near the weigh-in scale.
(s) Lifters and/or coaches may ask why a lift was turned down.
(t) The meet director can designate selected areas where baby powder or chalk can be applied.
(u) The use of ammonia capsules is legal as long as they are used off the platform.
(v) There will be no head slapping in the platform area.
(w) The lifter has one minute from the time it is announced that the bar is loaded until the attempt begins.
(x) Three unsuccessful attempts in any lift will automatically eliminate the lifter from the competition.
(y) Other than initial removal of the bar from the racks, the lifter will not receive any help from the spotter/loaders in positioning himself for an attempt.
(z) On the completion of an attempt, a lifter shall leave the platform with thirty seconds. Failure to comply with this rule may result in disqualification of the attempt at the discretion of the referees.
(aa) If, during warm up or competition, a lifter suffers injury or in any other way exhibits signs of a condition which may unduly and significantly jeopardize the competitor's health and well-being, the official doctor, or Meet Director has the right to examination. If the either considers it inadvisable for the lifter to continue, he shall request a consultation with the Jury or referees and the team manager. He must then state his reasons before the lifter is retired from the competition.
(ab) Any lifter or coach, who by reason of his misconduct upon or near the competition platform is likely to discredit the sport, shall be officially warned-. If the misconduct continues, the Jury, or referees in the absence of a Jury, may disqualify the lifter and order the coach to leave the venue. The team manager must be officially informed of both warning and disqualification. Striking a referee or spotter/loader is cause for immediately expulsion from the meet.
(ac) In international competition, all appeals against referee's decisions, complaints regarding the progress of the competition or against the behavior of any person or persons taking part in the competition must be made in writing to the Jury. The appeal or complaint must be lodged with the Chairman of the Jury by the team manager, or in his absence, by the team coach. This must be done immediately following the action upon which the appeal or complaint is based. If deemed necessary, the Jury may temporarily suspend the progress of the competition and retire to consider its verdict. After due consideration and upon reaching a majority verdict, the Jury will return and the Chairman will inform the complainant of its decision. The Jury's verdict will be considered final and there will be no right of appeal to any other body. Should the Jury in its verdict consider that the complaint is of a frivolous or mischievous nature, then the whole or any portion of the said sum may be retained and donated the NASA at the discretion of the Jury
(ad) All lifters of a particular weight class on the same platform, using the same equipment and judged by the same referee. This can be modified by a vote of the lifters at the meet in question.
(ae) Team list will be submitted before weigh-in on the last day of competition.
(af) A lifter should initial his weigh-in weight on his expediter card.

HIGH SCHOOL RULES
A. A High School lifter may wear T-shirt and shorts at local meets only.
B. High School meets may be conducted in pounds or kilos.
C. In order for a High School student to lift in a NASA sanctioned meet, the student must have a current NASA
membership card.
D. In order for an American Teenage or High School record to be certified the meet must be sanctioned 30 days before the competition.
E. In order for a record to be certified all of the seated judges must certified,

Back to Rule Book Page