Q: Will Memberships to USA Powerlifting be sold at the meet?
A: No. Please ensure you’ve purchased or renewed your membership before arriving to the meet. You will be required to show your membership card at registration (electronic copy on your phone is acceptable). If you are not a member or your membership has expired, you will not be permitted to compete and will not be refunded your entry fee. Membership information can be found here:
Q: I’ve never competed before or I’ve never competed in USA Powerlifting before. Can I enter this meet?
A: Yes! We welcome all first time lifters. We would like you to have the best experience possible, so if you have any questions you need answered, just let us know.
Powerlifting is a very tight-knit community. If you would like a veteran lifter to help walk you through your first competition, contact us and we’ll put you in touch with someone.
Additionally, we’ve begun hosting the Beginner’s Brawl meet. This meet is limited to lifters who have never posted a total in a USA Powerlifting event. This includes first time powerlifters, those who have only competed in other federations, and those who bombed out in their first USA Powerlifting meet. Watch for the Beginner’s Brawl under “Upcoming Meets” at the bottom of all pages on this site.
Q: I see “Raw” and “Equipped” on the registration form for meets. What does this mean?
A: Raw divisions use non-supportive singlets and allow belts, wrist wraps, and knee sleeves. This is most common, especially for new lifters. Equipped divisions use single ply squat suits, bench shirts, deadlift suits, and knee wraps. There is no MULTI-PLY category. You cannot use knee wraps in the Raw divisions.
Q: I already registered for a meet, but I’ve decided I would like to add an additional event or age category. Can I still do that?
A: You have until 4 weeks prior to a meet to add additional events or age categories. After that time, we regret that we cannot accept any changes. Please contact us if you need to make changes to your registration.
Q: If I don’t make weight in the category I registered, will I still be permitted to lift?
A: Weight class changes are allowed up to and including on meet day, however you will remain in your assigned flight but be scored with your meet-day weight class. If you know you will be switching weight classes, please let us know ASAP.
Q: Are youth lifters permitted at your meets? Will youth equipment (lighter bar, bumper plates) be available?
A: Yes! We are committed to helping youth lifters compete and develop their love for our sport. We do not bring youth equipment to the meet unless we know of a lifter that needs it, so if your youth lifter needs a lighter bar or bumper plates, just let us know when you register.
Several youth lifter friendly changes were made to the USA Powerlifting rulebook for 2017:
“Lightweight clips may be used for Youth lifters instead of the 2.5kg collars. This allows a minimum bench press and squat attempt of 20kg using the standard bar. A 10kg (22 pounds) squat and bench can be attempted with a youth bar and 30kg (66 pounds) for the deadlift with youth bar and bumper plates. A youth lifter may attempt a deadlift of lighter than 30kg, of course, but they would be pulling from an extreme deficit in this case.”
Youth Lifters are also allowed attempt changes as small as 1kg or 2.5 lb during bench press.
Youth lifters are not permitted by rule to compete in the Open division or to compete in supportive equipment.
If you have any questions regarding youth lifters that haven’t been addressed here, please contact us.
Q: Can my coach, friend, parent, etc, be in the warmup area with me?
Yes, lifters are allowed to have ONE coach in the warmup area with them. If your coach is not a USA Powerlifting member, they will need to fill out the liability waiver and show a copy of it on their phone at check-in.
Q: Can I set American Records at this meet?
A: No. USA Powerlifting only allows American Records to be set at State Championships or higher level meets.
Q: I’m a Junior lifter and I want to set an Open State Record. Do I have to enter both the Junior and Open divisions to accomplish this?
A: No. Age based State Records (Teen, Junior, Masters) are determined by the lifter’s age. You DO NOT need to enter into an age based division to set a State Record. Likewise, Single lift and Push-Pull records can be set by Full Power competitors. There is no requirement to add additional events or age divisions to set State Records. Additional events/divisions simply give you the opportunity to take home additionals medals.