Contest outline


The lifts:


Contested Lift one:

Jerk
Press

One handed
Two handed

Barbell
Dumbell

Contested lift two:

Clean
Snatch

One handed
Two handed

Barbell
Dumbell

The lifts for the contest are decided by three sets of coin flips publicly for each of the two contested lifts on the day of the contest. For example:

Jerk or press, Jerk is "heads" coin lands "tails"...its a press. Next flip 1handed is "heads", coin lands "heads" ...its a one handed jerk. Next flip Barbell is "heads", coin lands "tails"...its a one handed dumbell jerk for the first lift.

For the next lift there is a second toss series. Clean is "heads", coin lands "tails"...its a snatch. Next flip, 1 hand is "heads", coin lands "tails" its a two handed snatch. Next flip BB is "heads", coin lands "heads" the second contested lift is a Two hand snatch with a barbell.

The contest will consist of a one hand dumbell jerk (cleaned once and jerked for reps) and a two hand barbell snatch.

Classes of lifters:


Men and women with classes for each of the following-

Open-Ages 16-50
Masters-Ages 50+
Youth-Ages 14-16

There are no weight classes since resistance is set by bodyweight ratios. Awards are made to the winner in each class.

Weights:

The resistance for each lift is by proportion to bodyweight. Before the first contested lift the contestant is weighed in the attire he or she will be lifting in and the resistance is set according to the table:

Total load:

Cleans, 2/3 bodyweight
Snatches, 1/2 bodweight

Presses, 2/3 bodyweight
Jerks, 3/4 bodyweight

In the case of one handed lifts half of these loads is used in one hand.

The weight of the bar or dumbells is counted as part of the load.

For the barbell and divided in two for dumbell lifts. For example if the lift is a two handed barbell clean the weight for a 220# lifter in the open class would be 145#. If the lift is a One handed dumbell press then the weight in one hand for the same lifter would be 72.5#.

All decimal points are rounded up to the next half pound.

The ratios are the same for the Master's and Youth classes but the contestants only compete within the class unless they sign up for the Open class. A contestant may enter only one class in any given contest.

The contest:


There will be a minimum of two and a maximum of four plaforms set up with a position for a counter and a ref at each. The counter will count reps for an electronic display and the ref will keep a backup count while checking for violations of any rule.

A Platform is a secured double layer of 3/4 inch 4'x8' plywood painted with a grey non-skid surface. Or Plywood of the same type with a secured 4'x8' 1/2" thick rubber matt secured to it.

Perferably members of each class will compete concurrently with each other one to a platform.

The contest will be decided by who has the highest total of lifts between the two. In the case of a draw, another lift is chosen by coin flips and that lift is contested directly between the parties to the draw.

Two handed lifts are counted by repetition. One handed lifts are counted by "matched reps" which means that only reps matched by both hands are counted, for example if a lifter does thirty five reps with the first hand and then completes thirty reps with the second, he has a thirty rep total in that lift.

A lifters set is terminated by:

1.) A gross violation of the rules or poor sportsmanship (taunting, cursing, throwing the implement etc.)

2.) Intentionally putting down an implement on the ground.

3.) More than 10 seconds between a rep.

4.) Three repetitions not completed fully.

5.) Obvious danger to the lifter, or lack of control by the lifter.

In the case of equipment failure all lifting on every platform is stopped, the situation is repaired or equipment replaced and the set is started again with a new count.

In the case of disagreement, the issue is settled after the completion of the sets by decision of two out of three Referees after review of the video record.

Lift Rules:


In all cases-If the lifter puts down the bar on the ground the set is terminated.

Snatches-The lifter will take the bar from the ground and take it in one motion for full arm extension overhead from full arm extension at the hang. Any width of grip may be used out to the inside of the innermost plate.

Cleans-The lifter will clean the bar to the shoulder or shoulders in one motion from full arm extension at the hang. The bar or plates may rest on the shoulders at the top of the motion.

Jerks-The implement will be held in front of the lifter at the shoulder and jerked to full extension in one motion.
 In the case of a dumbell, plates are not to rest on the shoulder.

Presses-The implement will be pushed from the shoulder to full arm extension above the head and finished when the lifter is at full arm extension in a standing upright position. The legs must be locked throughout the lift. In the case of a dumbell, plates are not to rest on the shoulder.

Equipment:


The barbell will be a six foot bar one inch in diameter of cold rolled non-tubular steel with the stops twelve inches in from either end, weights fixed with secure double-bolt collars.

The plates will be standard weight place with a one inch hole, painted or colored for identification by the refs and audience.

The dumbell will be of a similar material eighteen inches in length with thin welded washers for inside collars, five inches of handle and secure double-bolt outside collars. Dumbells will always be loaded in ten pound plates.

Lifters may wear shorts, a singlet or a T-shirt of their choice either blank or printed with a non-provocative or non-offensive message or advertisement. Shoes are of the lifter's choice. No supportive or helpful equipment may be worn.

Comments:


I've designed this based on some idea's I like from several heavy sports including powerlifing, Olympic lifting, turn of the century northern European weightlifting contest and Girevoy or kettlebell sports.

By using resistances in proportion to bodyweight this will make for livelier contests due to many fewer classes and the fact that more competitors can compete with each other than in series. Livelier for the crowd also since there is now some actual competition to watch. It also opens the door to some various strategies in lifting since heavy lifters will have some advantages or disadvantages in some lifts that lighter lifters may not and vice versa. There is a great motivation to be "lean and mean".

By deciding lifts at the contest it covers most of the classic lifts and gives a bit of suspense about needing to be ready for anything and well trained in general. Over several contests this levels things out since no great advantage one may have will play out in every contest, there will be no "easy guesses" at who might be more likely to win.

By simplifying the lifts and making the contest by repetition I think it may be safer, more useful for others sports and more a contest of general strength/fitness than more specialized competitions. Simplifiying the lifts to be from the hang also makes the contest more accessible since the lifts are easy to learn.

The bar is simple and one inch in diameter since this makes the lifts accessible even to people with small hands. The 6', 1" diameter bar is the one used at the turn of the century for many lifts and is easy to standardize and replace if necessary.

By limiting it to dumbells and barbells it makes it so it is very unlikely that either is unavailable to any lifter or likely participant. It might be possible to consider adjustable kettlebells when or if they become widely available in most commercial or personal gyms. Lets keep it accesible and affordable!

Another possibility might be to have three types of contests and a ranking system that goes with it for example:

1.) Local or "entry" contests-Open to everyone except those who made national or state level in the last two years. As many a year as anyone likes as long as rules are followed and a video record is made available.

2.) State level- Open to the top three or five in each class who have won up from local contests and are not national level competitors in the past two years. There are only one of these a year.

3.) National level- Open to only the top three of five competitors in each class who have won at the state level in the past two years. There are only one of these a year.

The reason for this is to keep local contests open to entry level people, and thin down state and national competitions to those likely to win. I saw that Girevoy or Kettlebell sport has different levels and I agree with a form of this to keep competition "hot" at high levels yet still accessible and fun at local ones.

I think it is good to give a single trophy, plaque or donated prize to the winning lifter in each class. Perhaps a picnic or potluck afterwards....

Bryce Lane Mar 8, 2005