Q: What is the difference between Raw and Equipped lifting?
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, and deadlift suits and knee wraps. There is no MULTI-PLY category in USA Powerlifting. You cannot use knee wraps in the Raw divisions.
Q: Where can I view the current State Records?
Q: I’d like to give back to the sport. How can I do that?
A: Take a look at our Meets page. Find a meet near you, or that you wouldn’t mind travelling to, and send the Meet Director an email. We are always looking for volunteers to help with meets. No experience is necessary.
Q: I’m interested in becoming a Referee. What is the process?
A: The requirements to become a referee are as follows:
- You must be a minimum of 18 years of age and a current member of USA Powerlifting.
- You must be actively involved in the sport of Powerlifting for a minimum of one year as an athlete, coach, meet director, or scoring table official.
- You must have the approval of your State Chair.
Becoming a referee is a two part process:
- A written rules test
- A practical test
The rules test is completed online. The exam is open book and you have two hours to complete it. You need to score 80% or better on the exam to pass. The written test is difficult, so we don’t recommend you take it until you are very familiar with the rules. The current rulebook is located here.
Once you complete the rules test, the practical exam can be taken at any USA Powerlifting meet. You’ll sit with a current referee and judge lifts with them in real time. After each lift, you tell the referee if the lift is good or not, and if not, what the lifter did wrong. You need to agree on 90% of the calls to pass.
USA Powerlifting requires that all Meet Directors and Referees take SafeSport training and pass a background check prior to certification. This information will be provided to you after you complete the exam process. All costs associated with this are covered by USA Powerlifting
If this is something you’d like to pursue, contact your state chair!
Q: I’m interested in becoming a meet director. Where do I start?
This is too detailed a topic to cover in a FAQ. If you own a gym or know of one near you that is large enough to host a competition, contact your State Chair. We are happy to mentor you during the process of setting up and running your first meet. It’s not difficult to run a competition, but it is a lot of work. The smiles and cheers you see on the platform are more than worth the effort.
As noted above, USA Powerlifting requires that all Meet Directors take SafeSport training and pass a background check prior to certification. This information will be provided to you after you complete the exam process. All costs associated with this are covered by USA Powerlifting