Welcome To RPS Powerlifitng - Revolution Powerlifting Syndicate

Classes and Divisions
Experience/Ability Classes:
Professional (Pro) - Those who have earned a total which exceeds
that of the average competitor. This class is not tested for the use of
performance enhancers.
Amateur (AM) - General, entry level, and tested for performance
enhancement. Those who exceed the accepted totals for this class may
choose to take mandatory testing to be considered Elite AM.
Police/Fire and Military/Armed Forces Pro/AM - Classes set aside
for those who have served the community or country in either group.
NEW DIVISION: Crossfit - Developed for Crossfit groups to be competitive on the power lifts. (Optionally offered at events)
Equipment Divisions:
Multi-Ply - Competitors are allowed to wear squat suits, bench shirts
and deadlift suits comprised of multiple layers of fabric. AM are limited
to two layers, Pros are allowed unlimited number of layers, but must be
able to safely perform lifts.
Single-Ply - Competitors are allowed to wear squat suits, bench shirts
and deadlift suits comprised of a single layer of fabric.
Raw Classic - The only equipment allowed in Raw Classic is the support
of a belt and wrist wraps.
Raw Modern - Raw Modern combines the support of a belt and wrist
wraps with knee wraps/sleeves for the squat and/or deadlift.
Weight Divisions:
Each competitor is weighed within 24 hours of the start of their day of
competition to be classified in a weight division. The lifter must weigh
at or below the designated weight to be eligible for the weight class
(originally devised in kilograms).
Men’s divisions in pounds: 114.64, 123.45, 132.27, 148.8, 165.3, 181.8,
198.4, 220.4, 242.5, 275.5, 308.6, SHW (308.6 and up)
Women’s: 97, 105.8, 114.64, 123.45, 132.27, 148.8, 165.3, 181.8,
198.4, 220.4, SHW (220.5 and up)
Order of Competition
The order of events is Squat, Bench Press, Deadlift. Flights are groups
of similar lifters, by division or similar opening attempts. Flights will
take their three attempts in round, the bar weight ascending during
each round. All flights will complete each event before the next event
commences, except in the scenario where sessions have been set,
where a second group of lifters will start their events later in the day.
World and State Records
RPS recognizes World, US State/Regional and Canadian Records. Current
records can be accessed from the always up-to-date online database at
RevolutionPowerlifting.com/records. Records are automatically recognized from submitted meet results. Lifters must complete their entered
division for their lifts to count, no “Bomb Outs.” Events with qualified
referees and/or a member of the Advisory Committee present, are eligible
for RPS World Records. State/Regional level records are reserved for designated events. A 4th attempt may be permitted to break standing records,
however allowing them is at the discretion of the meet director.
Code of Conduct
RPS is proud of its family friendly environment and respectful conduct of
staff and athletes. Gene and Ame Rychlak founded Power Against Violence
and Abuse, Inc., 501(c)3, to educate and advocate against domestic/
relationship violence and animal abuse. PAVA (poweragainst.org) was
created in direct response to the near death and continued harassment
of a dear friend at the hands of her then boyfriend, a one time prominent
powerlifter. RPS reserves the right to deny participation by anyone who has committed any act of violence or abuse against
human or animal. Cheating, profanity on the platform and
unbecoming behavior are grounds for permanent expulsion.
What is Competitive Powerlifting?
The training and performance of the three power moves,
squat, bench press and deadlift; contested in three
attempts of each discipline, judged to standards by three
referees of single repetition maximums.
But only if it were just that simple. Lifters are grouped by
gender, weight class, age, equipment usage and experience level. They also have a choice of doing all three
events, a single event and/or a combination of them.
Age Divisions:
Open (any age), Teens 14-15, 16-17, 18-19, Junior 20-23, Submaster
33-39, Masters 40-44, 45-49, 50-54, 55-59, 60-64, 65-69, 70-74, 75-79,
80+
Plus each lift must be conducted to a set of standards.
Scoring:
Generally each group of like lifters (those in the same divisions and
classes) will be awarded 1st, 2nd and 3rd place awards. Overall or
Best Lifters are awarded across broader categories such as all teen or
all raw. This is decided by coefficient, which is a multiplier determined
by body weight applied to total amount of weight lifted.
Welcome to a
Revolution Powerlifting
Competition
/revolutionpowerlifting
©2015 Revolution Powerlifting Syndicate
Photos Courtesy of Scott Wanex, Sophie Munoz & AJR Studios
This brochure provides an overview of the divisions and
classes, along with the performance of the lifts and the
criteria used to judge them.
Please note that the information provided in this brochure is only an overview of the
sport and its rules. For the complete rules, visit: RevolutionPowerlifting.com/rules
What the Referees are Watching
Each lift is judged by a head and two side referees. The referee will indicate if a lift
has passed or been declined at the end of the lift. For a lift to count it must receive a
2-1 judgement or better. Three unsuccessful attempts in a single event (Bombing Out) will
automatically eliminate a lifter from receiving a record in their entered events.
Squat
The bar is set across the shoulders with the hands and/or fingers
gripping the bar. Should the set up of the bar or footing be incorrect
the lifter has the opportunity to re-rack the weight and prepare again
for the start of the lift. This may be done twice before the attempt is
waived. Once the Head referee deems that the lifter has shown control
of the bar, with knees locked, a verbal “Squat” command is given.
The lifter may commence the lift at their will. The lifter must squat
to depth. Depth in RPS is defined as the top of the thigh at the hip,
NOT the hip joint, is lower than the top of the kneecap. The lifter must
recover at will to an upright position with the knees locked. The referee
will give the “RACK” signal to replace the bar on the rack.
Causes for Disqualification during the Squat
• Failure to observe the center referee’s signals at the
start and at the completion of the lift.
• Holding the collars, sleeves, or plates at anytime
during the performance of the lift.
• Failure to assume an upright position with the
knees locked at the start and completion of the lift.
• Reversing the bar direction during downward
descent and then continuing the descent, double bouncing or more
than one recovery attempt at the bottom of the lift, or any downward movement once the ascent from the bottom of the lift begins.
• Failure to lower the body until the surface of the thigh
at the hip is lower than the top of the kneecap.
• Contact with the bar by the lifter’s spotters between
the beginning of the descent and the referee’s signal,
except where a lifter’s safety is concerned.
• Contact with the lifter by the lifter’s back spotter between the beginning of the descent and the referee’s
signal, except where a lifter’s safety is concerned.
• Contact of the elbows or upper arms with the legs.
• Failure to make a bonafide effort to return the bar to the racks.
• Intentionally dropping or dumping the bar.
Per the meet directors discretion, the lifter may be given the opportunity to
continue competing in any remaining events. Otherwise, the “Bomb Out” Rule
may be enforced, where a lifter failing to get a successful attempt in an event
will not be allowed to continue for other events.
Bench Press
The lifter assumes a starting position on their back with upper body
and buttocks in contact with the flat bench surface. The buttocks must
remain in contact with the bench surface during the entire range of
motion. Any portion of the foot must stay in contact with the floor. The
spacing of the hands does not exceed the farthest set of rings on the bar.
The bar starts at arms length, the lifter must show locked control of the
lift to receive the head judge’s verbal “BENCH” command to commence
the lift. The lifter lowers the bar to his chest and awaits the referee’s command. “PRESS” is given when the center of the bar touches the torso in
a controlled manner. The bar is then pressed upward. During the ascent,
the bar may stop in its upward motion, but is not allowed any downward
movement. Arms must extend to a locked-out position simultaneously
and evenly at the completion of the lift. Once the bar is returned to
straight arms length with elbows locked and held under control, the
verbal “RACK” command is given by the head judge.
Causes for Disqualification for the Bench Press
• Failure to observe any of the three referee’s commands during the lift.
• Raising the buttocks from the bench surface or the foot losing contact
with the floor.
• Contact of the lifter’s feet with any part of the bench during the lift.
• Downward movement by either hand once the “PRESS” command is
given. This includes sinking, heaving or bouncing the bar off the chest.
• Any uneven extension of the bar at the completion of the lift. An
exception to this is if the lifter has provided documentation or demonstration of a legitimate physical defect to the meet director and
referees prior to the lift.
• The bar may make incidental contact with the bench uprights and still
be considered a good lift, however, deliberate use of the uprights for
leverage is disallowed.
• Lifting of the bar by the spotter/loaders between
the referee’s “PRESS” and “RACK” signals.
• The lifter is responsible for informing his hand-off
person to clear the bench area in front of the
head referee to allow them to give the commands.
Deadlift
The lifter grasps the bar and lifts upward in one movement until the
lifter is standing erect. The bar is allowed to stop, but no downward
movement is allowed. There is no start command for the deadlift. Upon
completion of the lift, the lifter shall be standing erect with hips and
knees locked. The shoulders must be square and are not required to be
thrust back past the erect position. The lifter shall stay in this erect position until the center referee’s signal, a downward motion of the hand
and the verbal command “DOWN”. The “DOWN” command will be given
regardless if the lift is good or not; or prior to the completion of the lock
out if an obvious infraction has been committed, in an effort
to save the energy of the lifter for any remaining attempts. Any
raising of the bar or deliberate, bona fide attempt to break contact
between the floor and the weights is considered an attempt.
Causes for Disqualification for the Deadlift
• Any downward movement of the bar during the
upward movement during the lift.
• Failure to stand with the shoulder and hips locked.
• Failure to lock the knee straight at the completion of the lift.
• Supporting the bar on the thighs during the performance of the lift.
• Lowering the bar before receiving the center referee’s signal.
• Allowing the bar to return
to the platform without
maintaining control with
both hands or deliberately
dropping the bar after
the referee’s signal.