I.P.F. TECHNICAL RULES
With Maryland State Powerlifting Association
Annotations
Part 7.
REFEREES
1. The referees shall be three in number, the Chief Referee or Centre Referee
and two side referees.
2. The Chief Referee is responsible for giving the necessary signals for
all three lifts.
3. Signals required for the three lifts are as follows:
SQUAT
Commencement:
A visual signal consisting of a downward movement of the arm together with
the audible command "squat".
Completion:
A visual signal consisting of a backward movement of the arm together with
the audible command "rack".
BENCH PRESS
Commencement:
A visual signal consisting of a downward movement of the arm together with
the audible command "start".
Completion:
A visual signal consisting of a backward movement of the arm together with
the audible command "rack".
DEADLIFT
Commencement:
No signal required.
Completion:
A visual signal consisting of a downward movement of the arm
together with the audible command "down".
4. Once the bar has been replaced in the racks or on the platform at the
completion of the lift, the referees will announce their decisions by means
of the lights. White for a "good lift" and red for "no lift".
5. The three referees may seat themselves in what they consider to be the
best viewing positions around the platform for each of the three lifts. However,
the Chief Referee must always bear in mind the need to be easily visible
to the lifter performing the squat or dead lift.
6. Before the contest, the three referees shall jointly ascertainthat:
(a) The platform and competition equipment comply in all respects with the
rules.Bars and discs are checked for weight discrepancies and defective equipment
discarded.
(b) The scales work correctly and are accurate.
(c) The lifters weigh in within the limits of weight and time for their
bodyweight category.
(d) The lifters' costumes and personal equipment comply with the rules in
all respects.
7. During the contest the three referees must jointly ascertain that:
(a) The weight of the loaded bar agrees with the weight announced by the
speaker.Referees may be issued with loading charts for this purpose.
(b) On the platform the lifter's costume and personal equipment are exactly
as declared, examined and marked at the weigh in. If any referee has reason
to doubt a lifter's integrity in this respect, he must after completion of
the lift, inform the Chief Referee of his suspicions. The three referees
may then re-examine the lifter's costume and personal equipment. If the lifter
is found to be wearing or using any illegal item, the lifter will immediately
be disqualified from the competiton
8. Prior to the commencement of a lift, if either of the side referees do
not accept the bar placement or starting position of the lifter, they will
raise a hand to call attention to the fault. If there is a majority opinion
among the referees that a fault exists, the Chief Referee will not give the
signals to commence the lift. The lifter or his coach shall on request be
informed of the reason for his not receiving a start signal. Similarly the
lifter or his coach may request the reason for a "no lift" decision. Such
request must be made before the next lifters attempt. The Jury shall be
responsible for conveying such information to the lifter. The lifter has
the remainder of his unexpired time allowance in which to correct the position
of the bar or his stance in order to receive the commencement signal.
Once a lift has commenced, the side referees will not call attention to faults
during the execution of the lift.
9. Referees shall abstain from commentary and not receive any document or
verbal account concerning the progress of the competition.
10. A referee shall not attempt to influence the decisions of the other
referees.
11. The Chief Referee may consult with the side referees, the Jury or any
other official as necessary in order to expedite the competition.
12. At his discretion, the chief referee may order that the bar and or platform
be cleaned.
13. After the competition, the three referees shall sign the official score
sheets, record certificates or any other documents requiring a signature.
14. In International Competition, referees will be selected by the Technical
Committee and must have proved their competence at International or National
championships.
15. In International Competition, lots must be drawn to decide which category
they will referee. Two referees of the same nationality cannot be selected
to adjudicate the same category in a contest of more than two nations.
16. The selection of a referee to act as Chief Referee in one category does
not preclude his selection as a side referee in another category.
17. At World Championships, only IPF Category 1 and Category 2 referees
adjudicate. Each nation may nominate a maximum of three referees to serve
at the World Championships.
18. Referees and members of the Jury will be uniformly dressed as follows:
Men:
Winter - Dark Blue Blazer with appropriate IPF badge on left breast and Grey
Trousers with a White Shirt and appropriate IPF tie.
Summer - White Shirt and Grey Trousers, ties optional.
Women:
Winter - Dark Blue Blazer with appropriate IPF badge on left breast, Grey
Skirt or Trousers and a White Blouse. The wearing of the appropriate tie
is optional
Summer - Grey Skirt or Trousers and a White Blouse.
IPF badges and ties are red for Category 1 referees and blue for Category
2 referees.
The Jury shall determine whether winter or summer dress will be worn.
19.Qualifications for a Category 2 Referee are as follows:
(a) A national referee in good standing with his NationalFederation.
(b) Must be recommended by his National Federation.
(c) Must take the Category 2 written examination at a World Championship,
Continental Championship, Regional Game, International Tournament, National
Championship or National Clinic.
(d) Must achieve a passing score of 90 percent or more on both written and
practical examinations.
20.Qualifications for a Category 1 Referee are as follows:
(a) Must be a Category 2 referee in good standing for a period of at least
two year.
(b) Must have adjudicated at least two International or National
Championships.
(c) Must take Category 1 practical examination at any World Championship
(excluding the World Bench Press Championship), Continental Championship,
Regional Games or International Tournament.
(d) Must adjudicate at least 100 attempts, 50 of which must be squats, while
serving as Chief Referee.
(e) Must score at least 90 percent in all his decisions as compared with
those of the Jury members and not those of his fellow referees.
(f) Must be nominated by his National Federation to the IPF General Secretary
prior to his examination. Basis for nomination should be as follows:
1. Candidate's competence as a referee.
2. Priority ranking as a Category 2.
3. Availability to referee at future international events.
21. The selection of a candidate for examination by the IPF will be subject
to the following criteria:
(a) The number of niminations received.
(b) The number of examination positions available.
(c) the current requirements for Category 1 refrees within the various
nations
22.Testing Procedures are as follows:
(a) Category 2 - A written examination will be given only after a complete
and comprehensive rules clinic has been conducted under the direction of
an approved Category 1 referee who has been appointed as Chief Examiner by
the IPF.
A practical examination will be given after the written examination. During
the competition, the candidate will be seated ator near the Jury table and
will adjudicate a total of 100 attempts. The candidate must be scrutinized
by at least one Category 1 referee. The candidate must score at least 90
percent on all his decisions when compared with those of the scrutinizing
referee(s).
(b) Category 1 - A practical examination only will be given to a candidate
at any World Championship(excluding the World Bench Press Championship),
Continental Championship, Regional Games or International Tournament. The
candidate will be scrutinized by the Jury, which must consist of three Category
1 referees. The candidate must score at least 90 percent on all his decisions
when compared a majority of the scrutinizing Jury members.
23. In the event of a nation not having active Category 1 referees, the IPF
may appoint Category 2 referees to administer and monitor the Category 2
written and practical examinations.
24. All examination score sheets shall be marked by the scrutinizing referee(s).
When marking is complete, the Treasurer shall be informed of the results.
Marked scoresheets together with the necessary examination fee shall be sent
to the Treasurer.
25. After receiving the examination results, the Treasurer will inform the
candidate and his Federation's National Secretary.
26. Examiners' score sheets shall be marked in the following manner:
(a) All correct attempts refereed by the candidate will be marked so ( /
).
(b) All incorrect attempts will be marked so ( X ).
(c) All attempts not completed by the lifter will be marked so ( O ).
(d) All incorrect attempts will, in addition, have the number of fault or
faults indicated.
(e) When an incorrect signal is given, i.e. too early or too late, the examiner
must mark this with an ( X ) and the letter "S" to indicate that an incorrect
signal was given.
(f) When a signal is necessary and given in an incomplete attempt, it will
be marked so ( O ) and counted as an attempt.
(g) All of the examiners' score sheets, without any additions or alterations,
will be collated and scored by the President of the Jury if for Category
1 examination, or by the scrutinizing referee(s) if for Category 2 examination.
The marked score sheets shall be sent to the Treasurer.
27. A candidate taking a practical examination will be scrutinized by the
Jury (for Category 1) or the appointed scrutinizing referee(s) (for Category
2) to determine his success or failure.
28. Upon passing the examination, a referee's date of promotion shall be
the date of the examination.
29. Candidates who fail the examination must wait at least six months before
taking the examination again.
30. Registration:
(a) All referees must re-register with the IPF in order to maintain their
current qualifications and at an acceptable standard.
(b) Re-registration shall take place during each Olympic year.
(c) A referee is responsible for sending the necessary 20 registration fee
to the IPF Treasurer together with abrief resume of his international and
national refereeing experience during the previous registration period.
(d) A referee who has been inactive for a four year period or who fails to
re-register will forfeit his credentials.
(e) A card which is issued within the twelve months prior to the Olympics
need not be renewed until the following Olympic year.
31.The IPf Secretary shall provide each national federation with:
(a) A current list of accredited referees.
(b) A list of referees who need to re-register in order to remain
accredited.
32. International referees, both categories 1 and 2, must have refereed a
minimum of three international or national championships during the previous
four year period between Olympic years in order to be acceptable for
re-registration.
MSPA REFEREES
For service at the various State championships, the Chairman of the MSPA, with the concurrence of the Chairpersons of the MSPA Technical and Referees' Committees, and the Meet Director shall nominate a Technical Secretary. At competitions below the level of the State championship the ranking official for the area, with the concurrence of the Meet director, will confirm the assingment of the role of Technical Secretary to the individulal seeking such responsibility. When no referee has been so designated the senior referee present at the meet shall have the authority to act as the Technical Secretary or to appoint a designee.
The Technical Secretary, in the absence of a Jury, shall handle all matters pertaining to refereeing assignments, conduct, disputes and rules interpretation and will work with the Meet Director, who will have the responsibility for the technical direction of the meet. The duties of the Technical Secretary parallel those of the Meet director but do not infringe.
After the conclusion of a State championship, the Technical Secretary shall send the refereeing schedule of the meet to the chairperson of the MSPA Referees' Committee and the "Meet Inspection Form" to the Chairman of the MSPA and the Chairperson of the MSPA State Bids Commitee.
To remain active, a MSPA referee shall officiate at one MSPA three-lift competition each year. To become eligible for a Natioal or International referee examination, a candidate shall officiate at four MSPA three lift competitions for two consecutive years immediately prior to being tested for a higher referee status. MSPA state referees shall serve for three years before they are eligible for the National referee examination.