AGE CATEGORIES:

The IWF recognizes four (4) age groups:

i) YOUTH: 13 – 17 years of age
ii) JUNIOR: 15 – 20 years of age
iii) SENIOR: ≥15 years of age
iv) MASTERS: ≥35 years of age

For Olympic Games and Youth Olympic Games the relevant International Olympic Committee (IOC) Rules apply.

BODYWEIGHT CATEGORIES:

THE TWO LIFTS:

The SNATCH:

The barbell is placed horizontally in front of the lifter’s legs. It is gripped, palms downwards and pulled in a single movement from the platform to the full extent of both arms above the head, while either splitting or bending the legs.

During this continuous movement, the barbell may slide along the thighs and the lap. No part of the body other than the feet may touch the platform during the execution of the lift.

The weight, which has been lifted, must be maintained in the final motionless position, arms and legs extended, the feet on the same line, until the Referees give the signal to replace the barbell on the platform. The lifter may recover in his or her own time, either from a split or a squat position, and finish with the feet on the same line, parallel to the plane of the trunk and the barbell.

The Referees give the signal to lower the barbell as soon as the lifter becomes motionless in all parts of the body.

The CLEAN AND JERK

The Clean - The barbell is placed horizontally in front of the lifter’s legs. It is gripped, palms downwards and pulled in a single movement from the platform to the shoulders, while either splitting or bending the legs. During this continuous movement, the barbell may slide along the thighs and the lap. The barbell must not touch the chest before the final position. It then rests on the clavicles or on the chest above the nipples or on the arms fully bent. The feet return to the same line, legs straight before performing the Jerk. The lifter may make this recovery in his or her own time and finish with the feet on the same line, parallel to the plane of the trunk and the barbell.

The Jerk - The athlete bends the legs and extends them as well as the arms to bring the barbell to the full stretch of the arms vertically extended. He or she returns the feet to the same line; arms and legs fully extended, and waits for the Referees’ signal to replace the barbell on the platform. The Referees give the signal to lower the barbell as soon as the lifter becomes motionless in all parts of the body.

HOW A COMPETITION WORKS:

Men and women compete within the bodyweight categories listed above. The Snatch and the Clean & Jerk are contested. Each athlete receives three attempts in each lift with the overall champion being awarded, by combining their best snatch and clean and jerk combined (Total). First the Snatch is contested and once all attempts are completed, there is a 10 minute break so the athletes can prepare for the Clean & Jerk.

The barbell is loaded progressively and attempts are taken by the lifters in the order of progression of the weight and the order of lifting. A Lot Number is assigned prior to the Official Weigh-In, which determines the Weigh-In and Lifting order. The athletes are called upon individually by a speaker (Announcer) to perform the attempts and they have one minute (two minutes on consecutive lifts) to start the lift. Three Referees judge each lift and give a decision, white for “Good Lift” and red for “No Lift”. At least two out of three Referees must judge it as a “Good Lift” to have the lift count. Electronic Referee Light Systems are used for judging and two out of the three Referees decisions must be the same for the athlete to receive the “Down Signal”. After a first attempt has been taken by an athlete, they must increase by a minimum of one kilograms for their next attempt.

In bigger events (National and International), a Jury of three to five Officials oversees the three Referees and may reverse a decision of the Referees.

DETAILED COMPETITION FLOW:

The following is the flow of a higher level (national or international) meet. Many of these steps are excluded in local (provincial meets), note the "*" at the base of each drop down indicating how a provincial meet may differ.

+Entries

Preliminary Entry: Every NF willing their athlete to participate in an IWF event should send the Preliminary Entry form before the set deadline to the Organizing Committee / IWF. Maximum 10 Men and 10 Women can be entered, with a maximum of 2 per bodyweight category. Final Entry: The Final Entry form must be sent to the Organizing Committee / IWF no later than 14 days before the Congress / Technical Conference. Maximum 10 Men and 10 Women can be entered, with a maximum of 2 per bodyweight category.

*Provincial - preliminary entry entails registration for the meet through the Provincial Sport Organization (PSO) website. There may be times when entry qualifications are required (specific total), but generally speaking most meets are open to all. There may also be specific meet requirements for age categories as well, exclusive junior or senior meets as an example.

+Verification of Entries

Participating delegations have the possibility to verify and make the last changes regarding their athletes’ Entry according to the rules. Maximum 8 Men and 8 Women shall remain on the verified Final Entry with a maximum of 2 per body weight category. Reserves must be deleted.

*Provincial - this step is rarely completed in provincial meets. Typically the organizing committee creates the final schedule and emails it to the participants, coaches, and volunteers with session times and meet details.

+Draw of Lot Numbers

A randomly generated lot number is drawn for each entered competitor.

+Start List

After the lot numbers are drawn, the Start List Package is produced and distributed to all teams and officials including all relevant information regarding the competitions.

*Provincial - this is the same as emailing our the final schedule (noted above in "Verification of Entries"

+Weigh In

The weigh-in of each competition begins 2 hours before the start of the competition and lasts 1 hour. All competitors are weighed, and the actual bodyweight of each athlete is registered. The first attempts in Snatch and Clean and Jerk must be announced.

*Provincial - this is typically done with a coach, team lead, chaperone, or parent in attendance as the starting attempts of each athlete are given at this time to the Technical Official (TO) and recorded. If athletes are minors, they need to be accompanied by a parent or chaperone of same sex with a criminal background check.

+Presentation

10 minutes before the start of the competition of each bodyweight category or group, athletes / Technical Officials are presented.

+Competition

The barbell is loaded in progression. The competitor taking the lowest weight is lifting first. Each athlete has 3 attempts in Snatch and 3 attempts in Clean and Jerk. Athletes / coaches have to announce the next weight and this can be modified twice before lifting. Automatic progression after any successful attempt for the same athlete must be a minimum of 1 kg. Athletes have 1 minute to perform (or 2 minutes taking consecutive attempts). After Snatch there is a 10 minutes break before Clean and Jerk starts.

*Provincial - a 10 min break may be provided, but it is based on the size of the session (number of athletes). Typically, the rule is if more than 9 competitors are in a session a 10 min break will not be provided.

+Victory Ceremony

The Victory Ceremony takes place right after the competition. The 1st the 2nd and the 3rd place are awarded for individual lifts for the Snatch, the Clean and Jerk as well as for the Total.

*Provincial - rather than awards snatch, clean and jerk, and total provincially we provide for total only.

+Doping Control

Doping Control is conducted according to the IWF Anti-Doping Rules.

*Provincial - this only applies to meets that are subject to doping control. Not all provincial meets will be subject to doping control.

WEIGHTLIFTING EQUIPMENT:

+Platform

All lifts must be executed on the competition platform.

The platform must be square, level and measuring four (4) metres on each side. When the floor surrounding the platform has similar or same colouring, the top edge of the platform must have a different coloured line of at least 150 mm.

The platform may be made of wood, plastic or any solid material and may be covered with a non-slippery material.

The platform shall not be higher than 150 mm.

A clear area measuring one (1) metre surrounding the platform is compulsory. This area must be flat and free from any obstacle including discs.

The dimensions of the stage must be minimum ten (10) x ten (10) m, the height of the top of the platform must be maximum one (1) m, measured from the level where the Referees’ and Jury seats are placed. Standard size steps must be attached to the stage.

When the platform is placed on a stage, restraining bars at least the width of the platform must be suitably and safely fixed to the stage, at minimum two and half (2.5) metres from the front edge of the platform, and two (2) metres from the rear edge, but as close as possible to the front and rear edges of the stage. The restraining bars must be maximum two-hundred (200) mm high and maximum twohundred (200) mm wide.

Chalk and resin must be provided on the stage, near the platform on the athlete entry side; bar cleaning disinfectant and tools must be provided next to the stage for the loaders. A strecher must be provided near the stage for the transport of an injured athlete.

+The Bars

The men’s bar weighs 20 kg and the women’s bar weighs 15 kg and must meet special specifications.

Markings on the bars:

Weightlifting bars must have coloured identification markings to facilitate their recognition. The men’s bar must mhave blue markings and the women’s bar yellow markings. These colours correspond to those of the 20 kg and 15 kg discs.

+The Discs

The discs must be of the following weights and colours:

Red - 25kg, 2.5kg Blue - 20kg, 2kg Yellow - 15kg, 1.5kg Green - 10kg, 1kg White - 5kg, 0.5kg

The diameter of the largest discs: 450 mm with a tolerance of ± 1 mm.

The 450 mm discs must be covered with rubber or plastic and coated on both sides with permanent colours or painted at least on the surface of the rim.

The discs lighter than ten (10) kg may be made of metal or other material as approved.

All the discs must have a clear indication of their weight.

+The Collars

In order to secure the discs to the bar, each bar must be equipped with two collars weighing 2.5 kg each for men and women.