Lifter Information

To be eligible to register to lift, you must be a woman or girl who is at least 8 years old on the day of the Women’s Barbell Classic event. RBI defines “women and girls” as any persons who have been socialized and/or identify as woman, including transgender and nonbinary persons.

You also must be able to follow the lifting standards outlined in the Women’s Barbell Classic Rulebook and be able to bench press a minimum of 25 pounds and deadlift 45 pounds.

Some main highlights are:

• NO singlet required

• A shirt/tank top must be worn for both the bench press and deadlift events

• During the deadlift something must be between your shins and the bar. If you wear leggings then you are good to go, but if you opt to wear shorts you must wear deadlift socks

• You must wear shoes during the competition. During the deadlift you can wear deadlift slippers.

To see a list of all requirements along with all rules please refer to Women’s Barbell Classic Rulebook.

The first lift completed will be the bench press. The bench press involves the lifter laying on their back on a bench and pressing the barbell upwards. The rules are as follows:

1. The bar will be called “loaded” by the head judge once your weight has been placed on the bar and the platform is ready for you. The platform will have three judges: one head judge and two side judges. There will also be a minimum of three loaders/spotters. If you request a handout, the head spotter at the head of the bench can do this.

2. You have one minute from that time the bar is called “loaded” to approach the bar, get set up, and receive your first command.

3. To bench, you must lay with your back on the bench. Your back and butt must remain in contact with the bench starting when the first command is called and through the end of the lift.

4. Your feet can be either flat on the ground or you can have your heels elevated. Once you receive the first command, you cannot pick your feet up until you rack the bar at the end of the lift. Your feet are allowed to slide; but, again, they cannot come up.

5. You may request blocks to place under your feet if you cannot get the proper footing. This information is to be given during weigh-ins.

6. You must grip the bar with your thumbs around the bar.

7. Your entire hand cannot be outside the rings on the bar.

8. Once you are ready, you can take the bar out of the rack yourself or with a handout from the head spotter. When the head judge sees that your arms are locked out, he/she will give the first command, “Start,” with a lowering of his/her arm.

9. If the judge doesn’t believe you are in the proper position after five seconds, he/she may ask you to re-rack the weight by giving the command “rack” with a backward motion of his/her arm. You will be notified and can start the lift again.

10. Once you have started, you must lower the bar until it reaches your chest and then bring it to a complete stop.

11. Once the bar is motionless on your chest, the head judge will give an audible command of “Press” with a hand motion upwards. At that point, the bar must maintain an upward motion until both of your elbows lock out.

12. When your elbows are locked and the bar is motionless, the head judge will give the “Rack” command with a backward hand motion.

13. The spotters and loaders may assist you in returning the bar to the rack, if necessary.

14. After your lift, the three judges will give their rulings, which will be either a white light/card for a “good” lift or a red light/card for a “no lift.” In order for your attempt to be a good lift, you must get a minimum of two white lights/cards. If you receive two or more red lights/cards, your attempt is a “no lift.”

15. Once your lift is completed, you must exit the platform. After the first two attempts, you need to go straight to the scorers’ table to give your next attempt. You have one minute to do so.

    1. If your lift was good, then your next attempt must increase by a minimum of 5 pounds.

    2. If your lift was a no lift, then you can either opt to repeat the same attempt or increase a minimum of 5 pounds. You cannot ask for an attempt with a lower weight than your opening attempt.

    3. If you do not report to the scorer's table after your first or second attempts, the following will occur:

       1. If your attempt was good, 5 pounds will be added to your next attempt.

       2. If your attempt was a no lift, your next attempt will be the same weight.

16. After you give your attempt, return to the line. After your third lift, you are done until it is time for you to start warming up for deadlifts.

1. Failure to comply with any of the head judge’s commands.

2. Any change in lifting position after the start command is given (besides the lifting of the head). Examples include: butt coming off the bench, shoulders moving on the bench, or movement of hands on the bar. Feet must stay in contact with the floor, but mild incidental foot movement is allowed. Lifting of the foot or changing of position is a reason for disqualification.

3. Sinking of the bar into the chest after the “press” command is given.

4. Heaving the bar off the chest after the “press” command is given.

5. Excessive uneven lockout.

6. Any downward motion of the bar after the “press” command is given.

7. Failure to press the bar into full extension to complete the lift.

8. Any contact of the lifter’s feet with the bench or uprights.

9. Any contact of the bar with the uprights during the execution of the press and is believed to have assisted your lift.

10. Failure to remove the bar to execute the lift within the one minute time limit that starts once the bar is called “loaded” by the head judge.

If your lift is disqualified and you’re not sure why, you are welcome and encouraged to ask one of the judges.

The second lift performed will be the deadlift. For the deadlift, the lifter will lift the barbell from the floor to an upright position and return it to the floor upon the judge’s command. The rules for deadlift are as follows:

1. The bar will be called “loaded” by the head judge once your weight has been placed on the bar and the platform is ready for you. The platform will have three judges: one head judge and two side judges. There will also be a minimum of three loaders/spotters.

2. You have one minute from that time to approach the bar, set up, and receive your first command.

3. You must approach the bar facing the front of the platform and towards the head judge.

4. The judge will signify that he/she is ready for you to start the lift by putting his/her arm in the air.

5. When you are ready, grab the bar and lift it. A lift is classified as an attempt once at the point in which all plates leave the ground.

6. Once you start the lift, the bar must continue in an upright movement until it is locked out. A lockout is when you are standing erect and the knees, hips, and shoulders are in a straight line.

7. When a lockout is achieved, the judge will give a verbal “down” command with downward motion of his/her arm.

8. You must keep both hands in contact with the bar when returning the bar back to the floor in a controlled manner.

9. After you commence your lift, the three judges will give their rulings, which will be either a white light/card for a “good” lift or a red light/card for a “no lift.” In order for your attempt to be a good lift, you must get a minimum of two white lights/cards. If you receive two or more red lights/cards, your attempt is a “no lift.”

10. Once your lift is completed, you must exit the platform. After the first two attempts, you need to go straight to the scorers’ table to give your next attempt. You have one minute to do so.

    1. If your lift was good, then your next attempt must increase by a minimum of 5 pounds.

    2. If your lift was a no lift, then you can either opt to repeat the same attempt or increase a minimum of 5 pounds. You cannot ask for an attempt with a lower weight than your opening attempt.

    3. If you do not report to the scorer's table after your first or second attempts, the following will occur:

       1. If your attempt was good, 5 pounds will be added to your next attempt.

       2. If your attempt was a no lift, your next attempt will be the same weight.

11. After you give your attempt, return to the line. After your third lift, CONGRATULATIONS! You are done and awards will start shortly after all lifters are done

1. Failure to comply with any of the head judge’s commands.

2. Any downward movement of the bar prior to receiving the “down” command.

3. Failure to stand erect with knees, hips, and shoulders in a locked position.

4. Supporting the bar on the thighs during the lift (often known as “ramping”).

5. Jerking of the bar up the thighs during the lift (often known as “hitching”).

6. Stepping forwards, backwards, or laterally during any part of the lift. Rocking between the balls of the feet is permitted.

7. Lowering the bar before receiving the “down” command.

8. Failure to lower the bar with weights back to the platform in a controlled manner after receiving the “down” command. Both hands must stay in contact with the bar until the weight reaches the floor.

9. Failure to start the lift within the one minute time period from when the bar was called “loaded.” The lift officially begins once the lifter makes a bona fide attempt to lift the bar from the platform.

If your lift is disqualified and you’re not sure why, you are welcome and encouraged to ask one of the judges.

• Individual medals will be awarded to 1st, 2nd and 3rd place in each weight class and division (Awards based on total pounds moved)

• Best lifter (Awarded to the woman with the highest DOTS+Age score)

• Biggest bench press (Award based on heaviest single bench press of the day)

• Biggest deadlift (Award based on heaviest single deadlift of the day)

• Team Scoring

  • 1st, 2nd, 3rd place teams

  • A team consists of a minimum of 8 participants up to as many as you wish to be a part of your team.

  • Each individual person who competes will have a DOTS/Age score. It is a mathematical coefficient that measures a lifter’s relative strength by comparing the total weight lifted to their bodyweight and age, providing a fair way to compare performance across athletes of different sizes and age groups. The team score is created by adding the top 8 DOTS+Age scores. The highest total wins. The 2nd and 3rd place teams will receive a plaque and the winner will receive the coveted trophy.

  • FYI: If a person on your team competes in bench press or deadlift only their DOTS+Age score will be considerably less than someone who competes in both (push/pull).