THSPA Rule Book

Texas High School Powerlifting Association

I. GENERAL RULES OF COMPETITION

A. The T.H.S.P.A. recognizes the following lifts, which must be taken in the same sequence in all competitions conducted and approved by the T.H.S.P.A.

1. Squat

2. Bench Press

3. Deadlift

B. Each competitor is allowed three attempts on each lift. The lifter’s best valid attempt on each lift, counts toward his competition total. The winner of a category shall be the lifter who achieves the highest total. The remaining lifters shall be ranked in descending order of total. Lifters failing to achieve a total are eliminated from competition at the Regional and State meets. If two or more lifters achieve the same total, the lighter lifter ranks above the heavier lifter.

C. All T.H.S.P.A. competitors at Regional and State competitions must be enrolled in a Texas Education Agency certified high school in the state of Texas, grades 9-12, and must be eligible for competition under the current U.I.L. standards.

D. All competitors must be sponsored and coached by a full time staff member of his school. Training for competition is to be done using school facilities and under the direction of the above-mentioned coach. Competitors who use private clubs or gyms as their primary training site may be declared ineligible for competition by the T.H.S.P.A. Executive Committee.

II. TEAM COMPETITION

A. Each school must pay a $75.00 associational fee each year for its athletes to be eligible for competition in the T.H.S.P.A. The payment of T.H.S.P.A. dues must be postmarked no later than February 6, 2006. Payments received that are postmarked after February 6, 2006 will be considered late and a $200.00 fine will be assessed. The fined school must then pay the fine prior to the last qualifying date or the school’s lifters will not be eligible for Regional or State Competition. No exceptions will be made.

B. T.H.S.P.A. competition is divided into three divisions on the regional and state levels. Results from invitational meets will be sent to each regional director and rankings for regional qualification will be kept separate by divisions.

1. Division 1 (5A-4A schools)

2. Division 2 (3A schools)

3. Division 3 (2A-1A schools)

C. Division classification will be determined when a school’s state governing body of athletic competition (UIL, TAPPS, TCIL, etc.,) reclassifies based on average daily attendance.

D. Each school is allowed a maximum of eleven competitors spread throughout the range of the eleven weight classes. No more than three competitors from any one school may lift in any particular weight class for team points except at the regional or state meets. Schools may enter “A” or “B” teams if approved by the meet director in advance, but each will be designated at weigh-in and will compete as separate teams. Those competitors designated as “B” team or “extra lifters” will be eligible for all individual awards, but cannot receive the team points. If a “B” team lifter places in the top five in any particular weight class, the points earned for that placing will vanish. At regional and state meets, those qualifiers competing for team points must be designated at the weigh-in (maximum of eleven).

E. Team point scoring for all individual, regional, and state meets will be 7, 5, 3, 2, 1 for the first five finishers in each weight class. Places are awarded on the TOTAL weight lifted in the three lifts: squat, bench press, and deadlift.

F. Team awards shall be given to the first three or five places. In case of a tie, the team having the largest number of first place finishers will be ranked in the highest spot. If teams are also tied in points, and first place finishes, then the team with the most second place finishers will be classified first, and so on. If the schools are still tied after comparing all top five finishers of both schools, then the Schwartz numbers of each team’s medal winners/point scorers will be averaged to break the tie. Exception: At State and Regional level the Schwartz average will be ignored, not the place tiebreaker, for the Team Championship (1^st place only).

G. An invitational meet must consist of no less than three (3) teams, having no less than seven (7) competitors per team. All judges at a Tri- or Quad- meet must be T.H.S.P.A. certified. During the week of the last qualifying date for regional competition (beginning on the Monday prior to the regional meet), an invitational meet must consist of at least five (5) teams with 7 competitors per team.

III. INDIVIDUAL COMPETITION

A. Each lifter must establish a qualifying total in a T.H.S.P.A. certified invitational meet prior to the regional qualifying deadline. These meets are invitational meets in which each meet director can vary the structure of the meet. The allowance to vary meet structure does not extend to varying T.H.S.P.A. Rules of Performance. Examples might range from open meets with schools from all classifications competing together, to meets with separate divisions. A meet director might choose to host a meet with Class A, 2A and 3A schools competing separately from Class 4A and 5A schools. Another option is to have a single division meet, for example Class A-3A schools only.

B. All invitational meet results must be received by the regional director(s) by 4:00 p.m. on the Monday following the invitational meet, or arrangements must be made with the regional director(s). If meet results are not turned in by this time, and no arrangements have been made, the regional director will have the option of refusing the results. The regional director must receive results from meets held on the last qualifying date by 12:00 midnight on that last qualifying date. If meet results are not received by this time, they will not be recorded.

C. Lifters who rank in the top ten totals for their weight class in each region and in each division will qualify for regional meets. Rankings are listed and certified by the T.H.S.P.A. regional directors.

D. Any lifter who qualifies in more than one weight class must declare to the regional director which class he intends to compete in at the regional level. This declaration must be made by the Monday following the deadline qualifying date before 4:00 p.m. If no declaration is made, the regional director will assign the lifter to the heaviest class in which he has qualified. Also, at this date and time, each school becomes responsible for the entry fee for each lifter they have qualified.

E. Lifters may only compete in the weight class in which they qualify at both the regional and state level. Failure to make proper weight will eliminate the lifter from all competition.

F. A lifter who qualifies for the regional meet may qualify for the state meet by either finishing first or second in his weight class or by posting a qualifying total for his class as follows:

Totals posted at invitational meets cannot be used as criteria for state meet qualification.

G. Each lifter, coach, and school must provide certified proof of scholastic eligibility under U.I.L. guidelines prior to competition at the regional and state level. These forms can be found on the website, www.thspa.org.

H. Approved suits of some type must be worn in regional and state meets (one-piece singlet type).

I. Coaches are required to notify Regional Directors if a regional or state qualifier cannot participate in these meets so the alternates may be allowed the opportunity to lift.

J. State records may only be established by lifts performed at the state meet.

K. At the platform’s discretion, a lifter who intentionally drops or dumps a bar in the squat or deadlift events shall be disqualified from further competition. No previous warning is required; this rulebook and/or coaches pre-competition meeting shall serve as a “first-warning”.

IV. LIFTING EQUIPMENT AND SPECIFICATIONS

A. PLATFORM

All lifts shall be carried out on a platform measuring between 5’x5’ minimum and 8’x8’ maximum. The surface of the platform may be treated with an approved non-slip coating. Loose rubber mats or similar materials are not permitted. Interlocking rubber mats are permitted, provided they allow for firm footing and are not loose. No one is allowed on the platform except the lifter, the designated spotter/loaders, the platform referees, and other meet officials as designated if the need arises. Any cleaning, mopping, brushing, or adjusting of the platform shall be handled solely by these official personnel unless otherwise designated by the Chief Referee.

B. BARS AND DISCS

For all powerlifting contests organized under the rules of the T.H.S.P.A., only disc barbells are permitted. The use of bars or discs that do not meet the correct specifications will invalidate the contest and any records accomplished. Only those bars and discs that meet all specifications may be used throughout the entire competition and for all lifts. The bar shall not be changed during an event (squat, bench, or deadlift) unless it is bent or damaged in some way as determined by the referees.

1. The BAR shall be straight and well knurled or grooved, should have a center section of knurls or grooves if used for squats, and shall conform to the following dimensions:

a. Total overall length not to exceed 7’,

b. Distance between the collar faces must not be less than 4’,

c. Weight of the bar and collars is to be:

(1.) 55 pounds if using 5 pound collars

(2.) 55 pounds if using 2 ½ pound collars in combination with 2 ½ pound discs

(3.) 50 pounds if using a 2 ½ pound collars without discs

(4.) 45 pounds if using negligible weight plastic or spring collars

d. Diameter of the sleeve is 2”,

e. There shall be a diameter machine marking or the bar taped so as to measure 23” between machining or tape.

2. DISCS shall conform as follows:

a. All discs used in competition must weigh within .25 percent of their correct face value,

b. The hole size in the middle of the disc may be a maximum of 2.25” to 2” minimum,

c. All discs must be clearly marked with their weight and loaded in the sequence of heavier discs innermost with the small discs in descending weight arranged so that they can read the numbers of each disc,

d. The first and heaviest discs loaded on the bar must be loaded face in, with the rest of the discs loaded face out as weight is loaded,

e. The diameter of the largest disc shall be no more than 20”.

C. COLLARS

1. Shall always be used in competition.

2. Collars may weigh 5 pounds each, 2 ½ pounds each, or be negligible weight as long as they are used in matched pairs and combined weight of the collars and bar are consistent with specifications above for “Bar”.

D. SQUAT RACKS

1. Squat racks shall be of a sturdy construction and provide maximum stability. The base shall be of such design that it does not impede the lifter or the spotter/loaders. It may consist of a one-piece unit or two separate stands designed to hold the bar in a horizontal position.

2. The squat rack shall be designed to adjust.

3. Height adjustments should be made in incremental stages not to exceed 2 inches.

4. All hydraulic racks must be capable of being secured at the required height by means of pins.

E. BENCH

1. The bench must be of a sturdy construction and provide stability and conform to the following dimensions:

a. Length – not less than 4’ and shall be flat and level,

b. Width – 11” to 12.25”,

c. Height – 16” to 18” measured from the floor to the top of the padded surface of the bench without being depressed or compacted.

d. Minimum width between insides of bar rests shall be 4’.

F. LIGHTS

1. A system of lights shall be provided whereby the referees make known their decisions.

2. Each referee will control two lights with one representing a “good lift” and the other “no lift”.

3. The lights should be arranged horizontally to correspond with the positions of the three referees. They should be wired in such a way that they light up together and not separately when activated by the three referees.

4. For emergency purposes, i.e., a breakdown in the electrical system, the referees will manually (flags, thumbs up or thumbs down) make known their decisions.

V. COSTUME AND PERSONAL EQUIPMENT

A. The lifting suit shall consist of a one-piece full-length suit of a one-ply stretch material without any additional patches or padding. The straps must be worn over the shoulders at all times while lifting in competition. The lifting suit shall also be subject to the following requirements:

1. It may be any color or combination of colors.

2. Emblems may be worn on the lifting suit if they do not aid the lifter in his attempt.

3. Length of the leg must not exceed 6” from the middle of the crotch. Measurement is to be taken by making a line from the top seam of the crotch and measuring down the inseam of the leg from this line.

4. Any alterations to the costume, which exceed the established widths, lengths or thicknesses previously mentioned, shall make the suit illegal for competition.

5. Denim and/or canvas have been deemed to be non-stretch, non-elastic materials. Squat suits and/or singlets made of denim and/or canvas have been judged to unduly compromise the joint integrity of the young lifter, and so will not be allowed in T.H.S.P.A. competition.

6. Leotards with sleeves or high cut leg lines or any other lifting suit not meeting specification listed above are not permitted.

B. A T-SHIRT may be worn under the lifting suit. When worn, the T-shirt sleeve must remain at least .25” above the elbow, but shall not be pushed or rolled up. The T-shirt must be made of lycra, cotton, polyester or a combination of the three. Other materials not per this specification are not permitted except as listed in V-B-4 to follow.

1. It may have a “V” or “U” shaped collar.

2. It may be of any color or combination of colors.

3. It shall not have any pockets, buttons, zippers, velcro, or collar other than per V-B-1.

4. Bench press shirts of a common commercially accepted design will be allowed. It shall consist of a one-piece, one-ply stretch material without any additional patches or padding. However, denim and/or canvas have been judged to unduly compromise the joint integrity of the young lifter, and so will not be allowed in T.H.S.P.A. competition.

5. Deadlift or upper torso support shirts of a common commercially accepted design will be allowed. It shall consist of a one-piece, one-ply stretch material without any additional patches or padding.

6. Emblems may be worn on the T-shirt in T.H.S.P.A. competition, but may not include obscene or suggestive designs.

C. An ATHLETIC SUPPORTER or standard cotton or nylon briefs of a single ply shall be worn under the lifting suit. Swimming trunks or any other undergarments consisting of rubberized or similar stretch material are not permitted. The undergarments shall have no legs. Girdles or tights in conjunction with the lifting suit are strictly forbidden. Lifting briefs of a common commercially accepted design may be worn as underwear in conjunction with the lifting suit. A combination of underwear and lifting briefs is not allowed. Lifting briefs shall consist of a one-piece, one-ply stretch material without any additional patches or padding.

D. SOCKS

1. Socks may be of any color or combination of colors.

2. They shall not be of such length on the leg that they are underneath the knee wrapping or one-piece kneecap supporters when in use. This does not pertain to the piece of knee wrapping that is used to tie off the knee wrap.

3. Socks may not extend beyond the bottom surface of the kneecap.

4. Tights or hose are strictly forbidden.

E. SHOES OR BOOTS shall be worn; the heels of which shall not extend laterally beyond the upper edge of the shoes

1. Shoes shall be taken to include boots, sport shoes, trainers, gymnastic slippers or any foot covering that has a patterned molding or foot type outline that provides an inner sole.

2. Shoes with metal, rubber or molded cleats or spikes are not permitted.

F. BELTS

A competitor may wear a belt. If worn it shall be on the outside of the lifting suit.

1. MATERIALS AND CONSTRUCTION

a. The belt may be of any material.

b. The belt may have padding.

c. If a leather belt is used, the tongue loop shall be attached by means of studs and/or stitching.

d. The name of the lifter’s nation, state, school, mascot, club, or name may appear on the outside of the belt.

e. Belts with lever action buckles are allowed as long as they meet all other requirements mentioned above and below.

f. Belts with velcro strapping are also allowed as long as they meet all requirements mentioned above and below.

2. DIMENSIONS

a Width of belt – maximum of 4 inches.

b. Thickness of belt – maximum of .5” along the main length.

c. Outside width of buckle –