Events

• Bench Press
• Deadlift
• Combination (Benchpress and Deadlift)
• Squat
• Combination (Benchpress, Deadlift, and Squat)

Attire

Proper attire should be worn (no jeans or sweat suits)

1. A one-piece lifting suit or wrestling singlet should be worn.  The only exception being the full length aerobic suit worn in the bench press by athletes with physical disabilities (see modifications under 4).
2. Wraps may be used:  maximum size=8cm wide and 1m long.  The wrap may not be more than 10cm above or 2cm below the wrist.
3. Participants in the squat or bench press must wear a T-shirt during competition.  Women must also wear a T-shirt when competing in the deadlift.
4. Athletes with physical disabilities (ex. Wheelchair, cerebral palsy, amputees), may wear a two-piece outfit with both upper and lower pieces being form fitting, either snug fitting track trousers or snug fitting shorts may be worn.  A full-length aerobic suit may be worn while performing the bench press.  Lifting with a prosthesis is allowed and orthosis with shoes will be allowed.

Awards

All awards will be on Sunday at the venue beginning at 9:00 a.m.

Equipment

1. Leather or vinyl belts may be worn.  They can be no more than 10cm wide, 10mm thick and encircle the body only once.
2. In 2005, athletes not properly attired (including belt size) will be disqualified.

Facilities

The Connelly Center will have changing rooms upstairs from the Villanova Room on the upper level.  These changing rooms (Bryn Mawr Room, Rosemont Room, and Haverford Room) will serve as the locker rooms and will be clearly designated by signage.  Signs will also designate the gender of the changing rooms.  There will be bathrooms downstairs next to the Villanova Room, which will also be clearly marked.  There will be a warm-up area for the athletes separated by wooden panel doors from the competition area.

Rules — Download the Special Olympics Official Powerlifting Rules

A.  Divisioning - Athletes will be divisioned according to the Wilkes Formula.  What is divisioning?

1. This formula will be used to ensure that divisions have at least three participants.
2. The lifter’s body weight (BW) has a coefficient listed in the Summer Sports Rules Book. That coefficient is multiplied by the lifter’s total score/best lift.  This equals the lifter’s Wilkes
   Formula Total (WFT)

B.   Equipment - The following guidelines should be followed for all safety equipment:

1.   No gloves are allowed. 

2.   Non-stretch/non-metal (with the exception of the buckle) belts may be worn.  The belt is to   be no more than 10cm wide, 13mm thick, and can circle the body only one time.

3.   Chalk and powder are legal substances to be added to the body and/or attire.

1. Only those greater or lighter than the category limit are allowed to return to the scales within the limits of the hour and 30 minutes allowed from the beginning of the weigh-in.
2. An athlete weighing-in above the upper limit for a weight class will be moved to the next heavier weight class.
3. An athlete weighing in below the minimum limit for a weight class may, at the discretion of the chief referee, be permitted to lift in the next lightest weight class if that competition is available.
4. If competition in the lighter weight class is not available, the athlete will be permitted to lift outside the official competition and receive a participant’s ribbon.
5. Weigh-ins will take place upstairs in the Connelly Center from 7:00 a.m. – 8:00 a.m.  Female weigh-ins will take place in The Haverford Room and male weigh-ins will take place in The Rosemont Room.
6. Coaches must give starting weights for the competition at weigh-in.

F.    Squat Competition – Head coaches who have attended an approved squat lift clinic may enter their athletes in the squat lift.

1. Those athletes wishing to perform the squat must be assessed during weigh–in Saturday morning unless they were assessed during Fall Sectionals.
2. Squat competition for approved athletes will take place after the deadlift and bench press competition.

Powerlifting Divisioning and Competition Classes

Tentative Schedule of Events

Sports Rules Committee

• Venue Coordinator: Justin Silva
• SOPA Sport Director: Sean Hanley
• Head Coach: TBA
• Alt. Head Coach: TBA