FYI... Please be aware of current USA Powerlifting guidelines for meets moving forward.
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USA Powerlifting Precautions for Resuming Powerlifting Competition
May 31, 2020
As USA Powerlifting prepares to resume competition, the following strategies are to be employed for the safety of athletes, staff, and spectators. These precautions must be followed and apply to all levels of competition, from local to national. These policies will be reviewed periodically in light changes made to guidelines regarding reopening, safety of groups and sporting events, and as new information becomes available regarding safety procedures.
All athletes, officials, coaches, and spectators must wear masks, before, during, and following competition. This applies to all present in the venue.
Athletes, coaches and spectators are responsible for bringing their own masks, and the meet director will provide masks for officials, including spotters, scoring staff, referees should they not have their own. Homemade masks are acceptable at this time unless recommendations by health authorities suggest that other types are necessary. Masks should be plain or if printed, fall within the guidelines within the USA Powerlifting rulebook.
Mask use will follow CDC guidelines as follows:
The mouth and nose are fully covered.
The covering fits snugly against the sides of the face so there are no gaps.
The cloth face covering can be tied or otherwise secured to prevent slipping.
The face covering is not shared with anyone else.
Those athletes, staff and/or spectators feeling ill, who have a cough, a fever, or other physical symptoms should withdraw from the competition. Should a participant be found to be ill, they will be removed from the venue.
Registration will take place as usual prior to competition. All participants must:
Bring their own pen or pencil.
All of those either working registration or waiting to register must wear a mask, stand six feet apart, and refrain from touching the registration table, staff, or other lifters.
Equipment check is waived at this time. However, those found to be using equipment illegal for the division they are in, e.g. raw, equipped, etc. will be removed from the meet and must leave the venue. Spot checks will be performed for approved equipment by officials.
Weigh-ins will take place with one athlete and the weigh-in official present only, with the exception of minors, who must have a parent or coach present.
Everyone present in the weigh in room must wear masks and the athlete will show appropriate identification and membership while holding the items. They will not be handed to the weigh in official or placed on the table.
The athlete will stand on the scale which is covered by a paper towel, which will be discarded after each lifter.
Those waiting in line to weigh in must wear masks and stand at least 6 feet apart.
After completing weigh in, the athlete must leave the weigh in room and the area where the weigh in has taken place, i.e. don’t stand and talk to the other competitors.
Competitions will run in sessions, with two flights per session, for a total of 28 athletes per session per platform.
Athletes will arrive 30 minutes prior to weigh in and leave after the session awards and drug testing procedures are complete. Organizers may schedule as many sessions as are practicable each day of competition.
Multiple platform meets will be allowed. However, each platform must be separated by a minimum of 10 feet allowing officials between platforms to maintain appropriate distancing.
The warm-up room will be segregated from the competition area. If it is not possible to put them in separate rooms, they will have dividers to separate competitors and those warming up.
Warmup platforms will be limited to 4 athletes. There may be one coach per athlete. Athletes and coaches are encouraged to assist each other, minimizing personnel in the warm-up area.
Staging area will be separate from the competition area, spectator area, and warmup room. All athletes waiting to enter the platform will maintain 6-foot separation.
Attendees, including athletes, coaches, officials, and spectators in each session may not exceed the limit set by local health authorities. However, multiple sessions may be scheduled with attendees leaving the venue after the session they are participating in.
Spectators, if permitted by following local government guidelines regarding gatherings must be spaced so that they are no closer than 6 feet from other spectators. The spectator area will be separated from the competition and warmup areas. Spectators must wear masks at all times.
Drug testing procedures will remain unchanged, with selected athletes being tested in a private restroom with one testing official, or an official and a parent/coach if a minor. All parties must sanitize their hands prior to entering the testing facility, and all parties must wear masks. The testing official shall wear a new pair of gloves upon entering the testing facility which will remain on throughout the testing process of the athlete. Athletes will complete their own paperwork in the presence of the testing official. Sample will be collected and separated by the athlete per USA Powerlifting procedures, paperwork completed and included, and the package sealed at the direction of the testing official. Identification will be viewed but not handled by the testing official. After each drug test, the athlete and accompanying parent/coach will leave the venue. The testing area, and work surfaces will be sanitized after each testing session, and gloves worn by the testing official replaced.
General precautions:
Bars plates, and collars will be sanitized between each round (i.e., squats round 1, squats, round 2, etc.). This must be accomplished by spray-type disinfectant.
Warmup equipment must be sanitized between each session.
Hand sanitizer or portable hand washing stations will be provided.
One of these sanitizing strategies must be used by the athlete prior to each attempt. Chalk may be applied after hand sanitizing.
Attempts will be given orally, rather than in writing and scoring staff will write them down in the presence of the athlete or coach. The athlete or coach may not touch or approach the scoring table closer than 6 feet.
Local Health Services guidelines in regard to attendance size supersede the above policy.
Please visit the CDC Website for more information on COVID-19
