What counts as a failed lift
This is a plain-English guide. The official IPF Technical Rules are the final word.
Three referees assess every lift. After each one they show a white light for a good lift or a red light for a no lift. You need at least two white lights to pass.
The cards
When a lift fails, the referees raise a coloured card to show the reason. There are three colours, and each points to a type of fault.
Red card
A problem with depth or how far the bar travelled.
| Squat | Bench press | Deadlift |
|---|---|---|
| Not deep enough, or knees not locked at the finish | Bar not lowered to the chest or stomach, or it touched the belt | Elbows not low enough, or not standing fully upright |
Blue card
A problem with your body position or the bar moving the wrong way.
| Squat | Bench press | Deadlift |
|---|---|---|
| Not standing straight with knees locked at the start or finish | Bouncing, downward movement, not pressing to locked arms, or arms not locked before "Start" | Any downward movement before the finish, or resting the bar on the thighs |
Yellow card
A problem with your feet, the signals, or contact.
| Squat | Bench press | Deadlift |
|---|---|---|
| Moving your feet, a spotter helping, elbows supporting the lift, or dropping the bar | Missing a signal, a spotter helping, heaving or thrusting, lifting off the bench, feet on the bench, or lowering before "Start" | Missing the "Down" signal, dropping the bar, or stepping |