FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

To enter a Manx Powerlifting sanctioned competition you must have a Manx Powerlifting.   Membership. It can take up to 10 days for processing so make sure you apply in plenty of time.   Memberships last for a calendar year (e.g. 2024), and need to be renewed each year. To apply, please visit 

Opening and closing dates are advertised on our social media platforms, please keep an eye out for them.  Opening times are usually around 8 weeks prior to the competition, and the closing date is around 3 weeks prior to the competition, with weight changes allowed up to 2 weeks following the closing date.

There are no qualifying total requirements to lift in a Manx Powerlifting competition.  The minimum weight required in each of the lifts is 25kg which is the total of the bar plus collars.

For international competitions a qualifying total will be required, details of these can be found on the British Powerlifting website

All Kit must be IPF approved - a full list can be found here 

Bench Only Kit - Required:

• Singlet
• Plain cotton t-shirt

Full Power Kit - Required:

• Singlet
• Plain cotton t-shirt
• Deadlift socks
• Deadlift shoes/slippers

Full Power Kit - Optional:

• Belt
• Knee Sleeves
• Wrist Wraps
• Squat shoes

Membership and ID

You must bring your Manx Powerlifting Membership details (photo on phone is sufficient) and photo ID, such as driving licence or passport.

Food and drink

Ensure you bring enough food and drink to keep yourself fuelled and hydrated throughout your warm up and allocated lifting time.   

Extras

Bands and a foam roller are useful for your warm up, if you don't have these yourself you can borrow them at the gym.

You will have an allotted weigh in time based on when your weight category is due to lift - this will be communicated in our social media prior to the event - make sure you're aware of your time slot.  

Arrive in time for your weigh in and ensure you have your Manx Powerlifting Membership details and photo ID with you.  You will also provide your first lifts at weigh in.

Once you have weighed in, it's time to re-fuel and warm up.   There is a dedicated warm up area - please note, only those with British Powerlifting membership will be allowed in the warm up area- parents and helpers are not permitted in this area unless by prior arrangement.

The program runs as Squat, Bench, Deadlift and you will have a specific period of time to warm up before each of the lifts.

For each lift you will be given commands by the referee - make sure you're familiar with these before the meet - you can find details  on the British Powerlifting website

After each lift, you must provide your next lift within 1 minute.

Manx Powerlifting is proud to be a drug tested Powerlifting organisation and is WADA compliant.  You could be drug tested at any time during or after one of our competitions and should familiarise yourself with the WADA Code of Conduct.  If you are taking any medications or supplements, check the ingredients against the WADA Prohibited List.

The three main categories for powerlifting athletes are gender, age and weight.  The age categories are the same for male and female lifters and are as follows:

Sub Juniors - 14-18

Juniors - 19 - 23

Senior - 23 - 39

Masters 1 - 40 - 49

Masters 2 - 50 - 59

Masters 3 - 60 - 69

Masters 4 - over 70

The weight categories are different for male and female lifters and are as follows:

Female

Weight Categories: 43kg, 47kg, 52kg, 57kg, 63kg, 69kg, 76kg, 84kg, 84+kg

Male

Weight Categories: 53kg, 59kg, 66kg, 74kg, 83kg, 93kg, 105kg, 120kg, 120k+kg

At weigh in you must be at or below the weight category that you have entered the competition in.