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Philosophy of Refereeing
Larry Maile
Category I Referee
At the Junior World Championships, I took, and passed my IPF Category I referees examination. The Cat I exam includes 40 squats, and 30 of each bench presses and deadlifts. The exam starts with second attempts, because the presumption is that most lifters will complete their openers both with ease, and in good technical form. Infractions of the technical rules are more likely to occur when the lift becomes more difficult, and therefore, only later attempts are counted for the examination. Three Category I examiners scrutinize the performance of the examinee. They must concur that the prospective Cat I referee does not have more than a 10% error rate. In my case, to get a sufficient number of attempts, I had to referee two consecutive sessions, eight and a half hours of consecutive refereeing.
This is not a complaint, or questioning the process. Rather, it is an explanation of the standard that is expected out of senior referees. You are expected to know the rules, know where to access new rule interpretations (the IPF Technical Newsletter), and, maybe equally important, stay alert during long sessions. One note on the Technical Newsletter, and rule interpretations: These are the only additions or deletions allowed under the rules. As a referee, you may not interpret what is not there, nor may you extend the rules or provide your own standards. You must enforce the rules as they are written, and interpreted by the Technical Committee.
But, as a referee, something besides the rigor of the standards you uphold is expected. That is, that you either make of break the competitive experience for the athlete. That is not to say that you loosely interpret rules so that more lifters make attempts. Rather, you have the opportunity to be one of the friendly faces the lifter sees on the platform. Many athletes from other countries nod or bow to the referees prior to addressing the weight. This is them showing respect to you, and you should return that respect.
The Jury at the World Juniors follows the competition.
The Jury is the final arbiter of what meets standards and what doesn't. It is the duty of the Jury to consult, and instruct the referees on deviations from the rules, and to replace referees who make repeated technical mistakes. The Jury has the latitude of removing a referee who doesn't respond to instruction, and to award an additional attempt to an athlete who has been subject to inappropriate or unfair refereeing.
Finally, the role of referee is to instruct athletes and coaches on proper technique. That may be done prior to the competition, or after its conclusion. If a coach or athlete questions a call (not during the lifting, of course), THAT is an opportunity to explain their infraction, and proper performance under the rules.
 | IPF Approved Supportive Equipment:
Approved list of apparel and equipment for
use at IPF sanctioned competitions. | |
Updated: 10th September 2003.
Only Bars and Plates officially registered and approved by the Technical Committee here listed,
shall be permitted for use in World, Regional, and Continental Championships.
INZER: "Z-Suit"
"Champion Suit"
"Hard Core Suit"
“MAX DL” Deadlift suit
"Iron Wraps"
"Erector shirt with sleeves"
"Blast Shirt"
"Heavy Duty Blast Shirt (HD)"
"High Performance Heavy Duty Blast Shirt (HPHD)"
"Extra High Performance Heavy Duty Blast Shirt (EHPHD)"
"Heavy Duty Inzer erector shirt"
"Phenom shirt"
TITAN: "Squat Suits
"Centurion Suits"
"Red Devil" wraps
"Signature Gold" wraps
"Titanium" Wraps
"Deadlift Suit"
"Titan Fury Shirts"
"Knee Wraps T.H.P."
"Wirst Wraps T.H.P."
CRAIN: "Bench Press Shirt"
"Mega Power Bench Press Shirt"
METAL: "Metal Squatter"
"Metal Squatter v-type"
"Metal Bencher"
"Metal Deadlifter"
"Metal Blackline Wraps"
MARATHON "Marathon Suits"
From 1st January 2003 Marathon wraps will no longer be legal.
Approved bar, plates and racks:
ER EQUIPMENT: "Bench/Squat Racks"
IVANKO: P/L bars and discs
LEOKO: P/L bars and discs
ELEIKO: All equipment of Eleiko is approved, included bars and discs.
Approved logos:
Adidas
GNC Pro Performance / Quest-Nutrition USA
Power-House Japan
Proform Fitness KFT
(The logo fee costs 250 € each Year)
Courtesy of:
John Stephenson, IPF Technical Committee Chairman
and Gaston Parage, IPF Treasurer.
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