Frequently Asked Questions

What equipment is used in APF Meets?

The APF uses a monolift for squatting and specialty bars for every lift. Texas squat bar is used for a squat or a Bulldog bench press bar is used for a bench press.

What kind of knee equipment is allowed in the Raw Division of the APF?

Absolutely no knee equipment is allowed in the standard raw division! This includes knee sleeves or knee wraps. As of September 2015 APF approved an equipped division, "Classic Raw", which allows knee wraps and sleeves. Within this division separate records are kept and under the standard APF Raw Division.

Raw vs Equipped?

Within the 30+ years of APF history only one division for equipped lifting existed which allowed multiple squat suits, briefs, bench shirts, and knee wraps. The only required equipment was a singlet, a sleeveless garment worn under or instead of a shirt, but most lifters opted out. However, the past 5 to 6 years has seen an increase with "Raw" powerlifting becoming ever popular and thus adopting a Raw Division. Unlike the standard division, the Raw Division allows belts, wrist wraps, knee wraps, and even sleeves. For new lifters the Raw Division is recommended.

What is the membership fee for the APF/WPC?

To lift in any APF sanctioned event, you must have a current active membership. The cost for an APF membership is $30. Remember a competitor must be a member the day of the event and in certain cases you may register to be a member at the weigh-ins before the meet. If you are a current member you must present your membership card at the meet. After becoming a new member, you must use the carbon copy of your application as your membership card until APF sends the official card via mail. APF membership is good for one year from the purchase date.

How do I break a State/American/World Record?

Compete in an APF sanctioned meet in Kentucky as a current Kentucky resident. Lifter must compete in the sanctioned weight class and qualify for the division of the current record. A competitor can lift in the open and break age division records, as long as your age is within the limits of that particular age group. The most important factor is a lifter must least 2.5kg more than the current record. Upon completion the record application that will be provided and submitted to the meet director or technical officer on site.
The same rules and regulations apply for American record breaking.
When seeking to break a world record one must compete in an APF National, WPC/AWPC International or World meet. These records cannot be broken at local, state, or regional meets. Lifters must compete in the sanction and weight class, and qualify in the division of the current record. Must exceed the current record by as little as 0.5kg, and record application paperwork must be completed and submitted at the meet.

For more details please consult the WPC Rulebook.

What are some of the differences in the rules with the APF and other federations concerning supportive gear and equipment?

Some of the most common supportive gear and equipment points of interest:

Competitor can only wear one suit, one shirt, and one pair of briefs, however, and each of those must be one whole piece of gear. *Briefs with legs are allowed to be worn under the suit.
On the bench shirts, the Velcro back and open back/split neck shirts are allowed, however, cannot be pulled down so far that it is off the shoulders and making the arm pit crease visible.
Knee wraps up to 2.5 meters are allowed.
The equipment used in competition: APF allows the use of a monolift squat rack, as well as specialized barbells for each lift.
Rules - During the bench press we use the “Press” signal.
We allow 24 hour weigh-ins before the competition as well.

How to qualify for the National/World Meets of the APF/WPC?

To qualify for the Open division at APF Equipped Nationals and the Open Equipped division at AAPF Nationals, a competitor must hit the following qualifying totals at an APF/AAPF meet before entering the National meets. This does not need a qualifying total to enter APF Raw Nationals or the age divisions in APF Equipped AAPF Nationals, nor in the Raw division in AAPF Nationals. One must only need to have totaled in an APF/AAPF sanctioned meet. Qualifying totals and qualifying meets need to have been completed within the calendar year prior or current year of the National meet.

To qualify for WPC Worlds, a competitor must place first through third at APF Equipped or APF Raw Nationals. Otherwise, you must contact the APF Office to know the status of availability on the US team. Normally there are alternate spots, especially in the age divisions. To qualify for AWPC Worlds, one must place first through third at AAPF Nationals.

How is the “Best Lifter” determined in an APF Meet?

All APF powerlifting contests have a number of weight classes for which men and women can compete. APF uses a formula to compare lifters of different bodyweights by using the best lifts for each weight class. The formula then creates coefficients for a lifter’s bodyweight that is to be multiplied by the total amount of weight lifted. Essentially, multiplying the coefficients times the total weight lifted creates a coefficient total that can be compared to coefficient totals from lifters in different weight classes. From there the highest coefficient total is the Best Lifter.

*Note that there are different formulas for men and for women.