Competitions - Part 2

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Competitions are becoming more accessible with every passing year. Even during the pandemic induced lockdowns, we still had virtual competitions. How effective / enjoyable those were is a debate for another time. But the point still stands, if you want to compete, there are usually options available.

Whilst entering your first official competition can be quite expensive (once you add up membership costs, entry fees, singlet purchase, travel, accommodation, enough caffeine to put an elephant into cardiac arrest and some other essentials). There are now more accessible options such as ‘Academy Opens’ and more frequent 'unofficial' in-house competitions at local gyms, which don’t require all the above (although caffeine seems to be non negotiable staple amongst lifters).

Anyways, once you decide to enter. First thing to note is, your ability to lift a barbell, won’t necessarily mean you know what to do in competition.

Taking a coach with you or going along with someone who’s competed before will give you a leg up, as there’s a bunch random rules and procedures you’ll have to follow.

We’ll try our best to run through these quickly below without boring the socks off you.

Registration

Once entered online through the BWL portal, on the day, you and your nominated coach(s) will have to go to the registration desk to collect your accreditation. The accreditation pass lets you enter the warmup, weigh-in and other ‘back-stage’ competition areas. Your coach’s passes will allow them to enter the warmup room. At BWL events, your coach will have to have a BWL Level 2 qualification and valid coaching licence. Check these are in order in advance to avoid disappointment on the day.

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Bodyweight and weigh-in

‍When entering a competition, you’ll be asked on the registration form what bodyweight category you want to compete in. See our “guide to weight class selection” for more specific guidance, but if this is your first competition, chose the weight class you’re comfortably sitting in or even go up one.

There’s plenty to be thinking about in your first competition, stressing about bodyweight won’t do you any favours here. Save that stress for later.

Typically, in the week running into competition, you will be sent a competition schedule with a ‘Weigh-in’ time and a ‘competition start’ time. The weigh-in time is when you need to be at the venue, ideally a few min before to collect your accreditation and do your 1’s and 2’s (IFYKYK).

Weigh-in will start 2h before your competition and you will have up to 1h before the session starts to ‘make’ weight i.e. weigh in at or below your weight class limit.. You’ll always see one or two lifters on a bike or jogging wearing 2 hoodies during this hour.

Don’t let that be you! And definitely not at your first competition.

Weigh-in should be clearly marked, if not follow the crowd of lifters. Take with you, yourself, a form of ID and your BWL membership number. The technical official (“TO”) will call your name. Follow their instructions, you can’t go wrong here. They’ll first ask you to step on the scales, (you can remove clothing if needed to make weight, but you don’t need to, we typically weigh-in wearing just underwear). The TO will be of the same gender as the category you are competing in.  

The TO will then ask you for your competition opening lifts or ‘openers’. We cover these in the next chapter. Once you declare these, the TO will ask you to check they’ve noted them and your bodyweight correctly. You sign the form. And you’re done! Head off and get some food in you.

We’d recommend not leaving the venue between weigh-in and competition start. It won’t happen at larger events, but at some of the smaller competitions, if the session before you finishes quicker than expected. The event organisers may move up the competition schedule. If you’re not in the venue, you might get caught off guard and have a rushed warm-up or even worse, miss the entire session if they can’t get hold of you.

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If you need more guidance on your competition prep, from us an email on hello@stashweightlifting.com or via our social media channels.

We'll be happy to help.

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