USAWA

The 12th edition of the Rulebook has been published. This includes all rule changes, bylaw changes, and new lifts from the 2024, 2023, and 2022 national meetings.

Notable changes include:

• Tank tops are now allowed in competition.
• Knee sleeves are still disallowed on most lifts, but they are now allowed on the three lifts (Anderson squat, front squat, 12″ base squat) that allow knee wraps.
• Official scoring now uses a gender adjustment (same as IAWA scoring) so that men and women can be ranked together.
• Secretary and Treasurer roles have been separated into two positions.
• Aspiring officials may use up to 2 video tests to achieve their 3 required practical sessions (one in-person session is still required).
• Level 1 officials may substitute up to 15 meets from other organizations such as USA Weightlifting or USA Powerlifting toward their 25-meet qualification for Level 2.
• Meets may be held remotely or hybrid, at the meet director’s discretion. This does not apply to the National Championship.
• The host of the National Meeting may choose to allow virtual attendance.
• The minimum size of a platform is now 8×8 feet (not 8×12).
• Blocks or plates may be used under a lifter’s feet on bench presses.
• The membership fee, after many years at $25, has been increased to $35.

New lifts include:

• Bavarian deadlift (2024)
• Bench press, 2 dumbbells (2024)
• Jefferson finger lifts (2022)
• Saxon deadlift (2024) – note that this uses a metal saxon bar, different from the wooden one used for the Saxon snatch.