USA Masters Rules

USA Masters follow the IMWA Masters rules, with some exceptions.

These are the exceptions:

* AGE GROUPS: The world age groups end with M85 and W75 while the USA masters have both men and women's age groups to infinity.
* Men are allowed to use the 15 kilo bar (or 10kg) if needed.
* Minimum weight on the bar is 20 kilos for men and women (except at Howard Cohen American Masters, where there are no Qualifying totals and the 5kg bar may be used, making the minimum starting weight 10kg. 
* Spring collars are allowed.
* The USA Masters does not use a jury at our nationals, unless national referee testing is being done. * Athletes who miss all 3 snatches are still allowed to clean and jerk in USA events

**National Masters records can NOT be broken at local competitions. Records may only be broken at any of the 4 Master competitions throughout the year as well as any USAW National drug tested event (with the exception of American Masters ​meet records).

** The IMWA Masters follow and abide by all the IWF Rules relating to the following.

• The two lifts and general technical rules relating to the two lifts.
• Categories (body weight)
• Equipment
• Jury
• Competitors clothing, e.g.. costume, footwear, belt, and bandages.

The 80% Rule
At weigh in, you must give your starting attempts. Your start weights for the snatch and clean and jerk must total within 80% of your qualifying total or you will not be allowed to start. For the World Championships, OR if your entry total differentiates you between A and B (or C) sessions, the 80% rule applies to the entry total. If there are NO qualifying totals for an event, the 80% rule is not applied.​


ADDITIONAL RULES RELATING TO THE MASTERS

The IMWA Masters organize lifting in 11 (age) groups for men within each body weight category. This would apply for World Championships. The age groups are
M35 age 35-39
M40 age 40-44
M45 age 45-49
M50 age 50-54
M55 age 55-60
M60 age 60-64
M65 age 65-69
M70 age 70-74
M75 age 75-79
M80 age 80-84
M85+ age 85 and up
(USA events allow age categories to continue to infinity: example M90, etc.)

The IMWA Masters organize lifting in nine (9) age groups for women within each body weight category. The age groups are
W35 age 35-39
W40 age 40-44
W45 age 45-49
W50 age 50-54
W55 age 55-59
W60 age 60-64
W65 age 65-69
W70 age 70-74
W75+ age 75 and above
(USA events allow age categories to continue to infinity: example W80, etc.)

A weightlifter can enter the Masters program on the 1st January in the year he or she becomes 35 years of age regardless of the fact that the birth date may be as late as the 31st December. He or she may use the previous year as a qualifying period even though they technically are not yet a Master lifter. The same applies for entering a new age category the following year. The previous year may be used to qualify.


Masters Bodyweight Change Rule
At the Technical Meeting before the start of Masters Championships, each athlete confirms the final entry including name of the athlete, age group, and bodyweight category. At the Technical Meeting athletes may move up to a higher body weight category or down to a lower body weight category. An athlete must have achieved the qualifying standard in whatever class they enter. Advanced changes of body weight categories must be notified to the Secretariat. Any athlete can move up to a higher body weight category at the time of the weigh in. In order to do this the athlete must first attend the weigh in for the body weight category he or she has entered and then also attend the weigh in for the next body weight category above.  ****An athlete is not allowed to go down a body weight category at the weigh in. After information is verified at the Technical Meeting, the entries are considered final. There cannot be any modification of the names or bodyweight categories of the athletes, except in the case of an athlete moving up into a higher bodyweight category as stated above. ​
*** The 2024 IMWA RULE Book states- Athletes cannot move to a higher or lower body weight category at the time of the weigh-in. This will NOT be enforced at the 2024 USA Master events, only IMWA sanctioned International Events.


NEW WEIGH IN RULE: Athletes MUST be weighed in undergarments (articles of the athlete outfit: costume, unitard, shorts and T-shirt are not considered as undergarments). Athletes must not wear shoes or socks or any other footwear during weigh-in.
An athlete who is within the weight of the bodyweight category in which he / she is officially entered is weighed only once. An athlete who is under or over their officially entered bodyweight category may return to the weigh-in room as many times as necessary in order to make the bodyweight category. The returning athlete does not have to follow the sequence of weigh-in order. Changing Weight Class An athlete may move to a lower weight class or move to a higher weight class. You may move to a lower class or higher class provided you have met the qualifying total for that class. For example, a 55kg athlete who has qualified with a total at 55kg that is above the 59kg minimum total may move to either the 49kg class or 59kg class.

For additional IMWA Masters rules, please see: