The 2018 Southern Squeeze Rules

General Rules

Chalk is the only Gripping aid that is permitted during competition. If a clean hand is preferred for an event, the athlete must wash his or her hands with water. Spitting on the hand is unacceptable.

Hook Grip is not permitted in Grip Sport events.

Lifting Straps are not permitted in Grip Sport events. In some cases, Wrist Wraps may be permitted, and will be listed in the specific rules of each event. Elbow Sleeves and Tendon Wraps are generally permitted as support devices for injuries and preventive measures against injuries. Referee's judgment will be used for support devices that seem questionable.

Extra attempts for record-breaking lifts are not recognized. Although fourth attempts are permitted in Powerlifting and Olympic Weightlifting, most Grip events already permit a fourth attempt and so the athlete should prepare his or her attempts accordingly. The promoter may, of course, allow extra attempts to take place if they are willing to allow this time to be taken before moving on, but should the lifts be completed to the legal requirements, they will not be recognized for Rankings or for Records.

Judging Cadence for attempts will begin by a call from the judge and will end with a call from the judge. If an athlete makes an attempt before the judge makes the call for the attempt, the athlete will have to take the attempt again.

In a Rising Bar format, once the weight has been added to the implement, it is not lowered again unless a loading error is detected.

All competitors must weigh in on a point calibrated or certified calibrated scale no earlier than two hours before the start of the competition.
All weights and devices must have been weighed on a calibrated scale. All weights recorded in the scoresheet are to include the weight of the device (including loading pin, collars, etc.).

Scoring

A reverse strongman scoring will be used.

Example of reverse strongman scoring:
If there are 10 athletes, then it would be 1 point for 1st and 10 points for 10th. All the points are added up at the end. If the points are equal at the end of the contest, then the placings are found by using the count-back method. This is giving the position to the person with the most amounts of wins. If it is still a draw, then you look at the most amount of 2nd places, and then 3rd, 4th, and so forth till there is a winner. If two athletes are level in say 4th place, then they would receive 4.5pts each (4 plus 5 points are added together and halved).

Grippers - 20mm Block Set

The object of this event is to close the heaviest rated gripper as possible. The gripper can be "set" with the off hand by pre-positioning the handles with the off-hand. After taking off the setting hand, the block must then be passed between the handles of the gripper while maintaining a clear view of the gripper handles for the judge. Immediately after passing the block between the handles, the competitor may begin to close the gripper. The close is successful when the handles touch in view of the judge. If the view is blocked by the judge, the athlete's attempt does not count and he/she can try again without losing their turn.

Sanctioned events allow for 4 attempts per person. This is not a Rising Bar event, so if an athlete misses an attempt on a Gripper, they are permitted to drop down to an easier gripper on a following attempt.

Any contact between the non-gripping hand and the gripper as the block is being removed will invalidate the attempt. Similarly, nothing may be in contact with the gripping hand or the gripping arm from the elbow down (for example, the free hand is not allowed to steady the wrist of the gripping hand or hold the spring, etc.).

At no time should the judge touch the hand or forearm of the athlete making an attempt on the gripper.

One-Hand Flask Pinch
Legal Lift Requirements: The athlete must lift the apparatus in a Overhand Pinch Grip and touch the height indicator to the crossbar, which is set for a 7.5” lift. The lifter does not have to be erect upon completion of the attempt.

The hand must be centered, such that the center line of the device is between the widest portion of the outside edges of the index finger and pinky finger. For visual aid, a line can be drawn down the center of the device with a marker if desired.

Because this is a quick lift based on friction, there is no referee's down signal. The referee, however, must be ready to judge that the device makes proper contact with with the crossbar during each attempt.

The lifter must lower the weight under control. If the weight plates accidentally touch the stick rather than the bar itself, referee’s discretion will be used to judge whether the correct height was attained. Pinch gripping the device using an unorthodox underhand grip will not be allowed.

This is a Rising Bar Event.

One-Hand Trilobite Rolling Handle Deadlift

Legal Lift Requirements: The athlete must lift the apparatus by grasping the rolling handle and touch the height indicator to the crossbar, which is set for a 6” lift. The lifter does not have to be erect upon completion of the attempt.

Only the handle is to be grasped with the fingers on one side, and the thumb opposing on the other side. A thumbless grip is not permitted.

The lifter grabs the roller in the center of the handle. If necessary, promoters can mark the center of handle with a permanent marker. The lifter will grab the handle so that the line is between the middle and ring finger with the handle remaining parallel to the ground. 

The lifter will lift the handle until the crossbar indicator comes in contact with the crossbar. If the lifter misses the contact with the crossbar lifter will still need to have the top of the contest loading pin cross the plane of the crossbar, referee’s discretion will be used to judge whether the correct height was attained.

There is no referee’s signal. You do not have to be erect upon completion. You must lower the weight under control (hand grasping it all the way down). If the top accidentally touches the bar before the weight itself, referee’s discretion will be used to judge whether the correct height was attained.

This is a rising bar event.

Medley (Optional and scored separately from main event)

Set-up / Positioning: Various implements/challenges are situated around the competition area. The athlete tries to complete as many of the implements/challenges as possible within the time limit.

This medley will have a 90 second time limit with 12 implements worth 1 point apiece.

Based on each implement/challenge, the completion thereof will be determined by specific criteria (eg. lift to lockout, place on platform, lift to crossbar, one hand, two hands, etc.) which will be demonstrated by the judge prior to the event.