Competition Rules of Chin-Up Repetitions
1.0 General
The competitor attempts to do as many continuous chin-up repetitions as possible with his/her own body weight.
The competitor has one competitive attempt plus possible extra rounds in case of tie results for competitors who
weight the same and place in the top 3. The result is the number of valid chin-up repetitions.
2.0 Competion License
A valid Competition License is required in all competitions organized by the Finnish Chin-Up Association.
Any person participating in Men’s, Women’s or Masters’ (over 40 years) competitions must sign an antidoping
agreement with the Finnish Chin-Up Association at least three monts prior to his/her first competition. Additionally,
the annual fee of the Competition License must be paid by the date of the competition.
Any person participating in Youth’s (under 19 years) competitions may alternatively obtain the Youth License which
must be paid by the date of competition.
The Finnish Chin-Up Association agrees to conform to the regulations of the Finnish Antidoping Agency. All
competitors are subject to the regulations and testing by the Finnish Antidoping Agency.
Only Finnish citizens may compete in Finnish Championships. In other competitions anyone can take take part
regardless of citizenship.
3.0 Weigh-In
The competitors are divided into competition classes based on their sex, weight and/or age. The weight classes are
in the form of ”even and under”. The competitors are weighted at least 30 minutes before the start of the competition
class. The weigh-in takes place with closed doors with one competitor in the room at a time. The competitor may go
to the weigh-in several times during the weigh-in period in case his/her weight does not classify to the weight class
he/she has registered for. Once his/her weights classifies to the weight class, no further weigh-ins are allowed. The
competitor can choose to be weighed nude or in minimal underwear, no other clothing is allowed. At the weigh-in,
the body mass is measured to the nearest tenth of a kilogram. In one competition, the competitor may participate in
one competition class only. It is not allowed to change the competition class after the registration time has passed.
The officials are not allowed to give the competitor any information on the weigh-in results of other competitors.
In case the competitor has a medical condition that prevents the full extension of his/her elbow joints he/she must
present a medical certificate of the condition to the organizers at the weigh-in.
All competitors must have a valid membership id card to present at the weigh-in.
Example: A competitor who weighs in at 70,0 kg, competes in the weight class 70 kg, while a competitor who weighs in at
70,1 kg competes in the weight class 80 kg.
4.0 Competition Classes
Men Women Men over 40 years Men over 50 years Men over 60 years Men over 70 years Finnish Chin-Up Association
60 kg, 70 kg, 80 kg, 90 kg, 100 kg, 110 kg, over 110 kg
50 kg, 60 kg, 70 kg, over 70 kg
80 kg, 100 kg, over 100 kg
80 kg, 100 kg, over 100 kg
80 kg, 100 kg, over 100 kg
80 kg, 100 kg, over 100 kg
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Women over 40 years Women over 50 years Women over 60 years Women over 60 years Boys under 19 years Boys under 15 years Boys under 11 years Boys under 7 years Girls under 19 years
Girls under 15 years Girls under 11 years Girls under 7 years 60 kg, over 60 kg
60 kg, over 60 kg
60 kg, over 60 kg
60 kg, over 60 kg
70 kg, over 70 kg
open weight class
open weight class
open weight class
50 kg, over 50 kg
open weight class
open weight class
open weight class
The competitor may participate in men’s and women’s competition classes of over 40, 50, 60 and 70 years earliest
in the year he/she reaches the given age. The competitor may participate in boys’ and girls’ competition classes of
under 19, 15, 11 and 7 years until the end of the year that he/she reaches the given age. Men’s and women’s classes
are open for competitors of any age.
5.0 Rack
The rack used in the competition must be authorized by Finnish Chin-Up Association. The diameter of the bar is
28 mm and the width is 120 cm. The bar must be straight and unflexible. The bar may be knurled but not taped. In
Finnish Championships and Finnish Cup competitions the height of the bar measured from the floor level is 260 cm.
On the front side of the rack (measuring 47,5 cm from the vertical line of the bar) stands the Motion Limiter, a wall
which purpose is to limit the swinging motion of the competitor.
6.0 Equipment
Men
Women
Pants, sleeveless shirt (shoulders must be visible)/without shirt, socks/barefoot
Pants, sleeveless shirt (shoulders must be visible), socks/barefoot
The competitor is not allowed to use wrist straps, tapings or resin in his/her hands. The only allowed substance in
the hands is the magnesium powder provided by the organizer. In case the competitor has a long beard, the referees
may request him to tie it with a rubber band or such.
Wearing irregular equipment leads to disqualification of the competitive attempt.
7.0 Course of the Competition
The competitor approaches the rack on his/her own turn. The competition order is decided and announced by the
organizer. After the Chief Referee has given the ”GRIP” command, the competitor grasps the bar (8.0) and goes to
the Down Position (9.1). When the competitor is in an acceptable Down Position, the Chief Referee gives the ”PULL”
command and the competitor may start the Upward Movement (9.2) towards the Up Position (9.3). Once clearing
the Up Position, the competitor returns to the Down Position via the Downward Movement (9.4) to wait for the next
”PULL” command. When the competitor releases one or both hands from the bar, the Chief Referee gives the ”STOP”
command which marks the end of the competitive attempt.
The competition consists of one competition round. If two or more competitors weigh the same and get the same
result that would place them in the top 3, they will perform an extra round for that particular placement (12.3).
Notes: The competitor is allowed to start each chin-up effort only after the ”PULL” command. The ”PULL” command will be
given when the elbow joints are extended and locked. There are no limitations to the movement of the legs or the pelvis
after the ”PULL” command other than that the ankles must remain crossed. The Upward Movement may twitch downwards
but the full extention of the elbow joints is interpreted as the end of that particular chin-up effort and the competitor must
then receive a new ”PULL” command before the next effort.
8.0 Grip
The competitor holds the bar with two hands using either supinated grip (palms facing backward), pronated grip
(palms facing forward) or semi-supinated grip (one palm facing backward, the other facing forward). The width of
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the grip is decided by the competitor within the limits of the bar (120 cm). The competitor is not allowed to widen
or narrow his/her grip width during the competitive attempt. The competitor may improve his/her grip of the bar as
long as both hands remain in contact with the bar. The competitive attempt ends when the competitor releases one
or both hands from the bar.
9.0 Phases of the Chin-Up Repetition
9.1 Down Position
The Down Position is a phase when the competitor:
• hangs from the bar with his/her arms straight and motionless (elbow joints extended and ”locked”)
• is in touch only with the bar by his/her fingers and palms
• holds his/her legs crossed at the ankles (the front of one ankle touches the back of another)
9.2 Upward Movement
The Upward Movement is a phase when the competitor:
• moves from the Down Position to the Up Position
• holds his/her legs crossed at the ankles
• may touch the Motion Limiter with his/her legs but may not take support or gain momentum from the
Motion Limiter, the rack, the floor or other structures
9.3 Up Position
The Up Position is a phase when the competitor:
• completely passes the bar with the tip of his/her chin both horizontally and vertically (picture 1)
• holds his/her legs crossed at the ankles
• may touch the Motion Limiter with his/her legs but may not take support or gain momentum from the
Motion Limiter, the rack, the floor or other structures
• may not raise his/her elbows above the top of the bar
9.4 Downward Movement
The Downward Movement is a phase when the competitor:
• moves from the Up Position to the Down Position
• may touch the Motion Limiter with his/her legs but may not take support or gain momentum from the
Motion Limiter, the rack, the floor or other structures
10.0 Judging
The competitive attempt is supervised by the Chief Referee, the Leg Referee and the Chin Referee. A chin-up effort is
valid if none of the three referees disqualify it by calling ”HANDS”, ”CHIN”, ”LEGS” or ”STOP”.
10.1 Chief Referee
The Chief Referee supervises the competitor’s Down Position and the competitor’s grip of the bar during
the entire competitive attempt. The Chief Referee gives the competitor the ”GRIP” command to mark
the beginning of the competitive attempt and the ”PULL” command every time the competitor is in an
acceptable Down Position.
In case the competitor starts the Upward Movement before the Chief Referee has given the ”PULL”
command, the Chief Referee gives the ”HANDS” call, which leads to disqualification of the current chin-up
effort. The competitor may then cancel the current chin-up effort and return to the Down Position to wait
for a new ”PULL” command.
In case the competitor releases one or both hands from the bar, the Chief Referee gives the ”STOP”
command which marks the end of the competitive attempt. In case the competitor is in the Upward
Movement or in the Up Position at the time of the release, the current chin-up effort is disqualified.
10.2 Leg Referee
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The Leg Referee supervises the competitor’s legs during the entire competitive attempt.
In case the competitor fails to keep his/her legs crossed at the ankles in the Upward Movement or in the
Up Position, the Leg Referee gives the ”LEGS” call, which leads to disqualification of the current chin-up
effort. The competitor may then cancel the current chin-up effort and return to the Down Position to wait
for a new ”PULL” command.
In case the competitor takes support or gains momentum from the Motion Limiter, the rack, the floor or
other structures in the Upward Movement, in the Up Position or in the Downward Movement, the Leg
Referee gives the ”LEGS” call, which leads to disqualification of the current chin-up effort. The competitor
may then cancel the current chin-up effort and return to the Down Position to wait for a new ”PULL”
command.
10.3 Chin Referee
The Chin Referee supervises the competitor’s chin in the Up Position.
In case the competitor does not completely pass the bar with the tip of his/her chin both vertically and
horizontally in the Up Position, the Chin Referee gives the ”CHIN” call, which leads to disqualification of the
current chin-up effort. The competitor may then cancel the current chin-up effort and return to the Down
Position to wait for a new ”PULL” command.
In case the competitor raises one or both elbows above the top of the bar in the Up Position, the Chin
Referee gives the ”STOP” command which marks the end of the competitive attempt and leads to
disqualification of the current chin-up effort.
10.4 Video Review
If possible, all competitive attempts are recorded by a video camera positioned so that the recording shows
the competitor’s upper body (most notably the chin) and the bar from the side view in the Up Position.
In case the Chin Referee is uncertain if the competitor completely passed the bar with the tip of his/her
chin both vertically and horizontally in the Up Position, the Chin Referee and the Chief Referee review the
attempt from the video recording.
Video recordings are also used in case of protests.
10.4 Commands and Calls of the Referees
”GRIP”
Consequence
The competitor may grasp the bar and go to the Down Position.
”PULL”
Cause Consequence
The competitor is in the Down Position.
The competitor may start the Upward Movement.
”STOP”
Cause The competitor has released one or both hands from the bar AND/OR the competitor has
raised one or both elbows above the top of the bar in the Up Position.
ConsequenceThecompetitiveattemptmaynotbecontinued.IncasethecompetitorisintheUpward
Movement or in the Up Position at the time of the call, the current chin-up effort is
disqualified.
”HANDS”
Cause The competitor has started the Upward Movement before the ”PULL” command.
ConsequenceThe current chin-up effort is disqualified but the competitive attempt may be continued.
”LEGS”
Cause The competitor has taken support or gained momentum from the Motion Limiter, the
rack, the floor or other structures during the Upward Movement, the Up Position or the
Downward Movement, and/or: the competitor has failed to keep his/her ankles crossed
during the Upward Movement or the Up Position.
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ConsequenceThe current chin-up effort is disqualified but the competitive attempt may be continued.
”CHIN”
CauseThe competitor has not completely passed the bar with the tip of his/her chin both
vertically and horizontally in the Up Position.
ConsequenceThe current chin-up effort is disqualified but the competitive attempt may be continued.
11.0 Counters
Two counters supervise the chin-up efforts made by the competitor during the competitive attempt.
11.1 Counter I
Counter I counts the number of total chin-up efforts. A chin-up effort is counted every time the competitor
starts the Upward Movement (elbow joints are no longer extended).
11.2 Counter II
Counter II counts the number of those particular chin-up efforts that at least one of the three Referees
have disqualified by calling ”HANDS”, ”CHIN”, ”LEGS” or ”STOP”.
12.0 Results, Placements and Records
Official results and records can only be set in competitions organized under the permission of the Finnish Chin-Up Association.
12.1 Results
The competitor’s result is the number of total chin-up efforts (announced by Counter I) subtracted by the
number of disqualified chin-up efforts (announced by Counter II)
12.2 Placements
The placements in the competition are determined by the results. The competitor with the biggest result
wins. If two or more competitors get the same result, the heavier competitor places higher.
12.3 Extra Rounds
In case two or more competitors get the same result, weigh the same and place in the top 3, they will
perform an extra round for that particular placement. Several extra rounds may be performed until there
is a difference in their results. The result(s) made in the extra round(s) are eligibile for official statistics
and records but the result achieved in the actual competition round is the competitor’s official result in
that particular competition. The extra rounds are performed in the same competion order as the actual
competition round. Before the extra round, the competitor is allowed to rest for at least 30 minutes after
his last competitive attempt.
12.4 Finnish Records
The best result made by a Finnish citizen in each competition class is recognized as the Finnish record. In
case two or more competitors have achieved the same result, the Finnish record belongs to the heavier
competitor. In case the competitors also weigh the same, the Finnish record is shared between the
competitors.
Results made in any age group are eligible for men’s and women’s open class records.
In age classes from 40 to 70 years, results made in older age classes are eligible also for younger age
classes.
13.0 Protests
In case the competitor desires to file a protest over the decisions made by the referees or the counters, he/she must
pay a protest fee of 100 Euros. The protest fee will be refunded if the protest is upheld.
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Competition Rules of Chin-Up Repetitions
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Picture 1: The tip of the chin must be on the green area in the Up Position (on the
right side of the vertical white line and above the horizontal white line).
Competition Rules of Chin-Up Repetitions
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