BENCH PRESS COMPETITION RULES
Participation in the University of Tennessee Recreational Sports Programs is voluntary and individuals
use facilities at their own risk. Participation in any physical activity involves inherent risk and even when
safety precautions are utilized, injuries and accidents can occur. The Recreational Sports Department
would like to encourage each individual to consult their physician and obtain adequate personal
health/accident insurance prior to participation in our programs. The University of Tennessee does not
provide personal health or medical insurance coverage for participants.
RULE 1: PLAYER ELIGIBILITY
1. Participation is limited to currently enrolled, fee-paying University of Tennessee students
and faculty/staff members with Recreational Sports Memberships.
2. Participants must present their VolCard or current Recreational Sports Membership Card
in order to participate.
3. Players can compete for only one single sex team and one coed team, regardless of league
classification (e.g. - participants cannot play for a men’s recreational team and a men’s
competitive team).
4. All participants must meet the eligibility requirements as stated in the Intramural Sports
Participant Handbook.
5. Once a participant has signed in for a team, he/she may not transfer to another team.
RULE 2: TEAM COMPOSITION
1. TEAMS: There are no teams for the 3-point contest.
2. CAPTAIN: There are no captains for the 3-point contest.
3. PARTICIPANTS: Each participant will be competing individually. Registration will be held at
the time of the contest.
RULE 3: PLAYING AREA AND EQUIPMENT
1. PLAYING AREA: The competition will take place in the TRECS fitness floor.
2. ATTIRE: Participants are required to dress in athletic attire. Jeans and khaki shorts/pants
are prohibited. If a lifter competes wearing or using any item that is illegal or not
1
approved, the lifter will lose credit for that lift and may be disqualified from the
competition.
3. GLOVES/PADS: Wrist wraps and gloves are prohibited. Weight belts will be allowed.
4. WEIGHTS: The tournament will use a bench, bar, and weights supplied by the Intramural
Sports Program.
5. HEADWEAR: Players may not wear baseball style caps or other rigid headwear. Knit and
stocking caps are permitted. Players may wear a headband no wider than two inches and
made of non-abrasive cloth, elastic, fiber, soft leather, or rubber. Bandanas with knots
are prohibited. Rubber or cloth elastic bands may be used to control hair.
6. SHOES: All players must wear gym appropriate footwear. Cleats or open-toed shoes are
prohibited.
7. JEWELRY: No jewelry may be worn. Jewelry must be removed before the participant will
be allowed to participate. Medical alert bracelets are permitted but they must be taped
down. Taping of all other jewelry is not permitted.
8. BLOOD RULE: When a player is bleeding, has an open wound, or an excessive amount of
blood on his/her uniform the player will be directed to leave the game. The injured player
is not to return until the bleeding has stopped, the wound is covered, and the bloody
uniform is changed.
9. The Intramural Sports Staff has the right to deem certain equipment unsafe or illegal.
RULE 4: PLAYING THE GAME
1.
LENGTH OF GAME: There is no time limit. Participants must continuously shoot until
finished.
2.
WEIGHING IN: Each participant’s official weight will be determined on the day of the
tournament at the time of registration.
3.
ATTEMPTS: Each lifter will have 3 attempts. Lifters have 2 chances per attempt to
successfully complete the lift.
4.
CHAMPION: The Schwartz/Malone Formula will be used to determine each lifter's
strength coefficient. The formula is (Lifter’s Strength Coefficient = SMF coefficient x
weight lifted). The Schwartz/Malone Formula Table is the last page of this document.
The Schwartz/Malone Formula will be used on the highest legal weight achieved and will
be used to determine the male and female champion of the contest.
2
5.
LIFT ORDER: Lifting order will be alphabetical by last name.
6.
WEIGHT: Between each round, officials will ask if participants would like to change their
next weights. Once the next round has started, no weights will be changed.
7.
FIRST ATTEMPT: Lifters will declare the weight of their first attempt during weigh-ins.
The weight submitted for the first attempt may be changed one time. The change may
take place at any before the start of the contest.
8.
SECOND ATTEMPT: The weight submitted for the second attempt may not be changed.
9.
THIRD ATTEMPT: The weight submitted for the third attempt may not be changed.
10. TIME TO ATTEMPT LIFT: Once a competitor's name is called and the correct weight is
placed on the bar, he/she will have 1 minute to begin their attempt. If a participant is
required to lift shortly after their first or second attempt, he/she will receive a maximum
of 2 minutes of rest.
11. UNSUCCESSFUL ATTEMPT: If the platform or equipment becomes disarranged during an
attempt and the attempt is successful, the attempt will be accepted. If the attempt is
unsuccessful, the lifter may be granted a 1 additional attempt at the same weight.
12. Before the Lift:
a. No one will be allowed on the platform during a lift except the lifter, an intramural
sports staff. A lifter may use his/her own spotter if they wish.
b. The first and heaviest plate will be loaded on the bar face in, with the rest of the
plates loaded face out.
c. Collars must always be used for each lift.
d. The lifter must lie with their shoulders and buttocks in contact with the bench
surface. The elected position of the buttocks shall be maintained throughout the
attempt. The lifter's toes must remain in solid contact with the platform (a lifter
may use blocks to build up the surface of the platform).
e. The spacing of the hands shall not exceed 81 cm (measured between the
forefingers). The bar will have markings indicating the maximum grip allowance.
13. During the Lift:
a. The lift-off must be to arm's length and not down to the chest. After receiving the
bar at arm's length, the lifter shall lower the bar to the chest and await the head
referee's signal.
b. The signal will be the audible command "Press", and will be given as soon as the
bar is motionless on the chest.
c. After the signal to "Press" has been given, the bar should be pressed upward. The
lifter will press the bar to straight-arm's length and hold it motionless until the
3
audible command "Rack" is given. The bar may move horizontally and may stop
during the ascent, but may not move downward toward the chest.
14. The following will result in the disqualification of a lift:
a. Failure to observe the referee's signals at the commencement or completion of
the lift
b. Any change in the elected lifting position or the raising of the buttocks
c. Lateral movement of the hands
d. Excessive movement or change of contact of the feet
e. Bouncing the bar off the chest
f. Allowing the bar to sink into the chest after receiving the referee's signal
g. Pronounced uneven extension of the arms during or at the completion of the lift
h. Any downward motion of the bar during the course of being pressed out
i. Contact with the bar by the spotters between the referee's signals
j. Deliberate contact between the bar and the bench supports during the lift
k. Each referee will use a thumbs-up for a "good lift" and a thumbs-down for a "no
lift".
l. The referees may stop a lift for discretionary safety. The head referee shall signal
the spotters to take the bar if it is safe to do so.
RULE 5: SPORTSMANSHIP
1. RATING: Each team will begin the contest with a 5 sportsmanship rating and shall be rated by
the officials at the end of the contest. The authority of the officials’ ratings exists prior to,
during, and following all contests to which that official is assigned, and extends to all persons
on, at, or near the playing site. Sportsmanship ratings shall be marked on the score sheet
prior to captain signing off on the score and sportsmanship rating.
a. 5 – Excellent Sportsmanship: Players cooperate fully with the intramural sports
staff and opposing team members. If necessary, the captain converses calmly with
officials about rule interpretations and calls.
b. 4 - Good Sportsmanship: Team members verbally complain about some decisions
made by the intramural sports staff and/or show minor dissent which may or may
not merit a conduct warning (unsportsmanlike penalty / technical foul / yellow
cards / etc.). Teams that receive one conduct warning will receive no higher than a
"4" rating.
c. 3 - Mediocre Sportsmanship: Team constantly comments to the intramural sports
staff or the opposing team. The team captain exhibits little or no control over
teammates or him/herself. Teams that receive one ejection or two conduct
warnings (unsportsmanlike penalty / technical foul / yellow cards / etc.) will
receive no higher than a “3” rating.
d. 2 - Below Average Sportsmanship: Team constantly comments to the intramural
sports staff or the opposing team. The team captain exhibits little or no control
over teammates or him/herself. Teams that receive one ejection and one conduct
4
warning or a combination of three conduct warnings (unsportsmanlike penalty /
technical foul / yellow cards / etc.) will receive no higher than a "2" rating and the
game will be forfeited.
e. 1 - Unacceptable Sportsmanship: Team is completely uncooperative. Captain has
no control over teammates and/or him/herself. Any team that receives two
ejections or four conduct warnings (unsportsmanlike penalty / technical foul /
yellow cards / etc.) will receive a "1" rating and the game and season will be
forfeited.
5
Schwartz/Malone Formula
To determine your strength "pound for pound", multiply your coefficient (to the right of bodyweight listed) by the
weight that you lifted to determine the Formula Total (FT).The lifter with the highest FT is the strongest person
"pound for pound".
Lbs.
Men
Women
Lbs.
Men
Women
Lbs.
Men
Women
Lbs.
Men
90
91
92
93
94
95
96
97
98
99
100
101
102
103
104
105
106
107
108
109
110
111
112
113
114
115
116
117
118
119
120
121
122
123
124
125
126
127
128
129
130
131
132
133
134
135
136
137
138
139
140
141
142
143
144
145
146
147
148
149
150
151
152
153
154
155
1.28
1.263
1.246
1.229
1.212
1.197
1.181
1.166
1.151
1.137
1.122
1.109
1.095
1.082
1.069
1.057
1.045
1.033
1.021
1.01
0.999
0.988
0.978
0.968
0.958
0.948
0.939
0.929
0.92
0.912
0.903
0.895
0.886
0.878
0.871
0.863
0.856
0.848
0.841
0.834
0.828
0.821
0.815
0.808
0.802
0.796
0.79
0.785
0.779
0.774
0.768
0.763
0.758
0.753
0.748
0.743
0.739
0.734
0.729
0.725
0.721
0.717
0.712
0.708
0.704
0.7
1.1756
1.1645
1.1557
1.145
1.1365
1.1261
1.118
1.1079
1.098
1.0903
1.0807
1.0732
1.0657
1.0566
1.0494
1.0405
1.0336
1.025
1.0165
1.0098
1.0016
0.9952
0.9872
0.9809
0.9731
0.967
0.9595
0.9536
0.9462
0.939
0.9333
0.9263
0.9208
0.911
0.9086
0.9019
0.898
0.8902
0.8851
0.8788
0.8738
0.8676
0.8628
0.8568
0.8508
0.8462
0.8101
0.8358
0.8302
0.8257
0.8202
0.8159
0.8105
0.8052
0.801
0.7959
0.7918
0.7867
0.7827
0.7769
0.7737
0.7697
0.7666
0.7627
0.7596
0.7565
156
157
158
159
160
161
162
163
164
165
166
167
168
169
170
171
172
173
174
175
176
177
178
179
180
181
182
183
184
185
186
187
188
189
190
191
192
193
194
195
196
197
198
199
200
201
202
203
204
205
206
207
208
209
210
211
212
213
214
215
216
217
218
219
220
221
0.697
0.693
0.689
0.686
0.682
0.679
0.675
0.672
0.669
0.666
0.662
0.659
0.656
0.653
0.65
0.648
0.645
0.642
0.639
0.637
0.634
0.631
0.629
0.626
0.624
0.621
0.619
0.617
0.614
0.612
0.61
0.608
0.606
0.604
0.601
0.599
0.598
0.595
0.594
0.592
0.59
0.588
0.586
0.584
0.583
0.581
0.579
0.578
0.576
0.574
0.573
0.571
0.57
0.569
0.567
0.566
0.564
0.563
0.562
0.56
0.559
0.558
0.557
0.556
0.555
0.554
0.752
0.749
0.7453
0.7431
0.7387
0.7358
0.7322
0.7293
0.7258
0.723
0.7196
0.7168
0.7134
0.7107
0.7074
0.704
0.7014
0.6981
0.6956
0.6923
0.6898
0.6866
0.6811
0.681
0.6786
0.6755
0.6731
0.6701
0.6671
0.6618
0.6618
0.6595
0.6566
0.6543
0.6521
0.6492
0.6464
0.6442
0.6415
0.6387
0.6366
0.6339
0.6317
0.63
0.6286
0.6269
0.6256
0.6239
0.6226
0.6209
0.6196
0.618
0.6167
0.6151
0.6134
0.6122
0.6109
0.6093
0.6077
0.6064
0.6049
0.6036
0.6021
0.6008
0.5993
0.5981
222
223
224
225
226
227
228
229
230
231
232
233
234
235
236
237
238
239
240
241
242
243
244
245
246
247
248
249
250
251
252
253
254
255
256
257
258
259
260
261
262
263
264
265
266
267
268
269
270
271
272
273
274
275
276
277
278
279
280
281
282
283
284
285
286
287
0.552
0.551
0.55
0.549
0.549
0.548
0.547
0.546
0.545
0.544
0.543
0.543
0.542
0.541
0.541
0.54
0.539
0.539
0.538
0.537
0.537
0.536
0.536
0.535
0.535
0.534
0.534
0.533
0.533
0.533
0.532
0.532
0.531
0.531
0.53
0.53
0.53
0.529
0.529
0.528
0.528
0.528
0.527
0.527
0.526
0.526
0.525
0.525
0.524
0.524
0.523
0.523
0.522
0.521
0.521
0.52
0.52
0.519
0.519
0.518
0.518
0.517
0.516
0.516
0.515
0.515
0.5965
0.5953
0.5938
0.5926
0.5911
0.5896
0.5884
0.5869
0.5858
0.5843
0.5831
0.5817
0.5805
0.5791
0.5779
0.5765
0.5754
0.574
0.5725
0.5714
0.57
0.5693
0.5686
0.5681
0.5671
0.5669
0.5662
0.5656
0.5649
288
289
290
291
292
293
294
295
296
297
298
299
300
301
302
303
304
305
306
307
308
309
310
311
312
313
314
315
316
317
318
319
320
321
322
323
324
325
326
327
328
329
330
331
332
333
334
335
336
337
338
339
340
341
342
343
344
345
346
347
348
349
350
351
352
353
0.514
0.514
0.513
0.513
0.512
0.512
0.511
0.51
0.51
0.509
0.509
0.508
0.508
0.507
0.507
0.506
0.506
0.505
0.505
0.504
0.504
0.503
0.503
0.502
0.502
0.501
0.501
0.5
0.5
0.499
0.499
0.498
0.498
0.497
0.497
0.496
0.496
0.496
0.495
0.495
0.494
0.494
0.493
0.493
0.492
0.492
0.491
0.491
0.491
0.49
0.49
0.489
0.489
0.488
0.488
0.487
0.487
0.487
0.486
0.486
0.485
0.485
0.485
0.484
0.484
0.483
6
Women