Team FAQ's

What are the rules about State Championship Teams?  What lifters can compete on my team? 

Each USA Powerlifting registered club/team may only compete as a team in one state championship. This state championship will be the residence state of the club/team as established by the mailing address of the club/team president. During the state championship, only those club/team members with a residency in that state (as evidenced by the mailing address of their USA Powerlifting registration card) may be included on the team roster. (USA Powerlifting Rulebook, pg 3)

This looks complicated.  Why is team scoring set up this way?

We had three objectives in developing GA State Meet team scoring.  

What lifters count towards my team score total?

Every person on your team is eligible to score points (12-9-8-7... depending on placing).  If they are in two divisions, both divisions are scored.  We then take the top 10 scorers on your team and add them together.   

Why not score exactly as Nationals?

Our State Meet Team Competition is different then many others in that we have one overall trophy for Best Team.  Nationals has Open Men and Women team competitions.   Only Open lifters count and you have one lifter per weight class to be able to score.  With the depth of each division that is a great way to score teams.  We don't have that kind of deep divisions, nor are teams typically able to have one lifter per Open division.  We also wanted to have all your lifters have an opportunity to score points for your team.

Why is team scoring 12-9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1-1-1...? 

This is consistent with Team Scoring outlined in USA Powerlifting rulebook.  Also consistent with team scoring at Nationals.

Why not score all divisions and weight classes 1st place 12 pts, 2nd 9 pts, etc?

That would provide many opportunities for 1st place points with likely scenario of a tie.  See "Why not score exactly as Nationals?"

How many lifters do I need on my team?

You can have as many or as few lifters on your team as you want.  10 of you best scorers will count for your team points.  On teams with less than 10,  the same lifter may score in two divisions.  This will be key strategy for smaller teams.

Can lifters score more than once if entered in different divisions?

Yes, if on team of less than 10.  This allows for smaller teams, less than 10, to still have 10 scoring opportunities.  So a team of 5 with each person in two divisions, say Open and Masters, will have 10 scoring opportunities and be competitive with bigger teams.  On a team of 9, one lifter will be able to score twice (if two lifters in two divisions we will pick the best score)

Only teams with less than 10 on the roster will be allowed to have the same lifter score twice.  

Is this fair to small teams? Or teams of less than 10?

Yes.  This scoring method allows for smaller teams, less than 10, to still have 10 scoring opportunities.  So a team of 5 with each person in two divisions, say Open and Masters, will have 10 scoring opportunities and be competitive with bigger teams.  Only teams with less than 10 lifters on the submitted roster, are allowed to have the same lifter score in two divisions.  

What about the Raw w/Wraps lifting category?

Raw w/Wraps will not count towards team scoring.

Why combine Open HW (heavyweight), MW (middle weight), LW (light weight), and then Masters, Teen by Age Points etc?

For the State Meet we have so many divisions, weight classes, etc that it is easy to load lifters into less competitive divisions to score points.  Combining some of these divisions and weight classes makes this harder to do and therefore more competitive.  We understand the game can still be played but setting up scoring this way makes it more difficult.  Part of team competition understanding the scoring and using it to your best advantage.  

Why combine Open HW (heavyweight), MW (middle weight), LW (light weight), and then Masters, Teen by Age Points etc?

For the State Meet we have so many divisions, weight classes, etc that it is easy to load lifters into less competitive divisions to score points.  Combining some of these divisions and weight classes makes this harder to do and therefore more competitive.  We understand the game can still be played but setting up scoring this way makes it more difficult.  Part of team competition understanding the scoring and using it to your best advantage.  

Why combine Open HW (heavyweight), MW (middle weight), LW (light weight), and then Masters, Teen by Age Points etc?

For the State Meet we have so many divisions, weight classes, etc that it is easy to load lifters into less competitive divisions to score points.  Combining some of these divisions and weight classes makes this harder to do and therefore more competitive.  We understand the game can still be played but setting up scoring this way makes it more difficult.  Part of team competition understanding the scoring and using it to your best advantage.  

What happens if there is a tie?

In the case of a tie, the team having the largest number of first places will be ranked first. In the case of a tie between two teams having the same number of first places, the one having the most second places will be classified first, and so on through the placing of the maximum of five scoring lifters. Should teams finish equally after this procedure has been applied, then the team with the greater total number of DOTS points will be declared the higher placed.