Who decides whether a lift counts?
B · Beginner · The lifts and winning · 4 of 6Three referees judge each lift. Each presses white for a good lift or red for a no lift, and the majority decides: two or three white lights make a good lift. When two referees have given the same decision, the down signal tells the lifter to put the bar back on the platform.
How it works
- The referees: a centre referee in front of the platform and two side referees, with equal rights in judging.
- The lights: white for "Good lift", red for "No lift". The glossary calls the system referee lights.
- The decision: "A lift is a 'Good lift' with two (2) or three (3) white lights; a lift is 'No lift' with two (2) or three (3) red lights."
- The down signal: given, seen or heard, when two referees have made identical decisions.
- A fault during the lift: a referee who sees one presses red at once.
- Time to complete: referees must allow the lifter every chance to complete the lift before deciding.
- A change of mind: after the down signal a referee has three seconds to reverse a decision.
- Display: the decision is shown for at least three seconds, each light matching the position of its referee.
- Lowering the bar: in front of the body, releasing the grip only when the bar has passed below the shoulders.
- Finality: there is no appeal against the referees' decision.
Tricky cases
The lifter drops the bar the moment it is overhead, before any signal. Is it a good lift?
No. Lowering the barbell before the referees' signal is a fault.
Two white lights and one red. Does the red count for anything?
No. Two white lights make a good lift.
Can a coach appeal against a red-light decision?
No. There is no appeal against the referees' decision. Where there is a jury, it can reverse a decision it unanimously judges technically incorrect, but that is the jury's own action.
What if there is no light system?
The centre referee says "down" and motions downwards with the arm. The referees then show red or white paddles or flags, or thumbs down or up.
Why the rule exists
A lift lasts a few seconds and is judged by eye, so three independent views from different angles are used and no single referee can decide alone. The down signal protects the lifter, who cannot see the lights while holding a heavy bar overhead and needs to know when it is safe to let go.
Where it differs
| Where | What changes | Source |
|---|---|---|
| The rule book read | As above | BWL 3.3.6.1; BWL 7.5 |
| British club-level events | One qualified centre referee may judge alone | BWL 7.5.2; BWL 7.5.3 |
| With a jury | A jury of three may monitor the referees and reverse a decision by unanimous vote | BWL 7.4.6 |
From the rule book
British Weight Lifting Technical and Competition Rules and Regulations (updated 22 July 2026), rules 2.4.3, 3.3.6, 5.7, 7.4 and 7.5. A national rule book that follows the IWF rules. The IWF document itself was not read. Checked 14 October 2026. Official document: BWL Technical and Competition Rules and Regulations 2026 (PDF).