Your First Meet

This write up has been a long time coming, just been busy with life. I'm no talented writer either, so we'll see how this goes.

Choosing a Meet

Best place to start with this is powerlifting watch. Here's the link for that:

Powerlifting Meets | Powerlifting Watch

Obviously you'll want to find something close. Here's a chart with some basics of each fed:

natl-feds-table1.jpg


Obviously the majority of us here aren't natty, so that part should be a no brainer. As for the rest of it it'll come down to your preferences. I'd probably go with sleeves over wraps for a first meet just because timing getting your wraps on for your attempts can be a little nerve wracking.

For more in depth rules just Google search the fed in question with rules after and most have a pdf download where they'll get into the more in depth rules. Commands, clothing, etc.

Choosing a Weight Class

For your first meet you should just come in however you are. Have fun. Trying to cut weight and all that is going to ruin your first experience competing. Save that for when you're going after records or qualifying for nationals. If by some chance you are doing one of those for your first meet I guess start a thread and ask about it.

Choosing Your Equipment

For this you'll need to go over the rules of your chosen fed. You'll need to choose the right sleeves, wraps, singlet, wrist wraps, deadlift socks, shoes, etc. You need to be sure they're allowed because they will be inspected before the meet.

Choosing Your Programming

This is something else beyond the scope of this guide. If you're a beginner or early intermediate you can probably just train normally and then deload the week of the meet and be fine. If you're more advanced you'll want 8-12 weeks prep time. If this is something you need help with start a thread about it and someone will surely point you in the right direction.

Choosing Your AAS

Again it's beyond the scope of this guide, but I'll touch on it briefly. You'll probably want to time your cycle to end at the meet. Test, deca, tren, dbol, drol, these are pretty standard. Halo, TNE, TRNE on meet day for more advanced users. You'll want to finish with your oral the weeks leading into the meet. Or start and finish, I suppose, if your cycle is longer.

Preparing for the Meet


At some point before the meet you'll want to start practicing commands as they'd be given at the meet. You can find them in the rulebook. Have a partner give you the commands as you do the movements. It's also not a bad idea to lift in full meet gear a time or two before the meet. You don't want any shocks throwing you off your square on meet day. You want to be comfortable and practiced.

Choosing your Attempts

You might hear other ways to go about this, but this is my preferred method. Your first attempts should be a weight you can hit for a triple any time. Second attempts should be a weight you can hit for a double any time. There should be no question that you'll smoke the first two attempts. This will help build confidence and set the tone for the day. Your third attempt is your PR attempt. You should have an idea what this will be. A range depending on how you feel and how the second attempt went up.

Three weeks out I like to work up to a heavy double. This is my second attempt. Two weeks out a heavy triple. This is my opener. Then deload the week of the meet. Again this is just my preference, but in my opinion you can't go wrong with this approach. If you don't really know what you're doing just do this.

Meet Day

How they do weigh ins and everything will vary a little by fed. It's pretty universal you'll weigh in, get your gear examined and you'll have to give them your first attempts. Might be the day before if the weigh ins are earlier.

You'll want to bring plenty of food. Carbs and high sodium stuff is your best bet. It's going to be a long day, so pace yourself. Bring plenty of fluids, too. Best to save the sugary and caffeinated drinks for later in the day to avoid crashing early.

For warming up there will generally be weights available. Not really going to go into great detail here, just warm up about like you would to max at the gym. Dynamic stretches as necessary. Just keep in mind you're already warmed up from squat, so deadlift warm-ups should be minimal to conserve energy.

On the subject of conserving energy find a good spot to chill when you're not warming up or making your attempts. Try not to get overly excited or emotional. Just be cool. Personally I don't get hyped up at all or use ammonia for my first or second attempts. No need since you should not miss them. Save it all for the third attempts. This is important and often overlooked in my opinion. Save your energy wherever you can.

I mentioned turning in your first attempt numbers. After your first and second attempt there will be a time limit for you to give your next attempts to meet staff.

I will say again here make sure you've practiced your commands, especially bench. Bench is where I've seen the most problems. I've seen lifters get disqualified for missing the commands on all three of their attempts. That's another point worth mentioning here. If you miss all three attempts on a lift you're done for the day.

I'm sure I'm forgetting a few things.

@Masters Power @Docd187123 @insertnamehere @theprodgicalson @RodgerThat @Gain Train @Strength and Power

Any of y'all have anything to add here?
Great thread thanks bud.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G900A using Tapatalk
 
Curious what are peoples experiences with USPA. Never competed non-tested so looking to do something with the USPA to get my toes wet.
 
Do a lot of their meets require qualifying/invitation or do they run a lot of local meets as well?
 
Do a lot of their meets require qualifying/invitation or do they run a lot of local meets as well?

Nationals and worlds would require a qualifying total at a local meet. There's plenty of local meets all over the country and you'd have no problem qualifying.
 
Not sure this needs a new thread and this looks like a decent place to ask. I started looking at local meets and noticed the number of competitors in the Open vs. Masters. Do most of you all stick to the Open? I care less about trophies and more competition, so I’m leaning towards Open. Also notice that Raw is way more popular than Classic Raw. Is that generally true, or just regional? Not that I care either way, just interested.
 
Not sure this needs a new thread and this looks like a decent place to ask. I started looking at local meets and noticed the number of competitors in the Open vs. Masters. Do most of you all stick to the Open? I care less about trophies and more competition, so I’m leaning towards Open. Also notice that Raw is way more popular than Classic Raw. Is that generally true, or just regional? Not that I care either way, just interested.

Unless you're going for a Masters record might as well just do open in my opinion. More people to compete against. Or you can sign up for both if you're going for a record and still want to compete in open as well. I see that occasionally.

And yes raw is generally more popular than raw classic. Raw is knee sleeves and raw classic is knee wraps. I've done a couple raw classic and it's a pain in the ass to wrap yourself. Raw from here out for me.
 
Unless you're going for a Masters record might as well just do open in my opinion. More people to compete against. Or you can sign up for both if you're going for a record and still want to compete in open as well. I see that occasionally.

And yes raw is generally more popular than raw classic. Raw is knee sleeves and raw classic is knee wraps. I've done a couple raw classic and it's a pain in the ass to wrap yourself. Raw from here out for me.
Definitely no records. And yeah, I didn’t see the point in doing Masters with no one in the division to push you.

Thanks man.
 
Not sure this needs a new thread and this looks like a decent place to ask. I started looking at local meets and noticed the number of competitors in the Open vs. Masters. Do most of you all stick to the Open? I care less about trophies and more competition, so I’m leaning towards Open. Also notice that Raw is way more popular than Classic Raw. Is that generally true, or just regional? Not that I care either way, just interested.
Depends on the federation. I think with USPA, knee wraps “raw classic “ isn’t many actually doing the wraps. I think some of the smaller feds lump sleeves and wraps together so why not just use wraps. I agree about the masters, if you’re not looking for a record just go open
 
Depends on the federation. I think with USPA, knee wraps “raw classic “ isn’t many actually doing the wraps. I think some of the smaller feds lump sleeves and wraps together so why not just use wraps. I agree about the masters, if you’re not looking for a record just go open

I know APA at least lumps wraps and sleeves together. That's the only reason I started out doing wraps because why would you not if you could. Otherwise you'd be at a disadvantage. I personally think it's silly to put them together.
 
I know APA at least lumps wraps and sleeves together. That's the only reason I started out doing wraps because why would you not if you could. Otherwise you'd be at a disadvantage. I personally think it's silly to put them together.
SPF and RPS do this as well. Not many APA meets in my area. If I do another RPS meet I’m wearing wraps. Why not if I’m gonna be in the same category. There’s actually more USPA meets in my area than any other fed so I’ll most likely use sleeves if I go USPA.
 
SPF and RPS do this as well. Not many APA meets in my area. If I do another RPS meet I’m wearing wraps. Why not if I’m gonna be in the same category. There’s actually more USPA meets in my area than any other fed so I’ll most likely use sleeves if I go USPA.
I like the USPA more as a federation. And how they conduct the competition. Probably, I will also perform there.
 
In fact, there are now so many federations. That sometimes you need a reference book because it is easy to get confused which of the federations and what offers. And as I said earlier, you should not exchange yourself for unprofitable organizations.
 
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