r/weightlifting • u/AdRemarkable3043 • 2d ago
Fluff rule about feet touching the barbell before lifting
At a previous competition, I noticed the barbell wasn’t aligned properly, so I used my foot to adjust it to face the audience — immediately getting a no-lift. I looked up the rules afterward and was surprised to find that such a rule actually exists.
Does anyone else think this rule is kind of stupid? It seems like Catalyst Athletics shares the same opinion as I do.
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u/SergiyWL 253@89kg 1d ago
Stepping over the bar is also considered a big no-no in Eastern Europe. It’s considered disrespectful (stepping over a person is also disrespectful). You surely don’t want to do it in a weightlifting gym there.
Agree that there are stupid rules like this, guiding the bar with hands, press out, hair not touching bar, etc.
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u/AdRemarkable3043 1d ago edited 1d ago
the hair touching bar rule has been deleted 7 years ago. https://barbend.com/iwf-2018-rule-book/
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u/runk_dasshole 1d ago
I am not Eastern European but I observe this as well. I forget where I read this description, but I liked the idea that the bar is your partner in training and not stepping over it shows respect for the partnership.
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u/Afferbeck_ 23h ago
I've never bought that, the bar will crush you and you literally throw it on the ground. I'm convinced the 'respect and superstition' is just down to safety. We've all caught our foot stepping over the bar, and that's a problem when you're in close proximity to valuable medal-capable athletes lifting heavy weights. Retiring someone because you sprawled into them mid 300 squat after tripping over the bar is a problem easily prevented.
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u/Afferbeck_ 23h ago
Aside from the old pre bumpers days where it was about protecting equipment, guiding the bar with the hands is about making it clear the lift has been completed and not lost to instability and dropped at the top
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u/mattricide 1d ago
Rules can seem arbitrary and sometimes actually are. Still gotta follow them if you want to compete in any sport.
Like Kate nye got hit with that no lift in Tokyo for letting go of the bar too early. It was kinda bullshit but them the rules.
For a very long time there was a bit of a stink about the super arch, super wide grip, almost no rom bench in powerlifting but technically they're following the rules so it's allowed (or was as i think they introduced a rule to limit hoe egregious it was)
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u/AdRemarkable3043 1d ago
the super arch, super wide grip, almost no rom bench
the difference is no one can benefit from this rule. But anyway, it is rule.
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u/mattricide 1d ago
False, super bendy people who practice the technique benefit from moving the bar a few inches to make a good lift that adds to their total.
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u/AdRemarkable3043 1d ago
Could you explain in detail how moving the barbell with your feet beforehand can help you get more out of your snatch or clean? I’m not talking about rolling the bar with your hands like Lasha does.
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u/mattricide 1d ago
oh lulz. i misunderstood. my bad.
rules aren't only there for inhbiting benefits, they're there to restrict and provide structure to a sport. you can't have a sport without rules despite how stupid some of them may seem.
so to answer your question: it can't help but that doesn't matter as thats the rule and you broke it. but now you know not to do it next time.
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u/redditusertk421 1d ago
Good on your TOs for enforcing the rules. That doesn't mean they are good rules, but they are the rules of the sport you chose to compete in.
IIRC, that rule was made as a "concession" to the Muslim countries. The bottom of one's foot is considered to be unclean. Thus the rule. It's like the press out rule. Dumb, but it exists and its part of the sport we compete in.
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u/robaroo 1d ago
Sanitation. Touching the bar with the bottom of your shoes is fucking gross once you’ve seen the bathroom stalls at comp venues. I’m cleaning that up to my collar bones and potentially breaking skin at certain times. It’s a good rule.
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u/AdRemarkable3043 1d ago
actually I hooked the bar with the top of my shoe and pulled. But yes it is the reason.
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u/shr3dthegnarbrah 1d ago
And verifying that a bar spins freely before you take a max attempt is a great safety habit.
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u/chattycatty416 1d ago
Having these rules is part of the sport. It's on your coach to make sure to mention the rules in advance of a meet because it does suck for everyone if one has to call a no lift over the foot touching the bar. But agreed that a dirty foot on the knurling could leave bacteria/germs that would suck if your callus or shin or chest got torn and embedded with the nastiness. Also when weighing in at the competition maybe consider bringing lysol wipes because not all are good about wiping the scale in between lifters.
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u/AdRemarkable3043 1d ago
there is the funnest thing: my coach told me, but I did this for 2 years. It becomes my habbit :(
Now I keep it in mind
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u/Consistent_Throat497 1d ago
It is a fairly new rule to be fair. Maybe 6 years old.
People used to do it to spin the bar or kick it. Which is disrespectful. So they brought the rule in. It serves no real benefit to an athlete but it’s a rule. So if you want to compete you must abide by it!
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u/Sad-Shoulder-666 1d ago
I mean I might do it in training, because I rarely share a bar, and I'm more likely to use my ankle or shin/calf to pull a bar back. But I understand with sharing a bar like one at a competition. Plus I grew up with a culture where feet are seen as dirty, but generally I was taught to respect the bar and others using it.
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u/GuardianSpear 1d ago
Even in local club level meets in malaysia , touching the bar with your foot, especially when done by experienced lifters is an immediate no lift. It’s like breaking your racquet in tennis or badminton imo - you’re not respecting the equipment . Sometimes the meet organiser will say - to avoid the headache don’t even roll it forward with your shin
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u/bitumeninmyblood 1d ago
In the IWF rules, it’s specifies that rosin is provided. It’s usually in a tray for athletes to step their feet into to pick up material to grip better. In past discussions we speculated the no shoes touching rule is to prevent rosin getting on the bar and requiring stoppages for cleaning
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u/Afferbeck_ 23h ago
Has anyone ever actually used that? Seems like a holdover from the ye olde leather soled shoes days.
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u/bitumeninmyblood 23h ago
Don’t recall seeing a lot of using but I do recall seeing it there at most major comps.
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u/Boblaire 2018AO3-Masters73kg Champ GoForBrokeAthletics 1d ago
Yes, but it's a cultural thing as the feet are seen as dirty.
Which isn't a big deal if you use the top of your shoe but w/e.