Referee Signal Cards

Red, blue, and yellow cards — by lift

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How the light system works

Three referees adjudicate every attempt — one chief referee in front of the platform, and two side referees on either side. Each controls a white light for a good lift and a red light for a no-lift. After the lift is completed (bar racked, or returned to the floor on the deadlift), the lights are activated simultaneously and arranged horizontally to match the referees' positions around the platform.

A simple majority rules — at least two of three white lights means the lift counts. Otherwise the attempt is failed.

Three white lights
Good lift
Two white, one red
Good lift
One white, two red
No lift
Three red lights
No lift

Position of the white vs. red lights doesn't change the verdict — only the count does. The arrangement above is for illustration.

Why a lift was failed

Whenever a referee turns on a red light, they must also indicate why by raising one or more colored failure cards (or activating the equivalent failure light). A single attempt can show two or three different colored cards if the referee saw multiple infractions.

Each color is a category of infraction, and what each color means is defined per lift. The lists below are taken from §2.10.2 of the USAPL Rulebook (v2026.2); for canonical wording, see the full rulebook PDF.

Red Card
Blue Card
Yellow Card

Squat

Commands: “Squat” to begin the descent and “Rack” at the completion of the lift.

Red Card

Depth

  • Failure to bend the knees and lower the body until the top surface of the legs at the hip joint is lower than the top of the knees.

Blue Card

Lockout & ascent

  • Failure to assume an upright position with the knees locked at the commencement and completion of the lift.
  • Double-bouncing or more than one recovery attempt at the bottom of the lift.
  • Any downward movement of the whole bar in its entirety during the ascent.

Yellow Card

General infractions

  • Stepping backward or forward, or moving the feet laterally (rocking between the ball and heel is permitted).
  • Failure to observe the chief referee’s signals at the commencement or completion of the lift.
  • Contact with the bar or lifter by the spotters/loaders between the chief referee’s signals, in order to make the lift easier.
  • Contact of the elbows or arms with the legs in such a way as to make the lift easier (slight inadvertent contact is permitted).
  • Dropping or dumping the bar at any point before, during, or after the lift.
  • Failure to comply with the general description of the lift, or any obvious failure to complete the lift (e.g., spotters assist in replacing the bar).

Bench Press

Commands: “Start” once the bar is held motionless at arms’ length, “Press” once the bar is motionless on the chest or abdominal area, and “Rack” at the completion of the lift.

Red Card

Bar to chest

  • Bar is not lowered to the chest or abdominal area (i.e., does not reach the chest or abdominal area, or is touching the belt).

Blue Card

Press-out & lockout

  • Any downward movement of the whole bar in its entirety in the course of being pressed out.
  • Failure to press the bar to straight arms’ length, with elbows locked, at the commencement and completion of the lift.

Yellow Card

Position & general infractions

  • Heaving or sinking the bar after it has been motionless on the chest or abdominal area, in such a way as to aid the lifter.
  • Failure to observe the chief referee’s signals at the commencement, during, or completion of the lift.
  • Any change in the elected lifting position during the lift — raising the shoulders or buttocks from their original points of contact with the bench, lateral movement of the hands on the bar, or raising the feet.
  • Contact with the bar or the lifter by the spotters/loaders between the chief referee’s signals, in order to make the lift easier.
  • Any contact of the lifter’s feet with the bench or its supports.
  • Deliberate contact between the bar and the bar rest supports, rack uprights, or one or both bench safeties during the lift to make the lift easier (incidental contact that is of no aid to the lifter is permitted).
  • Dropping or dumping the bar at any point before, during, or after the lift.
  • Failure to comply with the general description of the lift, or any obvious failure to complete the lift (e.g., spotters assist in replacing the bar).

Deadlift

There is no commencement command for the deadlift — the lifter starts when ready. The chief referee gives a single “Down” command at the completion of the lift.

Red Card

Lockout

  • Failure to lock the knees straight at the completion of the lift.
  • Failure to stand erect with the shoulders back.

Blue Card

Bar movement & hitching

  • Any downward movement of the whole bar in its entirety before it reaches the final position. (If the bar settles as the shoulders come back, this is not a reason to disqualify the lift.)
  • Supporting the bar on the thighs during the performance of the lift. (If the bar edges up the thighs but is not supported, this is not a reason to disqualify the lift.)

Yellow Card

Commands & general infractions

  • Lowering the bar before receiving the chief referee’s “Down” signal.
  • Allowing the bar to return to the platform without maintaining control with both hands (releasing the bar from the palms of the hand).
  • Forcefully and deliberately slamming or pushing the bar downward onto the platform after receiving the “Down” command.
  • Stepping backward or forward, or moving the feet laterally during the lift (rocking between the ball and heel is permitted; lateral foot movement after the “Down” command is not a reason to disqualify the lift, but the lifter must maintain balance until the bar has been returned to the platform).
  • The lifter or bar making contact with the spotter in such a way as to make the lift easier (slight inadvertent contact is permitted).
  • Failure to comply with the general description of the lift, or any obvious failure to complete the lift (e.g., bar fails to leave the ground).

This page is a summary intended as a quick refresher for lifters, coaches, and spotters. The referees on the day rule on the lift — for the canonical rule text, see the USAPL Rulebook linked above.