2026 USA Powerlifting Rulebook – Technical Committee page
- The rulebook has been updated to include all changes approved in 2025. It exists in two formats: 1) a version with all changes highlighted and 2) a clean version with no highlighted portions and all deleted text removed.
- The application for 2026 Regional Championship technical secretaries has been posted. The deadline to submit is March 1, 2026.
- There will be a new rank of referee created in 2026: senior national referee. The Technical Committee will define the requirements in the coming weeks so there are no details to share at this time other than to say that extensive and long-term experience as a national referee will be required and that this rank is being created for those who meet the requirements to become an international referee (formerly called category 1 and 2) but for any number of reasons do not want to pursue that or cannot pursue that in the near future.
- Effective January 1, 2026, the IDFPA will oversee all aspects of international and senior international referees (formerly called category 1 and 2, respectively). Questions should be directed to the chair of the IDFPA Technical Committee (tc@idfpa.org). Dane Roach is the current chair of the IDFPA Technical Committee.
- January 1, 2026, marks the start of the new 4-year referee certification cycle. During the month of January, the cycle that just ended (2022-2025) will be reviewed to determine which state and national referees met the recertification requirements and which ones did not. Those who did not meet the requirements will be notified and told what that means for their ability to serve as a referee moving forward. The IDFPA Technical Committee will oversee the recertification process for international referees (formerly called category 1 and 2) and will be in communication with those referees.
