2026 APL BACKYARD BATTLE

🗓️ FACEBOOK EVENT

 

Be sure to share the FACEBOOK EVENT here, far and wide. Spam your socials with it! Let’s get the word out to everyone in Cairns, and show them just how inclusive, empowering and awesome Powerlifting can be.

 

📺 LIVESTREAM

 

The competition will be livestreamed on our Facebook page here from 9:00am AEST.

 

Just remember that tech can be quite finicky, so if we experience any issues on the day, please be patient with us.

 

@ SOCIAL MEDIA

 

Don’t forget to TAG @ironstrengthpp when putting anything up on social media about the comp. And if you’ve got family and friends doing it for you on the day, let them know too!

📍 VENUE

 

The competition will be held at our gym located at 81 Fearnley St, Portsmith. Click here for directions.

 

🚻 AMENITIES

 

There are 2 toilets and 1 shower at the front of the gym, and an additional 2 toilets located in Angelo’s Fine Foods building next door (accessible from the driveway) that can be used by everyone.

✅ EQUIPMENT CHECK

 

Before weighing in, you are required to present to the equipment check station outside the weigh-in room. You must supply all equipment you will be using during competition for inspection by officials. Mandatory and optional equipment items are listed below.

 

MANDATORY TO COMPETE IN

• Soft suit
• T-shirt – round neck collar with mid bicep sleeves only.
• Knee high socks
• Shoes – sports shoes, weightlifting shoes, powerlifting boots or deadlift slippers.

 

OPTIONAL TO COMPETE IN

• Wrist wraps – single ply and no greater than 100cm long and 8cm wide.
• Knee sleeves – max 7mm thick and 30cm long.
• Belt – max 13mm thick and 10cm wide.

 

Unapproved equipment is not permitted for use in comp.

⚖️ WEIGH-IN 

 

Certified scales will be made available prior to the weekend’s proceedings at Iron Strength, from Monday the 21^st July to Friday the 25^th July (before 9am only).  You are welcome to check your weight during the open gym hours of 6-9am, and 3:30-9pm.  Click here for directions to the gym.

 

Weigh-in will begin 24 hours before the event. There will be 3 weigh-in sessions as detailed below.

• FRI 25^th July – 9-10am at Iron Strength
• FRI 25^th July – 12-1pm at Iron Strength
• SAT 26^th July – 7:30-8am at Iron Strength

 

Please don’t turn up to the venue outside of the hours stated above, as we have a very tight time schedule to set-up the event, and weigh-ins will only be conducted during those hours.

 

When it is your turn to weigh-in you will enter the weigh-in room where you are required to give your 1^st attempts for squat, bench press and deadlift. All attempts must be in multiples of 2.5kg.

 

You can weigh-in in your underwear or soft suit. If question exists regarding weight of the underwear/soft suit, a re-weigh in the nude can occur and the lifter can request officials of their own gender to perform this.

 

ALL LIFTERS MUST ATTEND 1 WEIGH-IN SESSION ONLY. If you are under/overweight, you are permitted to re-weigh within the 60 or 30mins allocated. If you do not make weight in your nominated weight category, you will still be allowed to lift – your weight class will be adjusted accordingly.

 

Click here to check the weight class you registered in. If yours is incorrect, contact us ASAP.

 

Weight classes are below:

 

WOMEN

• under 44kg
• under 48kg
• under 52kg
• under 56kg
• under 60kg
• under 67.5kg
• under 75kg
• under 82.5kg
• under 90kg
• under 100kg
• under 110kg
• over 110kg

MEN

• under 52kg
• under 56kg
• under 60kg
• under 67.5kg
• under 75kg
• under 82.5kg
• under 90kg
• under 100kg
• under 110kg
• under 125kg
• under 140kg
• over 140kg

📋 RACK HEIGHTS 

 

Whilst at weigh-in, make sure you obtain your rack heights off the black ER Combo Rack only, and record it onto the provided rack height sheet next to your name.

 

The competition rack will be made available prior to the weekend’s proceedings at Iron Strength, from Monday the 21^st July to Friday the 25^th July (before 6pm only). You are welcome to obtain and record rack heights during the open gym hours of 6-9am, and 3:30-9pm. Click here for directions to the gym.

🗣️ COACH/HANDLER

 

Only coaches and handlers as nominated on registration, will be permitted into the warm-up area. Click here to see all nominated coaches/handlers. If you need to add one, contact us ASAP with their details.

 

Only competing athletes, nominated coaches/handlers and volunteers are allowed to enter the warm-up area – no members of the general public or children will be given access. This will be strictly enforced for safety reasons.

 

Coaches are permitted to coach athletes when they are lifting, within a designated coaching area ONLY, off to the side of the platform which will be marked off on the ground with tape.

🕒 FINAL SCHEDULE

 

Apart from the start time, all other times stated are approximate only and subject to change.

🥵 WARM-UPS

 

Athletes will have access to the warm-up area at 8:15am, 45 mins prior to the start of lifting.

 

Upon entering the warm-up area for your session, an official will give you a booklet of coloured attempt cards, which is required to submit your next attempts with the officials at the tech desk. Immediately write your name on every card and keep them with you at all times. DO NOT LOSE THESE. They will not be replaced if you lose them.

 

There will be 3 groups lifting in a rotating fashion throughout the competition. Flight A will be first out followed immediately by Flight B, then Flight C. Warm-ups and lifting will proceed as follows:

• Flight A lifters – start warm-up at 8:15am & commence lifting at 9:00am SHARP.
• Flight B lifters – start warm-up at 8:45am & commence lifting at approx. 9:30am.
• Flight C lifters – start warm-up at 9:15am & commence lifting at approx. 10:00am.

 

There is only one entrance to the warm-up area which will be manned at all times. Entry/exit via other entrances is strictly prohibited.

 

Only competing athletes, nominated coaches/handlers and volunteers are allowed to enter the warm-up area – no members of the general public or children will be given access. This will be strictly enforced for safety reasons.

 

The real-time sequence of lifting will be projected onto a TV in the warm-up area. All lifters must pay close attention to this screen to ensure they are ready when their lift is called by the MC.

 

It is the sole responsibility of the athlete to be present for warm-ups and when lifting commences. Lifting will commence regardless of whether lifters are present.

🏋️‍♀️ COMPETITION PROCEEDINGS

 

THIS EVENT IS OPERATING UNDER THE RULES OF THE AUSTRALIAN POWERLIFTING LEAGUE (APL). THE COMPREHENSIVE RULE BOOK IS AVAILABLE HERE.

 

BELOW IS A SUMMARISED VERSION OF THE IMPORTANT RULES OF COMPETITION.

 

The sequence of events for each lift (Squat, Bench & Deadlift) is as follows:

• 1^st attempts can be changed ONCE, up to 5 mins before lifting commences, by completing and signing an attempt card and giving it to officials at the scorer’s table. A 5 min warning call will be announced by the MC.
• Lifters must be present at the platform entrance before their lift is called. All equipment must be wrapped, adjusted and on the lifter before proceeding to the platform. Belts are the only thing that can be adjusted on the platform.
• The MC will announce that the ‘PLATFORM IS READY’. The lifter has 1 min to commence their lift from this point.
• After completion of the lift, the lifter must leave the platform immediately. Please do not wait on the platform for the lights to be activated.
• The refs will indicate whether the lift was successful through a lights system to the side of the platform, or cards (if the lights fail). White light/card = good lift. Red light/card = no lift.
• You have 60 seconds after the lights are activated to submit your next attempt. Signed 2^nd and 3^rd attempts must be given to the officials at the scorer’s table. You are permitted to seek guidance from coaches in the crowd during this time (if not nominated). These attempts CANNOT be changed after submission, apart from the 3^rd attempt which can be changed twice.
• No attempt cards will be accepted after 60 seconds has lapsed. A screen with a countdown timer may be visible in the warm-up area. The officials at the scorer’s table will not leave their seat to chase attempts. It is the lifters responsibility to get attempts in.
• An absent attempt card, or an incorrect/unsigned attempt will result in 2.5kg being added if the previous lift was successful, or a reattempt at the same weight in the event of a missed lift.
• Baby powder is supplied for deadlifts and is ONLY to be applied in the designated area outside.
• Chalk is provided and is also located outside.

 

When lifting has finished for your session don’t forget to take all of your possessions/equipment, and please do not take any equipment provided by us for athletes use.

 

Referees decisions are final. Swearing or abusing the refs or officials will NOT be permitted.

 

CAUSES FOR DISQUALIFICATION

• Walking out from under the bar after failing a squat. The spotters will assist the weight back into the rack and you must assist them with this. The spotters are there to ensure your safety and you must not put the spotter’s safety at risk.
• Hitting or slapping of lifters and/or the use of smelling salts in front of the audience.
• Swearing on the platform or toward other lifters, officials and volunteers.
• Any disrespect or unsportsmanlike behaviour and misconduct by lifters, coaches and handlers.

🏋️‍♀️ RULES OF 3-LIFTS

 

THIS EVENT IS OPERATING UNDER THE RULES OF THE AUSTRALIAN POWERLIFTING LEAGUE (APL). THE COMPREHENSIVE RULE BOOK IS AVAILABLE HERE.

 

BELOW IS A SUMMARISED VERSION OF THE RULES OF THE 3-LIFTS.

💉 DRUG TESTING

 

Testing must be performed on all lifters who achieve a DOTS score within the top 10% of all competitors.

 

All tests must be administered immediately after lifting has been completed, conducted by an official of the same gender.

 

It is the lifter’s responsibility to remain at the competition venue following a drug-tested contest to determine if he/she has been selected for drug testing. If the athlete fails, refuses, or is not available when the testing occurs, their lack of testing will be treated as a drug test failure subject to a lifetime ban without an opportunity to appeal.

🏆 WINNER PRESENTATIONS 

 

Presentations will be held shortly after lifting concludes at approximately 2:30pm. It would be great for athletes from all flights to be present for this.

 

Due to the small size of the competition, weight class medals will not be awarded.

 

Overall medals will be awarded to 1st, 2nd and 3rd male and female lifters, based on DOTS.

🌭🥤 FOOD & DRINK

 

Water, Gatorades, Monster Energy Drinks, Protein Drinks, Cold Brew Coffee & Protein Bars will be available for purchase before, during and after the comp.

 

There will also be a gold coin donation Sausage Sizzle during and after the comp.

PHYSIO

 

Samir Zarrouki is a member of Iron Strength, member and Coach at Grounded Mat Sports, and works as a Physiotherapist at Active Performance. He is setting up a treatment table at the comp and will be offering complimentary physio treatments and assessments for all athletes, to assist with pre, during and post comp niggles.

 

Treatments will be on a first come, first served basis. And as he is volunteering his services, please don’t expect him to be available at all times, as he’ll need to take breaks in between sessions.

 

Feel free to DM him on Insta here, if you have any questions.

 PHOTOGRAPHER

 

Bronte of Taken By Bronte Photography will be onsite all day taking photos of the event. Post event, the photos will be uploaded onto our Facebook event page here.

 

Note: It may take the photographer a bit of time to sort, edit and get them to us, so please be patient.

🌭🍻 AFTER PARTY

 

Immediately after comp we’ll be packing up and re-organising the gym. We then all plan to head out to a pub for a few bevvies and a feed in early arvo/evening. We’ll confirm the time and venue on the day of comp, and will post it in the event here.