What software should I use to run a powerlifting competition?
CompetHub is an online software to run a powerlifting competition, also called force athlétique in France or dynamophilie in Quebec. It handles registrations by weight and age class, the weigh-in, the flights, the entry of the three attempts on the squat, the bench press and the deadlift, computes the total and the IPF GL points, then publishes the ranking on a branded public page.
The concrete problem of the powerlifting organizer
Running a powerlifting competition in Excel means juggling too many variables at once. You retype every registration, you sort each athlete into their weight class (-59, -66, -74, -83, -93, -105, -120, +120 kg for men) and age class (Sub-juniors, Juniors, Open, Masters 1 to 4). The weigh-in takes place two hours before the first attempt and sets the official body weight. A spreadsheet keeps up poorly with this pace.
On event day, the headache ramps up a notch. Each athlete has three attempts per lift, that is nine turns, in the mandatory order squat, bench press, deadlift. Only the best good attempt of each lift counts. Recording all of that by hand, between two bars, multiplies the errors.
Then comes the ranking. The total kg breaks each category, the lightest wins in case of a tie, and the best lifter is determined on IPF GL points with a coefficient formula. On a spreadsheet, a formula error throws off the whole results sheet. A dedicated software centralizes this data and makes every figure reliable.
Why not run a powerlifting competition in Excel?
Excel forces you to retype every registration, to track nine attempts per athlete and to apply the IPF GL points formula by hand. A transcription or formula error throws off the total and the ranking. A dedicated software centralizes registrations, weigh-in, attempts and ranking, and removes the retyping.
How CompetHub runs a powerlifting competition
CompetHub connects each building block of the software to the reality of a powerlifting competition. Here is how.
Online registrations and validation
Each athlete registers online in their weight and age class. The staff validates or rejects each request and checks in the present athletes (check-in) on event day. Transactional emails go out automatically on registration, validation and rejection. You keep a clean list, with no duplicates and no file to cross-reference.
Weight and age classes
You create the real classes of the sport. For Open and Masters men: -59, -66, -74, -83, -93, -105, -120 and +120 kg. For Open and Masters women: -47, -52, -57, -63, -69, -76, -84 and +84 kg. The Sub-juniors and Juniors add a lower class (-53 kg men, -43 kg women). You define your age categories the same way (Sub-juniors, Juniors, Open, Masters 1 to 4) by setting their bounds. The athlete registers in their class, and you record their body weight at the weigh-in.
Weigh-in and flights
At the weigh-in, you record each lifter's body weight and lot number, directly in the tool. You then build your flights (lifting groups, generally 8 to 14 athletes) and assign the lifters to them. Everything is centralized: no more weigh-in sheet separate from the rest.
Attempt entry
For each lifter, you declare the load of each of their attempts (up to three per lift) then you judge the attempt good or no-lift. CompetHub keeps only the best good attempt of each lift for the total. The statuses are visible at a glance, with no paper sheet to re-centralize.
Lifting order and light judging
On the platform, CompetHub computes the lifting order of each round, from the lightest to the heaviest and broken by the lot number on equal loads, and highlights the lifter on the platform and the next one. Judging is done with the three referee lights (white or red), the verdict being taken by majority, then kept with the attempt.
Ranking by total and IPF GL points
CompetHub computes the total (sum of the best good attempts), ranks each category on the highest total and breaks ties on equal total by the lowest body weight. It then computes the IPF GL points (Goodlift, in force since 1 May 2020), with the official formula and the Classic or Equipped coefficients, to determine the best lifter across all categories. The ranking builds in real time: a lifter enters the ranking from their first good attempt, and the order evolves at each lift, not only at the final total.
Public results page
You publish a public page in the competition's colors (logo, colors), with the presentation, the participants and the ranking by category (total and IPF GL points) as well as the best lifter. The ranking updates there automatically during the competition, without the spectator reloading the page. It is accessible without an account. The list of registrants exports to CSV for your archives.
How do I create a powerlifting competition with CompetHub?
Create your account, add the competition, enable the meet format and set the weight and age classes, then open registrations. On event day, you record the weigh-in, build the flights, declare and judge the attempts, and the ranking by total and IPF GL points is computed, ready to publish.
The flow managed for powerlifting
Powerlifting is not played in an elimination bracket: it is managed by weight classes, flights and attempts. CompetHub follows the mandatory order of the three lifts (squat, bench press, deadlift) and the three attempts per lift, keeps only the best good attempt, then ranks on total and IPF GL points. For organizers who pair other disciplines, the bracket formats (single elimination, double-elimination, pools) remain available on classic competitions.
Which format should I manage for a powerlifting competition?
Powerlifting is managed by weight classes, flights and attempts, not in an elimination bracket. In CompetHub, you enable the meet format: the tool follows the three lifts and the three attempts, keeps the best good attempt, computes the total and the IPF GL points and publishes the ranking.
Why CompetHub rather than Excel or a spreadsheet
| Step | Excel or paper | CompetHub |
|---|---|---|
| Registrations | Manual retyping, duplicates | Online form, validation, auto emails |
| Weight classes | Sorting by hand | Classes created, athlete registered in their own |
| Weigh-in | Separate weigh-in sheet | Body weight and lot recorded in the tool |
| Attempts | Paper sheets to centralize | Good / no-lift, best attempt kept |
| Total and IPF GL points | Copied formula, errors | Automatic calculation, official coefficients |
| Informing the public | Announced on the mic, quickly lost | Ranking on a public page, no account |
Does CompetHub replace Excel for a powerlifting competition?
Yes. Where Excel imposes retyping and manual calculations, CompetHub centralizes the registrations, the weigh-in, the flights and the attempts, then computes the total and the IPF GL points and publishes the ranking. You keep the history and export the registrants to CSV.
CompetHub compared to other software
CompetHub aims for simplicity. You create a powerlifting competition in just a few minutes, with no installation or heavy configuration. Where some federation platforms require a long learning curve, CompetHub offers the essential building blocks directly: weight classes, weigh-in, flights, attempt entry, ranking by total and IPF GL points, public results page. It is a tool to start fast, whether you organize a club competition or a meet of a non-affiliated federation (raw or equipped).
What is the difference between CompetHub and other competition software?
CompetHub aims for simplicity: you create a powerlifting competition in just a few minutes, for free and with no credit card. Weight classes, weigh-in, flights, attempt entry, ranking by total and IPF GL points and a public results page are included, with no complex configuration or installation.
Free to start
CompetHub is free to start, with no credit card. You create your first powerlifting competition, open registrations, define your weight classes, manage the weigh-in, the flights and the attempts, and publish the ranking without paying anything. You test the full cycle, from weigh-in to final ranking, before any commitment.
Is CompetHub free to organize a powerlifting competition?
Yes, CompetHub is free to start, with no credit card. You manage the registrations, the weigh-in, the flights, the attempts and the ranking, and publish the public results page without paying. You test the full cycle before any commitment.
Frequently asked questions
How do I create a powerlifting competition online?
Create a CompetHub account, add your competition, enable the meet format (powerlifting) and set your weight and age classes, then open registrations. On event day, you record the weigh-in, build the flights, declare and judge the attempts, and the ranking by total and IPF GL points is computed.
Is the software free?
Yes, CompetHub is free to start, with no credit card. You manage registrations, weigh-in, flights, attempts and ranking, and publish the public results page for free, before deciding to go further for a full season.
How are powerlifting weight classes handled?
You create your competition's weight and age classes, for example the IPF classes (men -59 to +120 kg, women -47 to +84 kg, plus the lower Sub-juniors and Juniors classes). Each athlete registers in their class, and you record their body weight at the weigh-in.
How do the attempts and the total work?
Each athlete has three attempts per lift, in the order squat, bench press, deadlift. You declare the load of each attempt and you judge it good or no-lift. CompetHub keeps only the best good attempt of each lift and turns it into the total kg.
How are the ranking and the best lifter calculated?
The ranking by category is on total kg, broken by the lowest body weight. The best lifter across all categories is determined on IPF GL points (Goodlift, since 1 May 2020), with the Classic or Equipped coefficients. CompetHub applies this calculation automatically.
Can the public follow the results?
Yes. CompetHub publishes a branded public page, accessible without an account, that presents the competition, the participants and the ranking by category with the total and IPF GL points, as well as the best lifter. The ranking updates automatically during the competition.
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