General Competition Questions
Question: Can the YouTube link be muted for copyright purposes?
Answer: Yes
Question: Must the YouTube link be public?
Answer: Yes
Question: When will we receive the password?
Answer: The password will be sent via email on Thursday, May 7, 2026, at 11:45 a.m. PT before the competition starts. There will be one password for all Age-Group Semifinals workouts.
Question: Can the password be written on a whiteboard?
Answer: Yes, and it is encouraged! Passwords must be shown and/or stated at the beginning of every workout video.
Question: If I use an app like “wetime” or “WodProof” can that be considered my timer?
Answer: Yes. Any app with a built in timer while you are performing the workout is allowed. Adding a timer AFTER the workout has been recorded is not allowed.
Question: If I use an app like “wetime” or “WodProof” that has a built in timer do I still need to say or show the password at the beginning of each workout video?
Answer: Yes, all videos must include the password at the beginning of the video.
Question: Can I remove my workout videos from YouTube after the leaderboard is locked?
Answer: Yes, however, if the video is not viewable during the review period your workout may receive a zero score.
Question: Which barbells are permitted for use by men and women?
Answer: The examples provided on the scorecard are not exhaustive. There are multiple other options available, as long as they meet the minimum diameter requirements provided on the scorecard.
Question: Can women use a 45 pound barbell?
Answer: Yes
Judging Questions
Question: Does the Head Judge or the Floor Judge have to be the same person for all workouts?
Answer: No, the Head Judge and the Floor Judge can be anyone who holds the necessary credentials: L1/OL1 or higher, and the Advanced Judges Course.
Question: If a judge has the 2025 Advanced Judges Course, do they need to revalidate their credential?
Answer: No, the Advanced Judges Course is valid for three (3) years.
Question: Do both judges need to hold the Advanced Judges Course? Is this a new requirement this season?
Answer: Yes, both judges must hold an L1/OL1 or higher and the Advanced Judges Course. This is the same requirement as the 2025 season.
Question: Can I perform the workout and be considered the Head Judge?
Answer: No. You cannot serve as a judge for yourself. You may complete your workout with the required judges and then serve as a Head Judge or Floor Judge for another athlete.
Question: Does the Head Judge have to be visible on camera?
Answer: Yes, the Head Judge must be visible and introduced on camera at the beginning of each workout video. They do not need to remain on screen throughout the workout.
Question: Do I have to do all Semifinals workouts at the same affiliate?
Answer: No, as long as all requirements and standards are met, you can do any of the workouts in any affiliate in good standing.
Question: Can the Head Judge also be the Floor Judge at the same time?
Answer: No, all athletes must have two separate judges.
Question: Are videos required even if I don’t plan on being a top athlete?
Answer: Yes, videos are required to submit all scores for every athlete.
Question: There are no affiliates in my country. Are there any exceptions to the rule that all workouts must be performed in an affiliate in good standing for Semifinals?
Answer: No, there are no exceptions at the Semifinals stage of competition.
Question: Do both the Head Judge and the Floor Judge need to hold an L1/OL1 (or higher) trainer certificate?
Answer: Yes
Question: Does the Advanced Judges Course have to be completed before the start of the competition on May 7, 2026 at 12 p.m. PT?
Answer: Yes, all judging credentials must be completed before the start of the competition.
Workout 1
Question: For the 65+ age groups who may do a power snatch and then an overhead squat, do they have to complete the power snatch (e.g., stand up to full extension) before they squat?
Answer: No, full extension after the power snatch is not required before the squat.
Question: I want to wear gloves to protect my hands on the rope climbs. Can I wear the gloves during the snatch also?
Answer: Yes
Question: My affiliate does not have a 15-foot rope, only a 12-foot rope for rope climbs. Is there an alternative?
Answer: Athletes must use the required rope height to complete this workout.
Question: On the squat snatch, if the bar is received with the hip crease above parallel, can an athlete continue squatting until they reach a depth below parallel and have the rep count?
Answer: Yes, per the scorecard, “The athlete must remain in motion until the barbell is received in the squat position with the crease of the hip below the the top of the knee.”
Workout 2
Question: Can 65+ athletes step in and out of the burpee as well as over the box?
Answer: Yes, you may step in and out of the burpee for any age division.
Question: Is it acceptable to face the box and jump up after completing a lateral burpee? Or do athletes have to jump sideways onto the box?
Answer: A strict lateral orientation is not required. Athletes may face the box during the burpee or box jump-overs.
Question: For the 60+ handstand walk, does putting down 5-foot segments mean athletes can handstand walk 5 feet, then come down and repeat that 5 times to get 1 rep?
Answer: All athletes are required to use a 25-foot hand stand walk length. Athletes in the 55-64 year old division may come down in 5-foot sections.
Question: Could volleyball knee pads be used for reducing impact on knees on lateral burpee box jump overs?
Answer: No. Only standard knee sleeves may be used for any workout.
Question: Is there any space requirement as to the placement of the box and the double under rope? Do they need to be any specified distance from where you will be running and handstand walking?
Answer: The jump rope can be placed anywhere as long as the double-unders can be seen completely in frame.
Workout 3
Question: Can gymnastics grips be on the wrist during the row as long as they are not used to grip the handle?
Answer: Yes, grips can be on the wrist, but not used to grip the handle.
Question: How can I keep a clock in frame while zooming in on the rower monitor?
Answer: It’s alright if the clock is not in frame, briefly, while zooming in on the monitor.
Question: How do we fit the monitor in frame while filming the rest of the workout?
Answer: As the athlete is nearing completion of the row, move the camera over the shoulder of the athlete to show the meters being completed, then move it back to a locked off position to show the rest of the workout.
Question: If I use an app that connects to the rower showing the meters, do I still need to show the monitor on camera?
Answer: Yes, you must still move the camera to show the monitor at the end of each round.
Question: Can I elevate the empty barbell off the ground in any way?
Answer: No, athletes cannot elevate the barbell off the ground, even when using small plates or an empty bar.
Question: Do 55+ athletes do chin-over-bar or chest-to-bar pull-ups?
Answer: Chin-over-bar pull-ups
Question: Can boxes or other objects be used to reach the bar?
Answer: Yes, as long as all other requirements for the pull-up are met.
Workout 4
Question: Are Sumo deadlifts allowed?
Answer: No, sumo deadlifts are NOT allowed.
Question: What is the correct weight for the power cleans in the Men’s 60-64 Division?
Answer: The correct weight is 95 lb. The corrected scorecard has been updated and emailed to athletes.
Question: For the tiebreak, is it the time remaining in the current minute or the rest of the 10 minutes?
Answer: The tiebreak is cleans completed in the remaining time of the current 1-minute lifting window.
- Scenario 1: Athlete fails a lift in a 1-minute period — the tiebreak is the number of power cleans completed in the remaining time in the minute of the failed lift.
- Scenario 2: Athletes may complete a lift in a 1-minute period and then choose not to perform the lift in the next minute. In this case, the athlete will have the next full minute to complete max-reps power cleans
- Scenario 3: Athlete completes the final weight in the last lifting window. In this case, the athlete will immediately complete as many reps of the power cleans as possible in the remaining time.
Question: If the deadlift has been lifted off the ground before the end of the minute, but is completed after the minute is over, will that rep count?
Answer: Yes
Question: During the tiebreak of power cleans, if the rep is off the ground before the end of the minute, but is completed after the minute is over, will that rep count?
Answer: No
Question: Can athletes use an interval timer?
Answer: No, athletes must use a continuously running clock until the workout is complete.
Workout 5
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