By participating in the Garage Gym Competition, you agree to the Rules and terms listed in our Full Rules, Terms and Conditions, and Privacy Policy.
Abbreviated Rules
During the week of the competition:
- Perform and Record a successful 1 Rep Max Squat, Bench, and Deadlift.
- Upload the videos to Social Media in ONE post and use the hashtag #GarageGymCompetition
- Enter your results in the Garage Gym Competition Tracker
Following the above will successfully enter you into the competition. Following our core concept of inclusiveness… If you have any issues using a straight bar, completing 1 or 2 of the 3 main lifts, or need some type of other accommodation to help you participate, please do so. Need to do floor press because you don’t have a bench? Do it! If you have to do a clean to front squat, or a Steinborn Squat because you don’t have a rack, Do it! If you need to use a Safety Squat Bar, or Trap Bar, because of a bad shoulder or back? Do it! Or maybe you like Big 3 alternative lifts better than the traditional ones, no worries… Do it! Want to wear a Squat Suit, or need to use straps for deadlifts? Do it! Want to wear a luchadora mask or banana suit? Do it!
The bottom line is… if it looks like a Squat, Bench, or Deadlift, it probably counts. We want everyone to be able to compete in the nature that they feel most comfortable, safe, and strong. The traditional powerlifting rules are in place for sake of creating a level playing field to judge everyone on. This is NOT what the Garage Gym Competition is about or intends to achieve. Neither is right or wrong, but different. So our rules are loose on purpose, to allow everyone to be involved.
Approved Social Media Channels – Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, Reddit
The Open Drawing
The vast majority of competitions give out prizes to the top athletes. There are plenty of competitions that reward the biggest and baddest lifters… We wanted something for everyone else. Thus the prizes are handed out in what we call the Open Drawing. Every participant gets a “ticket” for their entry, and every ticket has an equal chance of winning a prize – from the grand prize to the smallest prize offered. All prizes are available through the Open Drawing. Every. Single. Prize.
So, whether you total 200lbs or 2000lbs, you have an equal opportunity to walk away with something awesome. This single item takes several of our core values, including community, opportunity, and inclusion, and aligns them to create an engaging event for all levels of athletes. From the mouth of one of our heaviest lifters “It’s truly a competition for everyone”.
So whether you have your eyes on something from Surplus Strength, JuggernautAI, Texas Power Bars, or any of our other sponsors… you can achieve that
Top Athletes
No competition is truly a competition without some form of recognition for the top performances. For our Top Athletes we hand out an extra two “tickets” to the Open Drawing. So you get 3 tickets, instead of 1, increasing your odds at winning any of the amazing prizes up for grabs. This is the best way to keep the Open Drawing the main focus which aligns to the competitions original goals, but to reward those putting in the work to earn a Top Athlete spot.
Top Athlete categories are reserved for the top 10 Male and Females in each category and do not factor in age, location, or anything else not mentioned.
- Top Totals – Defined by the lifters who lift the most amount of combined weight in the Squat, Bench, and Deadlift
- Most Improved – Defined by the lifters who increase their totals by the highest percentage from one year, to the next, based on the previous years Garage Gym Competition performance (i.e. – Spring to Spring events, and Fall to Fall events)
Top Athlete Spots
With the Top Athlete spots, we are trying to compare people like for like, but we can not control every aspect of a home gym lifters set up, nor would we want to. We do not have divisions, age brackets, weight brackets, or anything like that. Simple and easy, the people with the biggest numbers tied to the categories above will take home the Top Athlete spots.
Thus, some people will walk out their squat, others will use a monolift. Some will have an IPF spec bench, others will use a fat pad. Some will lift raw, others wrapped, and others in full triple ply gear. The GGC welcomes all!
Lifts are judged on the honor system. No one is going to disqualify you for submitting a video that doesn’t meet the criteria below, but you know what you did. Please try to make sure that your lifts would be counted in a traditional meet.
Squat
You should break parallel (you can define this however you want). As long as you use a bar, plates, and squat to a valid depth and back up, you are good.
Bench
The bar should be unracked, lowered to your chest, briefly touch the chest, and be pressed up and racked. No requirement around pausing on the chest. As long as you use a bar, plates, press from a flat bench position, touch your chest on the way down, and the butt and feet stay on the bench/floor at all times, you are good.
Deadlift
The bar should start on the floor and be lifted to lockout. As long as you use a bar and plates from the floor to lockout you are good.
Disclaimer
Please do not get hurt. Be smart, use your safeties, pins, and other appropriate measures to not die, get dismembered, or otherwise damaged. Many of our sponsors sell safety equipment that you can use.
If you need to talk with a doctor beforehand, please do so. If you need to talk with a doctor afterwards, please do so. Again, be smart, lift safe, stay strong. None of the sponsors, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Reddit, YouTube, or any other communication channel or participant is held liable for any damages to your equipment, your home, your garage, your body, your friend’s body, or anything else in pursuit of this competition.
All participants are expected to compete at their own risk. This competition is not sponsored, endorsed, or administered by Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Reddit, or any other communication channel, social media site, or venue used throughout this competition.