Is There A Safer Way To Spot Squats?

Create: 03/07/2008 - 09:11

Author: admin

In the wake of the injuries suffered by Jeff Lewis while squatting at the USAPL Quest American Invitational, some are asking if there's a safer way spot the squat. Reports indicate that there was little that spotters could have done to prevent this incident. In preparation for these types of circumstances, shouldn't there be a safe backup plan in place. For instance, some meet directors who use a monolift have such a plan, using safety straps or chains in addition to spotters. Is it time for traditional federations to explore such options, even while preserving the walkout? Should a monolift or cage with a safety catch device or some such device alone be required? Should all meets with a monolift be required to have those measures in place? Brad Madvig:

Jeff had great control of the weight but just lost balance. The kind of weight he was doing and the size of the man would have caused issues for ANY spotter behind him. Sure hide sight is 20 20 and maybe the spotters could have done something better, but the fact still remains it was a freak accident that was unfortunate and do happen in Powerlifting from time to time.

Garry Holmen at Outlaws:

I have always been pro-walkout in the squat. I think after this incident I might change my mind. There absolutely needs to be a backup safety component while squatting. For the spotter's and lifter's sake. Maybe it's time to adopt the monolift and mandate safety straps across all federations.

Jamie Emberly:

Maybe we should use a power rack

Holmen:

I thought about that Jamie... it's hard to get enough spotters around a power rack. Too many pinch points. If someone dumps 900 lbs they'll probably be okay but it's just as bad when the spotters get their hands caught in between the weight and the safety bars. Monolift with straps is probably the best solution for both lifter and spotter safety. I've seen both in action. I've always believed that walkout was needed in the squat. But is it more important then lifter/spotter safety?

Tommy Fannon:

we now use the safety straps at out meets... not guaranteed to avoid all injuries, but at least the bar wont hit the floor and may prevent a few.

Jason Burnell:

That is the one legit reason for a monolift. I know the guys at Diablo used to use a chain set up as a "just in case all else fails" method for squat training. I've dumped weights forward, backward and every way in between and sometimes the spotters could get me and a couple of times they could't. At APF Seniors I almost wound up in Maris' lap on my second attempt.I shot forward so fast there was no way the spotters could get me in time.... and missing a lift is different than dumping it and even that is different than what happens when a quad or a knee goes. When you miss a lift, generally a tiny bit of help from the spotters is all it takes - especially in a "walk out" meet. When you fall forward or backwards, typically the spotters can catch you - for me, I've been grinding out a lift and lose it and it's almost slow motion when I fall. However, I have seen a couple of times where a quad or a knee blows. It's a sudden drop and the weights and the lifter are just free falling. Spotters have very little time to react and if they are quick and things work out they can get the bar stable before it pins the lifter. With a little guy it's hard. With a huge guy like Jeff Lewis, the lifter, the spotters and the floor are all screwed. Things like this might be a good argument for squatting in a large power cage with a strap set up - at least that way the bar isn't going to crush anyone

Adam Driggers:

Tommy and I use the same straps. They are rated at 11,000 lbs singled, and I have mine doubled. They are designed for lifting containers off ships. I got them from one of the ports in town.

Comments

We use a mono with safety

We use a mono with safety chains in it all the time. It has saved many lifters from going to the floor. A monolift with chains is definitely the way to go. SS, J.R.

Straps or chains are

Straps or chains are definitely the way to go. It's bad enough when the lifter gets injured, but eventually a spotter is going to be crushed. Some sort of wide rack or monolift would allow strap placement. Even inside a power rack would work...spotters would just have to watch for pinch points...but I'd imagine that would be better than the possibility of serious injury or death from being crushed. "The kind of weight he was doing and the size of the man would have caused issues for ANY spotter behind him." This makes the point nicely. Yes, accicidents will happen...but this kind of accident is a *FORSEEABLE* one that relatively simple steps could reduce the risk greatly. Not acting to mitigate a forseeable risk could be interpreted as negligence. Just curious, how many spotters sign injury waivers?

I deffinatly like the way

I deffinatly like the way the Ass's do it; chains on the mono. Keenan

Since I can't apply

Since I can't apply experience, only logic, the mono with chains or straps seems extremely logical to me. Just as mandatory safety bars for the bench.

I have been the back spotter

I have been the back spotter at many meets and I have also had several bars dumped back at me. Fortunately, I have never been hurt, but I think that many people don't realize that the spotter--more often than the lifter--ends up getting hurt. About a month before the Arnold, I got a nice scrape on my forearm from the knurling on the bar after it was dumped. Although I have always believed that the walkout is part of the lift, I think that the Jeff Lewis situation is a big wakeup call to re-evaluate ways to make competition squats safer for both the lifters and the spotters. After all, we have added the safety bars to the bench without compromising the integrity of the lift. The same can easily be done with the squat. I would propose a set of racks that have adjustable heights. They would be mobile with a wide base and would be flush against the squat racks and go straight back for about 6 feet so it would protect the lifter and spotters regardless of how far back they walked out. The racks would also on touch the floor in the front and back to that the side spotters would not be obstructed. Finally, these racks could also do double duty as the bech racks as well and lifters would get their "rack heights" for both the squat and bench. I know several excellent welders and I am going to have a set of these made for my home gym to see how well they work. Jim Cahill

I like the mono and chains

I like the mono and chains idea. As for bench, Jody Woods has safety catches that will prevent the lifter from dumping a bar over their face. Every competition bench should have something similar.

Marcus wrote:I like the mono

[quote=Marcus]I like the mono and chains idea. As for bench, Jody Woods has safety catches that will prevent the lifter from dumping a bar over their face. Every competition bench should have something similar. [/quote] Elite's new competition bench has a "face saver" feature.

We use the straps and it

We use the straps and it adds a level of confidence to the lifter and the spotters. They seem that they would be a bother, but no one in the gym has complained past the second or third set. I'm happy to say we have never needed them, but it's nice to know we have the extra precaution. I added them before our first session after the APF Nationals in Vegas when one of the spotters cruched his hand between the weight and Mono. www.myspace.com/teamsamsonpowerlifting Here's a link to a pic of the setup. If it works. http://i170.photobucket.com/albums/u260/adriggs/000_0003.jpg

Adam Driggers wrote:We use

[quote=Adam Driggers]We use the straps and it adds a level of confidence to the lifter and the spotters. I added them before our first session after the APF Nationals in Vegas when one of the spotters cruched his hand between the weight and Mono. Here's a link to a pic of the setup. If it works. http://i170.photobucket.com/albums/u260/adriggs/000_0003.jpg [/quote] Nice. Of course if the IPF used that setup, the straps would have to hang lower, LOL.

I am not for radical changes

I am not for radical changes in the current set up. But applying a safety bar much like we have in the bench to the squat is something I would support. Powerlifting dangerous sport by nature. Lifter safety is important but some lines need to be drawn.

That's funny.

Adam, you may want to take

Adam, you may want to take those straps and change the way you have them looped. You have them going in front of the swingarm up top. Open them up so they are around it and it will open up the lower part as well. In addition you won't risk the chance of bending that part on a huge dump. There are several little parts that can bend if pressure is applied. We have ours looped over the top and hanging around the whole setup. The only concern we have is what happens when 1,000 lbs. is dumped? Will the monolift tip over? SS, J.R.

J.R. Bolger wrote:The only

[quote=J.R. Bolger]The only concern we have is what happens when 1,000 lbs. is dumped? Will the monolift tip over? SS, J.R.[/quote] I was wondering the same thing. Maybe the monolift can be counterbalanced somehow?

i blew out my acl walking

i blew out my acl walking weight back. there is nothing a spotter can do but get hurt i believe. i lost my balance setting my feet. now i only will squat in a monolift with chains so i won't hurt anyone. when i got hurt if the spotters didn't get out of the way there would have been more then one of us in the hospital.

No excuses! Just lift

No excuses! Just lift it! I'm glad to see this question on here! I've considered the use of our chains at our meet for a couple of years now, but I wasn't sure it would be within the rules and possibly void someones record. It sounds like some promoters are already using them though. If anyone knows if they are OK for an APF meet (record attempt wise) please post it here. I saw where Tommy mentioned they used them now. I'd appreciate if anyone can let me know because I'd sure like to use them at our meet this year...so would our spotters.

Actually in Ryan Celli's gym

Actually in Ryan Celli's gym in Pittsburgh since the ceilings have bar joists, we centered the squat stands and the monolift in line with joist spacing. By doing that we were able to drop chains to make it adjustable with canvas straps. A great feature is the straps are actually on the outer part of the plates, away from the lifters hands. The straps are less abrasive on racks and bars. All straps, shackles and chains exceed more than 2000 LBS of capacity each.

buddy: make sure you do a

buddy: make sure you do a bunch of trial runs in them so you can accommodate lifters of various sizes. the tow straps are the way to go for sure. NOT chains as they a major distraction.

If we go back 30odd years,

If we go back 30odd years, and look at the footage of Big don squatting 917+ pounds from rickety old racks, and no spotters around him. What has changed in these years since. Are powerlifters more paranoid? Are the weights heavier (well, 970 is heavier than 920 but not by too much...) or has the gear made missing a whole different can of worms? In terms of not walking out not causing issues, what would have happened if the chains were on the monolift when Bartley went down? would have they saved his body? or would have they pulled the rack down on all the spotters?

The beauty of using a

The beauty of using a monolift is that the chains and straps are usually in line with the hooks, should you drop the weight it should stay counter balanced. The only thing I am not sure of is if the lifter drops it from the top, as a free fall. The other important thing is with the chains if they are closed to the lifters hands and he or she drops, they could actually risk a chance of crushing fingers.

I agree with Jim Cahill's

I agree with Jim Cahill's post on setting up safety bars on the squat racks. In the University of Nebraska's weight room they have devices called pro spots on all of their squat racks for safety! These devices couldn't be that expensive especially when it comes to safety and negligence of the spotters! While squatting in a powerlifting meet on January 26th I ruptured my 4 quadricep tendons on my right knee and my 3 spotters failed to catch the bar. As i was pinned on the floor with the weight I ruptured 3 out of 4 quadricep tendons in the left knee. If these saftey bars where in place my injuries would have been different. I also feel that spotters should not be of highschool age and should take some sort of course on safety and spotting! In the APF the spotters do a wonderful job but they spot the weight super close and a majority of them are huge to handle the weights. I was larger than my spotters!

Williams strength is coming

Williams strength is coming out with a new mono lift with safety bars built around it. I already have one ordered!

hey my opinion on the matter

hey my opinion on the matter is this......... when it comes to safety as far as "squats" are concerned, then theres no such thing. every time a man attemtps to squat a sick amount of weight for their strength and controll level, there's always a chance that we all take that your gonna get seriously f'd up. i say wear your knee wraps and say your prayers. powerlifting destroys your body completely but we all do it anyway cause we love it. what happen to big Jeff was horrible i'd bet my sweet ass he has no regrets. in order to really go balls to the wall you gotta be willing to f'n die for your lifts.... strength n honor boyz and girls, shadows and dust!!!!!...... big nick

We use the chains in our gym

We use the chains in our gym during training also. Would be more than glad to use them in competition if everyone agreed on them. Rule books would have to be changed to except them, which is no big deal, since the books as of now say nothing can touch the lifter or the bar. The bar actually slide up and down the chain and even touches the arms. It doesn't bother me, I never know they are there. Only problems I can see with them on the competition floor is, 1. would interfer with the people that still walk out. 2. would have to adjust them from short people to tall people, which is really no problem, just adjust them. We set them pretty low in the gym, just so they would catch if you fall. 4. Main problem that would come up with some people, the chains being there would let some people try weight in competition that they could NEVER lift causing even more dumps,drops and probably more injuries. Not everyone is this crazy but some are, I know a few that would really load the bar just to try to show off with a big miss. Common sense would probably be out the window. I do have a set of safty racks that we use some times that hook right on the monolift, they will catch the weight if you fall or dump. I doubt short Teenagers or short women could use them but they wouldn't have to, mainly the ones lifting mega weight.

J.R. I see what you mean.

J.R. I see what you mean. I'm going to give that a try. www.myspace.com/teamsamsonpowerlifting

In watching video of Jeff

In watching video of Jeff Lewis' squat I am wondering if he (but not necessarily the spotters) would have avoided injury if he had just dumped it. He kept the bar on his back with his hands as he went down and that appears to be what injured his right knee as he collapsed on to it. I am assuming that is how the injury occured rather than the injury being the cause of the drop. We do need to find improved ways to protect the lifter and spotters. It will take improved equipment, improved spotting techniques, and training of both lifters and spotters to avoid some catastrophies.

I think having the spotting

I think having the spotting racks is a terrible idea which would probably not help in a situation like Jeff Lewis (falling backwards) unless they extended all the way to the back of the platform and even then they may not catch it. Also, it will likely bend the shit out of the bar when it hits. What about lifters who set up with their hands max width? Their hands will be smashed and possibly crushed to the point of amputation. What about the spotter who grabs the plates and the lifter pulls the bar sideways as they fall and the plates land on the rack. Same thing. The mono idea works b/c there is nothing for the spotter or lifter to get struck by/between in the event of a mishap. Bottom line I would not want to spot, or for that matter, squat under those conditions at a meet.

No excuses! Just lift

No excuses! Just lift it! Thanks Tommy! One post above makes me feel that the spotters on Jeff's squat may have been the cause of the injury. Spotters who are physical enough and experience enough should 'never' allow a lifter to fall backwards, especially from the standing or near top position; if you stay with the bar. The back spotter should definately be an experienced and totally confident person who won't hesitate at the 1st sign of trouble. With good side spotters also, a backwards fall should never happen. I'd hate to see lifters start dumping bars at meets after reading this. I've seen squatters over 350 lbs. with over 1000 lbs. on their backs start falling backwards and then be stood back up by backspotters who weighed apx. 230-240 but were experienced spotters and serious lifters (not neccessarily powerlifters / both of these guys are big, strong bobybuilders). My point is if these guys hadn't stayed with the bar, probably several spotters and probably the lifters would have gotten hurt. I can't imagine Jeff falling straight backwards unless the spotters bailed on him or unless they were just not physical enough or bold enough to step up and catch him. Powerlifting meets are going to have big strong lifters. For God's sake get big, strong (and experienced) people to spot.

I think useing a power rack

I think useing a power rack with no spotters is the way to go. It looks a lot better when you are the only person on the platform. I hate having someone behind me riding me up and down. With no spotters it means they can't get hurt and you don't have to find people to do it. Plus I read in PLUSA that one of the main reasons that the olympics don't won't powerlifting is they want to see one man on the platform squatting not six.

jeff hackett wrote:I think

[quote=jeff hackett]I think useing a power rack with no spotters is the way to go. It looks a lot better when you are the only person on the platform. I hate having someone behind me riding me up and down. With no spotters it means they can't get hurt and you don't have to find people to do it. Plus I read in PLUSA that one of the main reasons that the olympics don't won't powerlifting is they want to see one man on the platform squatting not six. [/quote] Would a Free-Spotter system be good? http://www.shermworks.com/ Or how about a Crepinsek Super Power Rack with their safety beam power hooks: http://www.1500lb.com/sumopowerracks.html and better yet with suspension straps: http://www.flexcart.com/members/elitefts/default.asp?m=PD&cid=114&pid=2130

No excuses! Just lift

No excuses! Just lift it! Jeff, the only reason I don't like the power rack idea is that the hooks are right where big guys have to grab the bar. I can only squat in a power rack effectively with a safety squat bar. I saw a big SHW. get his hand mangled re racking his squat in a gym meet that used one.

mastermonster wrote:No

[quote=mastermonster]No excuses! Just lift it! Jeff, the only reason I don't like the power rack idea is that the hooks are right where big guys have to grab the bar. I can only squat in a power rack effectively with a safety squat bar. I saw a big SHW. get his hand mangled re racking his squat in a gym meet that used one.[/quote] Agreed, it's right where I want to place my hands. Grabbing outside the bar holders, I've also had the problem during descent coming down with my arms in between the bar and the safety rods, which is no good either. For this reason as well as spotter (pinch factor) safety the suspension straps work much better than a rack's safety spotters/rods. Another problem with some power racks is that very few are designed for wide-stance lifters. In training I've been very happy using suspension straps with the monolift, which so far is the best safety option I've seen. The straps also tend to automatically adjust to a lifter's height at the same time you're changing the monolift's rack height.

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Is There A Safer Way To Spot Squats?

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