How does the referees' decision affect scoring in powerlifting?

In powerlifting, the referees play a crucial role in determining the validity of a lifter's attempts. Points—or more accurately, successful lifts—are only given for attempts that meet the standards set by the International Powerlifting Federation (IPF). A successful lift is one that conforms to the rules regarding technique, form, and equipment, and is deemed valid by the referees' majority decision. Therefore, the scoring is directly influenced by the referees, as only those lifts that receive a "good lift" call contribute to the lifter's total score.

In contrast, regardless of an athlete's performance, if the lift is deemed unsuccessful by the referees, it does not count towards their total score, reinforcing the importance of the referees' judgments. This system ensures that all lifters are assessed fairly and consistently according to established criteria, making the referees' decisions a fundamental aspect of scoring in powerlifting.