What is one responsibility of the head referee during a competition?

The head referee plays a crucial role in the competition by ensuring that the lifting process is conducted smoothly and according to the rules. One primary responsibility of the head referee is to give the command to start the lifts. This command is essential because it signals the lifter to begin their attempt and ensures that all competitors adhere to the same cue for fairness throughout the competition.

The head referee is also responsible for overseeing the competition's integrity and ensuring that all lifts are performed within the established guidelines. Their authority in issuing the lifting command helps maintain order and clarity during the competition, allowing lifters and audiences to understand when a lift is to begin.

Other responsibilities, such as training new referees or managing spectator behavior, are certainly important, but they do not directly pertain to the conduct of the lifts themselves during the competition, as the command to start the lifts does. Scoring the lifters' attempts is traditionally performed by side referees rather than the head referee.