​No Bell Down
60 Minute Long Cycle
Rules & Regulations, Rights & Obligations of Participants

Good sportsmanship is required of all participants. Antagonizing competitors, judges, or officials will not be tolerated.

1. Competitors displaying unsportsmanlike conduct may be disqualified immediately, whether or not his/her set has been complete or is yet to happen. b. Spectators and coaches displaying unsportsmanlike conduct may be asked to leave the premises immediately.

Divisions:  No Bell Down offers 4 divisions for the 60 Minute Long Cycle event.

1. Relay Casual.  Lifters here have the option to pass their bell off to other lifters in their relay.  The amount of time that you spend under the bell is dependent on how many participants want to lift in this division.  It is your responsibility to not set the bell down, even if your relay partner is not ready to take over at the prearranged interval. 
   1. Relays of 2 work well for 3 x 10 minute sets each or for 2 x 15 minute sets each. 
   2. Relays of 3 work well for 2 x 10 minute sets each, 1 x 20 minute set each, or 4 x 5 minute sets each. 
   3. Relay lifters must use the exact same bell as the other lifters on their relay, regardless of personal ability.  Stronger lifters on the relay must use the bell that the weakest lifter on the relay needs to use. 
2. Solo Casual.  Any one with any level of skill or level of form may do the entire set by themselves.  Lifters in this division will still get a hard workout but need not hold themselves to the same standard as the more advanced divisions.
3. Solo “Finisher Attempt”.  To earn “Finisher” rank in this club it is necessary to complete the entire hour with 90% of repetitions being correct Long Cycle.  All phases of the lift must be correct.  This lifter must also not commit more than 3 technical fouls/violations in any given category. 
4. Solo Competitive.  [This division is currently by invitation only.]  To qualify for this division, lifters should be capable of performing the vast majority of their repetitions with correct form, use at least a 12kg bell, and be on-pace for at least 300 reps in the 60 minutes.  Competitive Lifters will be assigned an individual judge to count and verify their repetitions and their score will be entered into the club record book.  The rules apply most strictly to the competitive division. 

 
Format:  No Bell Down 60 Minutes of Slinging Steel is what is known as a Kettlebell Marathon.  The technique used is Single Arm Long Cycle.  Long Cycle is broken into two main phases: the “clean” on the bottom and the “jerk” on top.  See “Requirements for the Competitive Long Cycle” portion at the bottom of this guide for a precise description of the lift. 

​-The bell will begin on the ground and lifters will not begin lifting until the head umpire says “3, 2, 1, begin” during the countdown.  This is the last time that the kettlebell will touch the ground for 60 minutes.

-Because of the lengthy nature of the set, unlimited hand switches are allowed.  These may be performed as an extra swing in between the legs where the lifter changes hands at the apex of the swing or the lifter may bring the bell to his chest after Top Fixation, transfer it to the other hand, and then the bell may continue down for a swing to the complete the cycle.

-No bell shall be set down until the countdown clock beeps at the very end. 

-As time expires, Judges will award repetition attempts where the bump portion (upwards acceleration) of the lift was initiated prior to the beep. 
 
Disqualification

1. Unsportsmanlike or dangerous conduct may result in immediate disqualification and request to leave/removal from the premises immediately. 
2. Due to the Spirit of the “No Bell Down” charity lift, no one in any division will be asked to stop their set for technical violations or failed rep attempts.  However, Finisher and Competitive divisions may have their score or attempt disqualified after the set for too many technical violations or failed rep attempts. 
3. A Compeitive or Finisher attempt will be disqualified for premature ending of the set. 
4. A Competitive or Finisher attempt will be disqualified for uniform violations. 
5. Lifters whose score or attempt is disqualified post-set may appeal for a video review (if available) to the vice president or president of the PCF Kettle Club.  
6. All lifters are encouraged to finish the hour while exercising with the bell on their own power. 
7. A judge may ask the lifter to pass off their bell to a bystander if they believe that the lifter does not have control, will not be able to regain control, and is at risk of injury, especially injury to the head if Top Fixation is poor. 

 
Violations & Warnings

1. Violations include:
   1. Touching the kettlebell with your free hand
   2. Resting the kettlebells on shoulders
   3. Extra swing(s) at any time during the long-cycle. 
   4. Hanging the bell between the legs or to the side (like a bucket). 
   5. Because unlimited switches are allowed, no lifter will be penalized for cleaning to the rack, deciding not to attempt a jerk, and switch-swinging into a clean on the other side. 
   6. Drifting from your assigned lifting area. 
2. Warnings
   1. For Competitive Division only, Up to three warnings may be issued per violation – upon the 4th, the judge will take an appropriate note for club officials to review after the event.  (Note: It is possible to accrue more than 3 different violations if they are in different categories without being disqualified)
   2. Violations do not have to occur continuously (one right after the other). They may be accrued throughout the set.
3. Failed attempts occur when a competitor is unable to stop, or fixate, the kettlebell overhead. These reps will not be counted.
   1. Multiple failed attempts will not result in disqualification. It is the lifter’s responsibility to pull themselves together and move forward with good reps.
   2. Dropping or setting down the kettlebell(s) during the set is highly discouraged.  If the lifter needs to pass off the bell, someone must be capable of receiving it.  Lifters who set down the bell during their set will be immediately disqualified for all considerations of club rank. 

 
Scheduled Flights and Division Changes

1. Participants will lift at his/her assigned lifting point.  Lifters must stay within their designated area and not drift from it. 
2. Lifters must show up 45 minutes prior to the beginning of the workout for check-in, organization of relays (as applicable), bell assignments, and lifting area designations. 
3. Lifters of all divisions may bring their own bell (subject to weight verification).  If using a house bell, use of preferred bell is not 100% guaranteed. 
4. Lifters checking in late are not guaranteed participation. 

 
Weigh-ins are only applicable to the competitive division for statistical purposes.  Weigh ins may occur with or without shoes.  There are no divisional weight requirements and therefore lifters will keep all of their clothing on. 

Equipment

1. Kettlebells and chalk will be provided by host organizers.
2. Participants may only use chalk and water to prepare the weights and hands.
3. Participants may not use earbuds of any kind. 
4. Participants may use kinesiological tape, nose strips, medical supplies that are thin and have adhesive, etc. 

Clothing/Uniform

1. For the Competitive and Finisher Divisions, clothing must not cover elbow and knee joints of the participant.
2. Shoes (closed toe) must be worn by all participants for the entire set.  5-finger style individual toe shoes are not allowed. Failure to wear proper shoes will result in a disqualification.  
3. A shirt must be worn but for this discipline there is currently no requirement for short sleeves vs tank tops.  

Weightlifting Belts

1. A weightlifting belt is optional.  Participants are allowed to use a weightlifting belt of their choosing so long as it is of a tapered style.  The belt may not be worn underneath the participants shirt nor may other fabric than incidental portions of the lifters shirt be placed over the belt.

Wrist / Knee Wraps

1. Participants may use knit wrist bands, with or without thin segmented plastic inserts.  Only one band per arm may be used.
2. Participants may use wrist wraps so long as the width does not exceed 12cm. b. Participants may use knee wraps so long as the width does not exceed 25cm.

*Participants are forbidden from using any other equipment that may aid in kettlebell lifting. Only the aforementioned items may be used.

Requirements for the Competitive Long Cycle

1.  After the clean, there must be a clear and distinguishable pause in the rack. Your hips and knees should be extended. If you do not pause in the rack prior to the jerk, you will receive a no-count.
2. Two distinct knee bends: a) first bend with the bell still racked; and b) second bend just after the initial the drive with the bell ascending and just prior to elbow fixation. If the judge does not see a distinguishable second knee bend, you will receive a no-count.
3. Some competitors are unable to fully extend (straighten) their elbows. Regardless, elbow fixation (no movement) is required once the 2nd knee bend is completed and prior to extending (straightening) and fixing your knees. If the judge sees movement in your elbow after you extend your knees, you will receive a no-count.
4. A brief pause in the overhead position (Top Fixation) with your knees and elbows extended and fixed before dropping the bell into the rack. If the judge is unable to distinguish a brief pause, you will receive a no-count.
5. After overhead fixation, you may drop the bell(s) into the rack and “touch and go”, in which a pause in the rack is almost indistinguishable. However, you must hit the rack and not drop directly into the swing. If you do not hit the rack position prior to the swing, you will receive a no-count.