Weightlifting

When you begin weightlifting, it's helpful to practice different bodyweight exercises. These movements can boost your strength and improve your overall health.

A weightlifter has excellent full-body strength, which they’ve achieved by practising movements that challenge their body in different ways.

Weightlifting helps young people build full-body strength by teaching them a variety of movements. They will learn Olympic lifting techniques, along with exercises that focus on single-leg, double-leg, hinging, spring, core, and push-pull movements. These skills are easy to add to workouts and competitions, and every movement can be adjusted so everyone has a chance to improve and succeed.

Weightlifting appeals to lots of different people, and everyone starts by learning the same movements and developing at their own pace.

This video explains what happens at a weightlifting competition.

Secondary formats

Students can take part in different weightlifting events:

Workout!

Students create their own workout using the Movement Menu or use a template workout provided. Put the music on and complete the workout!

Pairs AMRAP (‘As Many Rounds As Possible’)

Students complete the workout provided in pairs. The pair that completes the most rounds in the given time wins. Put the music on, work out, and repeat!

Spring, Strength and Stamina Challenge

Students complete the workout provided in pairs. They win points at different stations based on their performances. The pair with the highest number of points at the end wins. Put the music on and give your best performance!

These events help young people to develop self-belief and improve health and wellbeing.

Events can be modified by swapping in different movements from the Movement Menu to make it easier, harder, or more accessible.

Equipment needed

• Lightweight wooden or PVC bars (or broom handles)
• Boxes or benches (optional)
• Cones
• Music player and your own playlist
• Clock or stopwatches
• Pen and paper

School Games formats

Choose the right format document for your age group below. Each includes:

• SGOs (pink) – inter-school competition and advocacy
• Schools (green) – intra-school and curriculum delivery
• Young people (blue) – how to lead and run activities.