Official Rulebook
HOW APEX IS
SCORED & RUN
The standard for every sanctioned APEX competition. Athletes are responsible for reviewing the latest version before competing.
Overview
The format
Competition format
Individual competition. Men's and Women's categories. APEX competitions are currently stand-alone events.
Scoring
Up to 250 points per pillar (Power, Speed, Strength, Endurance) — 1,000-point total. Performance is converted to points using standardized scoring; final rankings are cumulative.
Divisions
Men / Women. APEX Open (current). APEX Pro coming soon. Age categories and adaptive divisions are not currently offered.
Competition
How the day runs
Check-in & warm-up
- Athletes must check in at registration at least 30 minutes prior to their heat.
- Athletes will be assigned a number written on their arm.
- For The Vert, standing reach is measured on a Vertec device during check-in, without shoes.
- Warm-up areas are provided to registered athletes.
Heat assignments & timing
- Athletes are assigned to heats prior to competition.
- It is the athlete’s responsibility to be present at event #1 at their assigned time.
Start protocol
- Athlete-controlled starts: Fast Forty, Max Toss, The Broad, The Vert, The Pull, The Push. Each attempt begins when the athlete signals readiness; the judge confirms with "Athlete ready… Go when ready."
- The official clock starts (or rep count begins) on the athlete’s first movement.
- Judge-controlled start: The Mile. Athletes start together from the assigned line on a clear "3-2-1… Go."
- Any false start (movement before readiness confirmation) earns a no-rep or fault.
Transitions & conduct
- Athletes must remain within their areas and stay with their heat.
- Interference with another athlete or heat may result in disqualification.
- Respect for athletes, judges, and staff is mandatory.
- Unsportsmanlike conduct (verbal abuse, intentional rule breaking, unsafe behavior) may result in penalty or disqualification.
Attempts
- Two attempts: Fast Forty, Max Toss, The Broad, The Vert. Best attempt counts.
- One attempt: The Pull, The Push, The Mile.
Tie-breaking
- If any podium placement results in a tie, the athletes compete in a 400m tie-breaker race.
- Only athletes who complete all required events are eligible for podium.
- DNF (Did Not Finish) in an event = 0 points for that event.
DNF, DQ, penalties
- DNF: failure to complete an event within the time cap.
- DQ: cheating, unsafe conduct, or refusal to follow judge instructions.
- Penalties: judges may issue no-reps or remove an athlete from the event depending on the infraction.
Movement Standards
The seven events
Equipment, standards, and faults for every event in the APEX format.
Speed
Fast Forty
2 attempts — best counts
Equipment
- Distance: 40 yards on standardized turf field.
- Electronic break-beam timing gates at start and finish; start gate set at 6 inches (lowest), all others at 30 inches, with split gates at the 10, 20, 30, and 40-yard marks.
- Lead-in: 1 yard of space behind the start line.
- Footwear: cleats and tennis shoes allowed. No spikes.
Standards
- Two-point stance only — both feet on the ground.
- Lead foot must be behind the start line; no part of the foot may cross prior to start.
- Hands and knees may not touch the ground.
- Full sprint effort over 40 yards, staying in the designated lane.
- Time stops when any part of the athlete’s body breaks the plane of the finish line.
Faults / no-rep
- Initiating a rep before judge clears participation.
- Foot crossing start line before initiation.
- Any body part other than both feet touching turf at initiation.
Power
Max Toss
2 attempts — best counts
Equipment
- Men: 8 lb medicine ball.
- Women: 6 lb medicine ball.
- Marked field or turf with measurement tape.
Standards
- Athlete faces away from the target with heels aligned behind the start line.
- Ball must be released backwards and overhead with two hands.
- Take-off from two feet in a non-staggered stance; final foot position may cross the line and stagger.
- Distance measured from start line to point of contact of the ball.
Faults / no-rep
- Stepping across the start line before release.
- Throw not executed with two hands overhead.
Power
The Broad
2 attempts — best counts
Equipment
- Standardized measurement tape.
Standards
- Both feet behind the start line; no foot in the field of play before take-off.
- Jump initiated with both feet simultaneously.
- Athlete must stick the landing — both feet land simultaneously.
- Distance measured from take-off line to rearmost heel that contacts the ground.
Faults / no-rep
- Stepping over the take-off line.
- Not taking off with both feet simultaneously.
- Not landing on both feet simultaneously / staggered landing.
- Falling backward or forward.
- Hands or any other body part contacting the ground.
Power
The Vert
2 attempts — best counts
Equipment
- Vertec measurement device.
- Standing reach measured during check-in, without shoes.
- Jump height = highest vane touched minus standing reach.
- Approach starts no further than 10 yards from the Vertec.
Standards
- Approach run within 10 yards of the Vertec.
- Continuous running approach; jump off either one foot or two feet.
- Highest vane displaced with the hand counts.
Faults / no-rep
- Starting outside the 10-yard zone.
- Contacting the Vertec with anything other than the hand.
- Jumping off only one leg (when two were required).
Strength
The Pull
1 attempt — 60-second AMRAP
Equipment
- Men: 405 lbs · Women: 275 lbs (loaded trap bar).
- Standardized trap bar (high handle) and bumper plates.
- One-minute clock.
- Belts and liquid chalk permitted (provided on site).
Standards
- Neutral grip inside the trap bar; bar resting on the ground.
- Each rep begins on the ground and ends at full hip and knee extension with shoulders back.
- After lockout, lower or drop the bar until plates contact the ground; touch-and-go allowed.
Faults / no-rep
- Not reaching full lockout (hips/knees not extended, shoulders not back).
- Plates not touching the ground between reps.
Strength
The Push
1 attempt — AMRAP
Equipment
- Men: 225 lbs · Women: 115 lbs barbell.
- Standard flat bench, collars, and spotters.
Standards
- Bar may be unracked by spotter, held with arms fully extended.
- Overhand grip with thumbs wrapped around the bar.
- Each rep starts at full extension; bar must touch the chest; elbows must descend below the shoulder joint.
- Elbows must lock out completely at the top.
- Butt remains in contact with the bench throughout.
- Test ends when the athlete racks the weight or the bar descends during the press.
Faults / no-rep
- Butt leaving the bench (visible gap).
- Bar descending during the concentric press.
- Spotter contact with the bar.
- Not locking elbows fully.
Endurance
The Mile
1 attempt
Equipment
- Standard 400m track. Total distance: 1609m (4 laps + 9m).
- Hand-timed with video finish verification.
Standards
- Standing start behind the start line.
- Continuous running motion in track lanes.
- Completion = full 1609m distance.
Faults / no-rep
- Cutting corners or lane violations inside lane 1.
- Leaving the track surface.
- Not completing required distance.
Equipment
What to bring, what we provide
Approved gear
- Any athletic clothing.
- Any athletic shoe is fine. Cleats are permitted on turf events.
- Spikes are not permitted in any event.
Restrictions
- No lifting straps, spring-loaded devices, or other performance-enhancing equipment.
- Personal gear must be approved by officials.
Provided on site
- Bars, plates, medicine balls, timing devices, and other core equipment are standardized and supplied.
- Liquid chalk and lifting belts are provided at certain stations.
Officials & safety
Final word goes to the judge
Judging & officiating
- Judges ensure athletes follow standards, count valid reps, and enforce penalties.
- Athletes may appeal a ruling immediately following the event to the Head Judge. All appeals are final.
- Judges may stop an attempt if safety standards are violated.
- Judges communicate with athletes only to indicate valid reps, no-reps, and time warnings.
Athlete code of conduct
- Respect for all competitors, judges, and staff.
- Cheating, manipulation of equipment, or falsifying scores results in disqualification.
- Harassment, abusive language, or unsafe conduct will not be tolerated.
Safety & medical
- Athletes are responsible for being physically prepared to compete.
- All athletes must sign a medical waiver prior to competition.
- On-site medical staff are available throughout the event.
- Medical staff and judges may stop an athlete’s participation in case of injury.
Special circumstances
- Weather. APEX reserves the right to delay, reschedule, or modify events due to unsafe conditions.
- Equipment malfunction. If equipment fails during an event, judges determine whether a restart or re-attempt is warranted.
- Force majeure. Events may be cancelled, delayed, or modified due to circumstances outside APEX’s control (weather, venue, emergencies).
APEX Review
Closing & updates
The APEX Rulebook is the official standard for all sanctioned APEX competitions. Rules may be updated or amended at any time; the most current version is published prior to each event. It is the responsibility of each athlete to review the latest version before competing.
Participation in APEX competitions is voluntary and at the athlete's own risk. By registering, athletes agree to abide by the official rules and accept all decisions made by judges and officials as final.
Questions? compete@apexathleteofficial.com