Which of the following describes a Yellow Card Deadlift offense related to the down command or bar control?

• A. Lowering bar before receiving the down command
• B. Allowing the bar to return the bar to the platform without both hands on the bar
• C. Failure to comply with any of the requirements for the lift
• D. Stepping backward or forward or moving the feet laterally

Answer: (D)

In the deadlift, you must stay stable and keep the bar under control until the down command is given. Moving your feet—stepping backward, forward, or side-to-side—disrupts that stability and makes it hard for the referees to verify your position and readiness for the down command. That loss of control is exactly what the yellow-card offense for deadlift is meant to flag: it directly concerns bar control and the lifter’s ability to hold a fixed stance through the lift.

Lowering the bar before the down command is a separate issue tied to the timing of the command itself, and not maintaining both hands on the bar or failing to meet any lift requirement are broader or different offenses. The foot movement described here is the standard example of a bar-control violation that warrants a yellow card.