Set up a gym record board with rules members can use

You can run a gym record board with written rules, someone to check each attempt and a shared scorecard. Print the standings for the gym wall or show your own spreadsheet on a screen. OpenContest is prelaunch. Its published rules are available today, and the waitlist is open for the planned app.

Start with one contest and a closing date

Choose an activity your members already practise. Publish the movement rule, scoring unit, opening date and closing date together. Decide whether people get one attempt or can replace their score with a better accepted attempt before the deadline.

Keep different movement variations on separate lists. An assisted pull up, a strict pull up and a weighted pull up each need their own rule. Our friends challenge guide explains shared scoring and tie policies you can adapt for a gym group.

Five gym challenge formats

Format	Score to record	Details to keep consistent
Strict pull-up set	Accepted repetitions in one set	Grip, starting hang, top position and the end of the set. Use the pull-up rules.
Push-up set	Accepted repetitions in one set	Body position, depth and what ends the attempt. Use the push-up rules.
Plank hold	Elapsed time	Starting position and the visible event that stops the clock. Use the plank rules.
500 m row	Machine finish time	Machine type and settings alongside the score. Use the rowing rules.
Monthly personal progress	Change from the member’s own baseline	Repeat the same test and variation at the beginning and end of the month. Keep the two raw results together.

For a running group, you can also use a measured 5K course and the 5K rules. The pace chart and calculator helps members choose a finish-time target and kilometer splits.

Keep a scorecard someone else can check

Record the participant’s agreed display name, movement variation, accepted score, attempt date and checker’s name or initials. A clip reference can help resolve a disputed count when participants choose to record video.

Before filming, agree who can view the clip and where it will be kept. Show the whole movement and the points the checker needs to see. Our filming guide covers camera placement and a continuous attempt.

If an attempt is unclear, explain which part could be checked more clearly on another attempt. Apply the same published policy throughout the contest.

Post the standings with their rule

Put the contest name, scoring unit, closing date and rule beside the results. Agree which names or initials participants want displayed. Update the board when a result is checked, and keep a dated copy when the contest closes.

Shared places make tied scores easy to handle. Two members with the same accepted count can share first place, followed by third place. Write that policy on the board before the contest begins.

Personal-progress contests can give members a useful result from their own starting point. Record a change from zero repetitions as the two raw counts so the board remains understandable. Each member can compare their attempts under the same rule.

Tell us what your gym needs

Join the waitlist for updates as OpenContest develops. If you want to discuss your gym’s workflow, email support@opencontest.app with the activities you run, how you keep scores and what your staff need to check a result. That gives the team concrete requirements to consider for the planned app.