
The paws4vets Arm Wrestling Challenge Series has created a standard set of rules and conduct that will be enforced during each Battle.
General Competition Rules
- One Referee per match
- Two Referees for final elimination rounds
- Competitors must wear provided wristbands for identification
- Each match will consist of three individual matches
- Challenge coin toss to determine starting hand for opponents with opposite dominate hands, i.e., left/right hand dominate
- Best of three pulls wins match
- Time per pull not to exceed three minutes
- Minimum 30 second rest between each match mandatory
- Competitors must report to the on deck position by the start of the match prior to theirs
- Thirty seconds allowed for competitors to report to table once referee calls for your match and attempt grip
- Competitors will receive two calls, within 30 seconds, to the table
- Failure to arrive within 30 seconds and attempt grip will result in forfeiture, and loss of match at referees discretion
- Bleeding
- Competitor must stop bleeding to Referee’s satisfaction in order to continue
- Use of First-Aid provisions to cover wound are acceptable
- No consumption of prescribed drugs or alcohol, 8 hours prior to match
- Any competitor exhibiting signs of impairment may be disqualified from competition at the Referee’s discretion
Positioning & Matches
- Competitors must follow all commands of the Referee during a match
- Referee will center hands on the table
- Webbing between thumb and index of the hand of each competitor must be level, close, and tightly set
- Referee will call:
- "Close your Thumb
- "Close your Hand"
- "Go" to start match
- Referee will center hands on the table
- Positioning for Match
- Competitors must have one foot in contact with floor at all times
- Competitors must keep non-pulling hand in contact with table peg at all times during the match
- Competitors must set their competing elbow on table’s elbow pad at all times during the match
- Shoulders must be square to the table to start the match
- Presenting hand open
- Angle of competing arm must result in fingers pointing at opponent
- Competitor’s hands must be palm-to-palm, flat together, and with no separation, to Referee’s satisfaction
- Wrists must be straight when closing hands/thumbs
- Match
- Competitors may not intentionally delay the competition
- Not staying at the table
- Not reporting to the table
- Not attempting to grip
- Competitors may not use any part of their body, other than hand which they are wrestling with, to pin opponent
- Competitors may not intentionally slip hand grip
- Straps will be used if slip grip occurs within neutral zone of table
- Neutral zone is determined by Referee using clock guideline
- Zone is approximately between 10:00 and 2:00 at Referee’s discretion
- Outside neutral zone may be determined as a win/loss
- Referee discretion (arm/hand positioning)
- Straps will be used if slip grip occurs within neutral zone of table
- Competitors may not intentionally cause foul for themselves
- Competitors may not intentionally cause foul for opponent
- Two fouls will result in loss of match
- One foul will result in loss of current match
- Competitors may not intentionally delay the competition
Fouls
- Failure to maintain contact of peg at all times
- Failure to keep competing elbow on the elbow pad during pull
- Failure to square shoulders after 30 second time lapse
- Failure to straighten wrist after 30 second time lapse
- Failure to line up in center of table after 30 second time lapse
- Movement of any kind during or immediately following administration of “referee grip”
- Intentionally causing delay of competition
- Competing in a dangerous position
- Use of any other body part to pin opponent
- Intentionally slipping grip
- Slipping grip with arm/hand in losing position
- Determined when arm is below two-thirds of the way to pin pad and hand is not in offensive grip
- Determined by Referee
- Intentionally attempting/causing any foul after “go”
- False start will result in foul after 2nd and 3rd call
- First offense = Warning
You can download a printable copy of the rules below.