TAWF

Overview

National teams compete head-to-head, fielding one competitor per weight class. The team with the highest cumulative score across all weight-class matchups wins. Competition follows WAF technical rules in a relay-style format.

How to win

• Win the dual — Earn 1 point per weight-class win; the team with the majority wins the dual (+ variants).
• Weight-class win — Earn 1 point per weight-class win in a team dual.
• Tied class points — Award 0.5 points per tied weight class.
• Dual winner — The team with the majority of weight-class points wins the dual.
• Tiebreaker — If duals are tied, compare aggregate match-time, then aggregate cumulative round wins.

The game

• One per weight class — Field one competitor per weight class; a captain and non-competing coach may use the coach’s box (+ variants).
• One per weight class — Each team fields one competitor in every weight class; formats are typically 5-on-5 or 7-on-7.
• Weight classes — Men compete at 70/80/90/100/+100 kg; women at 60/70/+70 kg in simplified 5v5.
• Coach's box — The team captain and a non-competing coach are allowed in the coach's box.
• Match officials — Each match has one main referee and one side referee; senior referees oversee sessions and championships.

Playing the ball

• Match order — Play best-of-three by ascending weight class, with pins touching the pad and live score updates.
• Weight-class matchup — Follow WAF individual rules: best-of-three rounds, with a pin requiring contact with the touch pad.
• Ascending weight order — Contest matches sequentially, starting with the lowest weight class and moving upward.
• Live standings — Team standings update live as scores are posted.
• Weight-class points — Each weight-class winner earns 1 team point; a tie earns each team 0.5 points.

Fouls & penalties

• WAF individual foul taxonomy applies (elbow off pad, shoulder off-line, foot off floor); Team-level penalties: coach interference outside coach's box → team warning, then point deduction…
• Individual fouls — WAF fouls apply, including elbow off pad, shoulder off-line, or foot off floor.
• Coach interference — Outside the coach’s box: team warning, then point deduction.
• Equipment violation — Warning and correction required; refusal means individual disqualification and zero team points for that weight class.
• Anti-doping — Follow the WADA Code and WAF-administered testing program.

Equipment

• Equipment and apparel — Use a WAF-spec table; wear coordinated national uniforms, short sleeves, no jewelry, and trimmed nails.
• WAF-spec armwrestling table (104 cm tall, 91-93 cm long, padded elbow pads + pegs + touch pads)
• Coordinated team kit — Each nation wears a coordinated uniform featuring its national crest.

🚨 Cardinal Rule— Serious violation — may trigger retaliation or social exclusion

• Honor the post-match handshake or embrace
  — Immediately after a pull concludes — win or loss — competitors are expected to shake hands or embrace. Leaving the table without acknowledging the opponent is considered a serious breach of armwrestling culture at all levels, and is especially noticed in team events where the conduct reflects on the whole squad.(This norm is foundational across competitive armwrestling broadly, not unique to the team format, but team captains are expected to model it visibly.)[1]

⚠️ Strong Expectation— Most experienced players will take notice and be upset

• Don't showboat or taunt after a pull
  — Excessive celebration, pointing, or taunting directed at a defeated opponent is strongly frowned upon. Armwrestling culture prizes toughness and humility equally; visibly mocking someone who just lost — especially in front of their teammates — is viewed as disrespecting the sport itself.(More visible in team formats because the defeated puller still sits with their team and witnesses the reaction.)[1]