Tug of War Rules have been heard by most students or adults in Vietnam. Taking advantage of the opponent’s weaknesses and optimizing pulling force will help you easily win in this game.
Introduction to Tug of War
Tug of War is a folk game that has been passed down through many generations of Vietnamese people, and most Vietnamese children have at least heard of how to play Tug of War once since they were in preschool.
Tug of War is often held on a large scale in sports competitions at all levels, traditional festivals, village or community gatherings, or various organizations.
In addition, Tug of War is also present in the daily lives of children in their backyards, alleys, or wherever they live.
Tug of War Equipment
The equipment for the folk game Tug of War is very simple. If it is just a preschool Tug of War game, then only strength and a piece of chalk or a stick to mark the line on the ground are needed. The children hold each other to form a chain and play together under the instructions of their teachers.
For older participants or more professional organizations, additional supporting equipment is needed:
- Rope: Length from 6 to 20 meters depending on the number of players and the scale of the competition. The stronger the players or the larger the number, the thicker and sturdier the rope must be, as a break in the rope during play can be very dangerous.
- Signal rope: Can use a red rope or any strip of fabric about 1 meter long.
- Powder: Helps reduce the roughness of the rope, increases grip, and protects the players’ hands. For added safety, players should equip themselves with protective gloves to minimize injuries.
Explanation of Tug of War Rules
Tug of War rules state that both teams must have the same number of players; some places even specify the gender or weight of the players.
The signal rope is tied in the middle of the rope. The two sides of the signal rope will be equal distances apart.
Preschool Tug of WarHow to play Tug of War is when the referee gives the signal, both teams hold the rope tightly and use all their strength to pull the rope towards themselves so that the signal rope crosses their team’s limit line to win.
Some competitions only count direct results to determine the winning team. Others have a total of three rounds, and the team that wins 2 out of 3 matches will be the winner.
Tug of War Tips Everyone Should Know
With that lineup and strength, knowing how to use the following tips will significantly increase your team’s chances of winning:
1/ How to always win at Tug of War by adjusting team formation
Because the number of members in both teams is equal, the pulling force is also equivalent. Therefore, your team should take advantage of every physical force to increase the chances of winning.
First, evenly distribute the team’s members to both sides of the rope if the rope is short. For a long rope, let the members choose the direction that is most comfortable for them. Whoever is right-handed should pull the rope towards that side.
The first person and the anchor of the formation must be those who are truly strong to secure the position. Regardless of the formation, members should create space to avoid stepping on each other.
2/ Tug of war tips for always winning thanks to pulling posture
A winning secret for tug of war after having a stable formation is the pulling posture. The standing position and holding the rope effectively support the momentum for the pulling force.
The recommended pulling posture is to tuck the rope under the armpit, with both hands firmly gripping in a squat position to create the largest center of gravity. When the referee starts the signal, the contestants lean back and pull to create a strong reaction force against the ground.
You should not stand upright and pull, as this posture is very easy to lose balance and fall forward, leading to defeat.
3/ Winning tug of war strategy by maintaining a steady rhythm
This is considered one of the most difficult things to achieve in tug of war. Members must synchronize the pulling force, release, and create momentum to achieve the best pulling force.
Each formation has many people, so maintaining a synchronized rhythm is very difficult. To achieve a stable and correct pulling rhythm according to the tug of war rules, members must have someone to keep the rhythm and spend a lot of time practicing together.
4/ The grip of the shoe sole
The grip is very important in this game. If your team has completed all the above steps but is wearing slippery shoes, the result will be zero.
If possible, choose specialized sports shoes that fit snugly, are comfortable, and have a good grip.
5/ Effective team tug of war strategy by gripping the rope tightly
You should hold the rope tightly throughout the competition to achieve the highest effectiveness.
Due to the rough nature of the rope, it can easily injure the hands of the athletes. Therefore, you can use a little powder to reduce friction, but this method will also reduce the effectiveness of gripping the rope.
The effective way to play tug of war is to use leather gloves with finger openings to hold the rope better if the program rules allow it.
6/ Choose the strongest person as the anchor point
The starting and ending points in tug of war are very important. The leader creates the stance and overwhelms the opponent’s spirit. The last person on the team has the task of being the anchor point, the final wall.
Therefore, the last person is usually chosen to be someone with a large build, good pulling strength, and the most stability in the team.
Conclusion
The rules of tug of war are extremely simple to be popularized for everyone. This team activity is very fun and interesting, and anyone can easily participate for entertainment and to get to know others.
