TECHNICAL RULES

World Strongman technical rules:

1. PROGRAM, RANK AND GENERAL PROVISIONS

1.1. Program and rank of competitions

1.1.1. Strongman competitions include the exercises which are approved by the list of the federation.

1.1.2. Except multiathlon competitions, there are tournaments in stick-pulling as a separate type of strongman.

1.1.3. Competitions are held between the athletes in the categories defined according to their sex, weight and age.

1.1.4. Competitions are held in order of increasing weight categories from light to heavy.

1.1.5. Weight categories are divided into groups (sessions). If the number of athletes in weight category exceeds 14, the participants must be divided into two (or more) groups.

1.1.6. In a flow the athletes of one or more adjacent weight categories are competing.

1.1.7. Distribution of athletes into groups (the first – is stronger, the second – weaker and so on and so far) is carried out by the main panel of judges (hereinafter referred to as – MPJ) depending on their sporting achievements (12 months before the event) that are submitted in previous applications. Lists of athletes who are divided into groups, are published not later than 15 minutes prior to the weighting in a flow.

1.1.8. The athletes of the weakest GROUP are competing first.

1.1.9. Each of the competitors has one attempt in each exercise. Exceptions are explained in the relevant sections of these rules. Athlete, who showed greater amount of points is the winner in his weight category. Other members are classified according to the acquired amount. If two members show the same result in the amount of points, the athlete who has more victories as the advantage. In order to determine the places in exercises the points will be awarded as follows (example for 8 participants):

For the 1st place – 8 points

2nd place – 7 points

3rd place – 6 points

4th place – 5 points

5th place – 4 points

6th place – 3 points

7th place – 2 points

8th place – 1 points.

In case of complete failure of the participant in certain exercise the points are not awarded at all. In case of draw the points of participants are divided equally. If it is necessary to identify places in the overall standings, the places will be determined by one of the following principles:

1)The majority of the first places;

2)The majority of the second places.

Prior to sets a blind draw will be carried out to determine the starting order for the participants of the first exercise. After that, unless otherwise stated, the order of the next order of athletes may be reverse, according to the results of previous exercise, i.e., an athlete who showed the worst results in the previous exercise, goes first and vice versa. Participants of paired exercises also go in reverse order to the occupied place in the previous exercise, i.e.: 8 and 7, 6 ​​and 5, 4 and 3, 2 and 1. Before the last exercise participants also go in reverse order, but according to the amount of points collected in the previous exercises. That is, the participant with the lowest amount of points goes first and vice versa.

1.1.10. All kinds of competitions in strongman held are divided into ranks[1] under their scale: I – International, II – National, III – Regional and Urban, IV – the rest. I rank – Olympics Games, Winter Olympic Games, Paralympic Games, Deaflympic Games, World Games; II rank – world and European championships among the athletes of all age groups, World Cup and European Grand Prix, World Chess Olympiad, World Student Games, other international competitions that are included in the schedule of international federations and federations of disabled persons of corresponding illnesses.

1.1.11. Competitions of all ranks are carried out according to the current rules of the Federation of strongman (hereinafter referred to as — WSF), approved by the rules of World Strongman Federation (hereinafter referred to as — WSF).

1.1.12. Competition rules of WSF are applied to the competitions of ІІ-ІV II-VI ranks.

1.1.13WSF holds:

  • Championships in strongman — men, juniors, youths, students and pupils;
  • Complex events among different population groups.

 1.2. General provisions

1.2.1. Strongman competitions are divided into individual, team and individual-team. During individual competitions only the results of each athlete for which he occupies the appropriate place are determined. During the team competitions final results of each athlete are admitted to the team. During individual-team competitions final results of each athlete shall be counted both to each participant and the team.

1.2.2. The athletes can participate in the event out of competition. The decision on their admission is rendered by the credentials committee. If an athlete competes out of competition, he affects neither the individual nor the team results, he does not set records. He can not be assigned a sport rank (grade) under the results of such competition.

1.2.3. If an athlete competes in the individual standings, he is not a member of the team, does not affect its final results, but interferes with the distribution of personal places in this weight category, he may set records. He can be assigned a sport rank (grade) under the results of such competition. While summing up the year results the points for occupied place in this case are not awarded.

1.2.4. The nature of competitions and the number and sequence of competitive exercises in each case are determined by provision on them.

1.2.5. The official calendar competitions shall have at least four standard exercises.

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3. COMPETITION PARTICIPANTS, REPRESENTATIVES AND TEAM COACHES

3.1. Categories of athletes.

3.1.1. Strongman competitions are held among males.

3.1.2. Age is determined by the athletes year, month and day of birth.

3.1.3. The competitions comprise the athletes who have reached the corresponding age: in the competitions of a rank I-II – 15 years; 2-4 III-VI ranks – 15 years. As an exception, the athletes who are under 15 years, but who have sufficient physical and technical training, a separate permit of the doctor and statement of parents in writing that they do not object against the participation of their child in the competitions may be admitted to the competitions.

3.1.4. Competitions of 2-4 III-VI ranks are conducted among athletes who are divided into the following age groups:

Open Championship (excluding age) – 15 years and over (for the competitions of 1 I-II rank – 15 years and over);

Youths – 15-18 years (from the day of 15 years, including the entire calendar year, which marks 18 years) (for the competitions of rank 1 I-II – 15-18 years);

Juniors – 19-23 years (from the day that marks 19 years, including the entire calendar year, which marks 23 years);

  • veterans (men): Group 1 – 40-49 years (from the 1st January, which marks 40 years, including the entire calendar year, which marks 49 years), Group 2 – 50-59 years (from the 1st January, which marks 50 years, including the entire calendar year, which marks 59 years), group 3 – 60-69 years (from the 1st January, which marks 60 years, including the entire calendar year, which marks 69), 4 group – 70 years and older (from the 1st January, which marks 70 years);
  • 1.5. Participating of athletes of a particular age group in the competitions (together or separately) is governed by the provision on competition.

3.2. Weight categories

3.2.1. Accuracy of weighing the personal weight of the athletes is performed due to the calibration of measuring devices, which weigh the competition participants, but not more than 0.01 kg and not less than 0.05 kg. Measurement accuracy can be 0.1 kg for the competitions of III and IV 1 V-VI ranks.

3.2.2. All competitions of I and II 1 IV ranks are held with the distribution of the athletes into the following weight categories: up to 95 kg, 95,01-110 kg, over 110 kg.

6. STRONGMAN EXERCICES AND RULES OF THEIR EXECUTION

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6.20. Stick pulling!

Athletes sit on mats, legs pushing against the point-blank against each other. At the signal of a judge “Get” the athletes take the wooden stick (length 50 cm and a diameter of 5 cm) by both hands (simmetrical grips), at the signal of a judge “Start” they are trying to pull the contestant to their part of the mat with the help of force of back and legs. Pulling the contestant to their part of the mat or deflation of sticks by the contestant is suggested to be the victory. Pool (fight) goes to two victories. Abrupt movements by pulling stick from the hands of an opponent are prohibited.