Can you substitute in tug of war?
A · Advanced · Teams and equipment · 1 of 2Checked 15 October 2026
Each athlete is weighed once and the coach builds a team under the class limit; the chosen pullers are stamped so officials can check them. A team may swap one puller, for tactics or injury, only after the first end of its first match, and the replaced puller cannot return. A team may finish with seven.
How it works
- Identity: passport or ID card.
- Weighed: once.
- Certificate: coach builds the team.
- Stamp: indelible.
- Changes: until stamping.
- Substitute: one, after the first end.
- Replaced puller: out of that class.
- Minimum: seven.
The glossary has the weigh-in, the stamping, the substitution, the coach and trainer, the chief judge and weighmaster and the team.
Tricky cases
A second puller gets hurt. Result?
The team goes on with seven.
Can the substitute be heavier?
Yes, if the team stays under the limit.
What do men wear for the weigh-in?
Non-transparent shorts only.
Can a substitute come in before the first pull?
No.
Why the rule exists
Stamping stops a team swapping in an unweighed, heavier puller.
Where it differs
| Where | What changes | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Weigh-in | Once | L R 4 |
| Substitute | One | L R 6 |
| Minimum | Seven | L R 6 |
From the rule book
Tug of War International Federation (TWIF), Rules Manual (2026), rules 4, 6 and 8.3. Checked 15 October 2026. Official document: TWIF Rules Manual 2026.