Tug of War: A Rope Play

Ever seen two people pulling a rope in opposite directions? This act is the simplest version of the Tug of War Game.

Tug of war is a rope-pulling game that goes by the names tugging war and war of tug. It is an old game, played across civilizations since ancient times. Historical records from Greece, Egypt, China, Cambodia, and India all prove the popularity of this game in the olden days. Even today, the game is a popular sport and is practiced in every corner of the world.

The tug-of-war game is predominantly a show of strength of two teams against each other. The team that pulls the other to cross the centreline made on the playing zone wins the game.

Though the game is a show of brutal strength of the team members, it is also a game of cooperation, strategy, tactics, and team spirit.

Governing Body

The Tug of War International Federation (TWIF) is the international governing body of tug-of-war games and lays the rules for the game. The Federation has 73 members, including India. Also, many countries have their national organizations to govern the game.

History of the Game in India

The tug of war game is played in India since ancient times. The organized form of the game took shape only in 1958. Some Officers of the armed forces came together and formed the Federation of Tug of War in India in the north Indian city of Ghaziabad. Due to their efforts, the game got traction in the country.

In 1978, the Tug of War International Federation recognized India as its member. Federation of Tug of War of India was accepted as the Game Federation representing India. Later, the Federation was taken over by a Delhi-based sports group led by Gautam Kaul, IPS, and Madan Mohan. Before this, the earlier executive committee had organized national championships in some towns in North India with limited success.

The new executive committee got registered as a Society after overhauling the administration of this Federation. The Society had introduced this game in some neighboring countries of India. New game federations have been established in Sri Lanka and Nepal. Efforts are underway to create a Federation in Bangladesh. Efforts are also being made to develop contact with The Maldives Republic, Afghanistan, Iran, and Bhutan.

Rules of the Game

As per tug-of-war game rules, each team can accommodate eight members. The combined weight of the team must not exceed the weight for the particular category. For example, in the 560-kilo category, the combined weight of a team must not exceed the determined weight. The coach or trainer is the only person who can participate in the game and give instructions to the team.

The playing zone for tug-of-war must be a flat surface. A centerline is marked on the playing zone. The rope for the game must have a circumference of 11 cm. A red line is marked at the center of the rope. When placed in the playing zone, the red line must be in the center, parallel to the centreline. Two more marks are made on the rope, each 4m away from the red line.

Certain acts are considered fouls in the game. For example, lowering the elbow below the knee line is a foul. Also, touching the ground for a long time is a foul. The rules mention the fouls to ensure fair play.

Winning the Game

The objective of the game is to win by out-pulling the opponent team. When the second mark on the rope crosses the centreline, the team that pulled the rope towards it wins the game. Matches are usually best of three pulls. The team that two times wins the game.