01 · The table & equipment
Stand-up table
- IAF-spec stand-up table: 40 in (102 cm) floor to table top, 36 × 26 in top, with a marked centre line between the hand pegs.
- 7 × 7 in foam elbow pads, angled touch (pin) pads, and 1 in hand pegs 6 in high for the free hand.
- Riser platforms are available for shorter athletes so the waist reaches the table top — ask the Head Referee before your bout.
- Straps, when used, are standard 1 in buckle straps (no Velcro). Chalk / rosin is permitted; a chalk stand is beside the table.
02 · Grip & starting position
Set up
- When your name is called you have 60 seconds to reach the table — failure is a loss. Shake hands, then grip.
- Palm to palm, gripped at the thumb with the thumb knuckle visible; forefingers level; wrists straight; hands centred over the table.
- Free hand grips the peg (contact above the table). Shoulders square to the table; a hand-width between shoulder and forearm, and between chin and hand.
- Back pressure that pulls your opponent's arm past the centre line before the start counts as a false start.
- One minute to grip up — otherwise the referee sets a referee's grip (palm to palm, thumbs pushed down, fingers wrapped). Any movement from a referee's grip is a foul.
- Long hair must be tied back. Headbands allowed, hats not.
03 · Referee commands
Words you must know
The Head Referee starts every match with "Ready… Go!" in an unspecified cadence and ends it with "Stop", raising an arm towards the winner.
Ready goKnucklesElbows downWristShouldersCenterBackThumb downDon't moveGripReferee's gripStrapWarningFoulDangerous positionStopWinner
Two table-top referees per match: the Head Referee starts the bout; the assistant watches for elbow fouls at the start, then each covers one side for fouls or a pin.
04 · Winning a match
The pin
- A pin is when any part of your opponent's hand from the natural wrist line to the fingertips touches or goes below the touch pad — on the winning side of the table only.
- No time limit on a bout. The referee stops a match only for a pin, a foul decision, equipment failure, or if an athlete is deemed unfit to continue.
- Legs may wrap around or brace against a table leg and feet may leave the floor, as long as you do not interfere with your opponent.
- You will not meet the same opponent twice except to decide placings. A match lost through injury still counts as a loss.
05 · Warnings & fouls
Two fouls = loss
Two warnings equal one foul. Two fouls lose the match. A 30-second rest is allowed after a foul.
Warnings: early movement of shoulders, arm, hand or fingers before "Go"; delaying the lock-up; letting go of the peg (a foul if an advantage was gained before re-gripping).
Fouls:
- Elbow loses contact with the elbow pad (lifting off, or riding the pad on the triceps/forearm with the elbow beyond any edge).
- Competing shoulder crossing the centre line between the pegs.
- Using chin, shoulder or head to pin; deliberately pushing your own hand into your opponent's shoulder.
- Dangerous position — shoulder forced inward ahead of the arm or hand, or dropped below the elbow pad in a neutral or losing position. The referee will caution loudly first; keep hand, arm and shoulder in a straight line.
- Causing a slip-out: lifting fingers off your opponent's hand, closing a fist inside their hand, or pulling fingers in from a broken-wrist position.
- Intentionally slipping while in a losing position (more than two-thirds down) loses the match outright.
- Foul language, poor sportsmanship or abuse of an official. Repeat offences bar you from the tournament.
Simultaneous fouls are coincidental: the match restarts with no foul given. An obviously deliberate act that makes your opponent foul gives the foul to you instead.
06 · Slips & straps
When hands come apart
- A slip-out is when both athletes lose complete contact. If it was caused by one athlete, that athlete is fouled.
- If no foul is called, or the referee cannot tell who caused it, the match restarts in straps.
- Strap set-up: elbows to the back of the pads, palms together, fingers extended, thumbs up, free hand on the peg. Only the official adjusts the strap; it sits no lower than 1 in below the wrist line. You may then take your grip and elbow position of choice.
07 · Attire & conduct
What to wear
- Short-sleeve or sleeveless shirt, sports pants (no jeans), and shoes are mandatory. Athletes out of uniform forfeit the bout and cannot collect awards.
- Nothing on the competing arm from shoulder to fingertips: no wrist wraps, elbow sleeves or supports, rings or bangles. Fingernails trimmed.
- Nobody but athletes and officials within 20 ft of the table. No challenge matches on the day. Mobile phones off at the table.
- Referees do not wrestle with you — they touch hands only to align knuckles, wrists and centre. Their decisions on the table are final.
08 · Weigh-in & bracket
Before you pull
- Weigh-in for all athletes: Saturday 21 November, 9 AM–5 PM, Relentless Strength, Domlur. No clothing allowance — your weight must read at or below the class limit. You may weigh in and compete one class up.
- Brackets are drawn per weight class after weigh-in (no seeding) and published at check-in. Athletes are called to the stage class by class and must answer within 60 seconds.
- Right-arm competition. Format follows IAF double elimination — you are out only after your second loss — schedule permitting; the final format per class is confirmed with the athlete briefing.
