touwtrek

Touwtrek, or tug of war, is a sport in which two teams pull on opposite ends of a rope with the aim of moving a marker across a boundary toward their side. The activity can be practiced outdoors or indoors and ranges from casual school or club competitions to formal international events. In major outdoor competitions, teams commonly field eight athletes per side, while indoor formats and youth divisions may use fewer players.

Equipment and setup include a long rope with a clearly marked center, handholds, and boundary lines that determine the winning position. Competitors typically wear supportive footwear and may use gloves to protect their hands. A referee oversees the start and measures whether the center of the rope has crossed the designated line to award a round.

Rules and competition formats vary by event but share core elements: teams grip the rope and align behind their start line; once a signal is given, they coordinate pulling strategies to bring the center past the opponent’s boundary. Matches are conducted in rounds or heats, with winners advancing and losers exiting or continuing in consolation brackets. Team size, weight classes, and time limits may differ between junior, national, and world-level competitions.

History and governance: tug of war has ancient origins in many cultures and evolved into organized sport in the 19th and 20th centuries. The sport is governed internationally by organizations such as the Tug of War International Federation (TWIF), which coordinates world championships and rule standards for outdoor and indoor events.

Touwtrek is both a competitive discipline and a popular recreational activity, featured in schools, community festivals, and corporate team-building programs.