Comments on: How to Play Tug-of-War

on 3/31/2007 Visit www.nortontugofwar.com to find out more information on tug of war

on 8/8/2006 When you are just about ready to tug, put your team in a checkerboard pattern. For example; put one person on one side and then another on the other side and so on.

on 12/28/2005 With really large teams, or not-so-juvenile team members, the forces employed can get so intense that the rope will break. In this case, especially synthetic fiber ropes tend to react with an elastic backlash of both free ends toward the teams, potentially resulting in severe injuries of those hit. To prevent this, use one of the following:
a) The obvious: Use strong ropes (beyond household quality, as those used in boating)
b) Twist together three ropes of the same strength, like a braid.
c) Use ropes made from natural materials, such as hemp ropes of the kind used for hanging up a swing. These will just break without producing a backlash - so team members will only fall on their behinds in case of a rope break, but nothing worse.

on 11/22/2005 This game requires enormous supervision. A student from a school in Victoria, Australia had his hand 'removed' in 2002 when he eluded his teacher's eyes for just a split second, wrapped the rope around his wrist and it ended in tragedy!

on 11/22/2005 Try to even out the strength of the teams. Put the smaller, less powerful team members in front so they can help.