Rankings Rules

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Rules / Guidelines  

Ranking Holders  

1. Any competitor who is a resident of the State of Texas with a valid Texas Driver License and / or State I.D. may challenge any ranking holder for their spot. 

2. New Rankings Holders will be added to the bottom of the rankings list in their respective weight class. If a Puller is removed from the Rankings list for any reason and then added back at a later time will be added to the bottom of the list.   

3. In order to promote integrity within the TAL, any competitor may be added, moved or removed from rankings by the TAL Rankings Committee at any time. 

4. TAL Rankings are Super match based. No tournament matches will contribute to ranking changes except as listed below.   

Ranking Challenges  Part 1 – Issuing and accepting Challenges  

A. All challengers should post their challenge via the Texas Armwrestling Rankings page with the ranking holder’s name, weight class and arm(s). In the event a Ranking holder or challenger does not have Facebook the challenge may be issued directly through your Region Director.   

B. Competitors may challenge up as many spots/classes as they choose meeting the weight requirements for the class.   

C. Champions Fee – All challengers must pay $20 to the TAL for each challenge issued. In the case of forfeit the $20 Champions Fund Fee is still require to assume new rank. This applies to challenges of one or both arms. This fee should be paid prior to the match. Payments can be arranged through TAL President Billy Ortagus.  

D. Champions Fund: All funds collected from challenges will be placed into an account that will be used to send TAL #1 Ranking holders to Nationals to represent Texas.  If for any reason, the number one ranked person cannot attend Nationals, the number two may go in his/her place. If for any reason, the number two ranked person cannot attend Nationals, the third ranked person may go in his/her place. If none of the top three ranking holders can attend Nationals, then that weight class will not be funded. The funds will be dispersed amongst the other classes accordingly.   

E. Once a challenge has been issued, if the challenger does not receive an acceptance from the ranked holder within 48 hours, the challenger must contact a TAL Director. The TAL will attempt to contact the rankings holder. If the rankings holder does not respond or accept the challenge within fifteen calendar days of the challenger’s request(s) he or she WILL forfeit their position to the challenger.   

F. Refusal from the ranking holder to defend his or her rank will be considered a forfeit and will count as a win for the challenger. Three consecutive challenge refusals or forfeits will result in the ranking holder being moved to the bottom of the list and marked inactive.  

Part 2 – Scheduling Challenges   

A. When challenged, ranking holders will defend their ranking within 90-days or forfeit his/her ranking. Date, time and location for the match will be set a soon as possible after a challenge is made. All challenges must remain in the order in which they were issued unless agreements are reached amongst competitors. Rescheduling or extensions to the 90-day rule may be considered amongst the ranking’s committee for specific situations.   

B. The Ranking holder will set the date/time and location of the challenge match. Challengers will be required to travel to the Ranking holder location unless other agreed upon accommodations are made between competitors. Any unreasonable stipulation by the ranking holder may be considered amongst the ranking’s committee. Once the time/date and location has been determined this information must be relayed to the ranking’s committee.   

C. Competitors may only have one ranking defensive match and one ranking advancement match scheduled on the same day.  

Part 3 – Minimum monies for Challenges   

A. If challenging the 1st through 5th Ranking holder, the challenger may be required to pay the designated monies listed below in the event they lose the challenge. 

1st Place Ranking $300 

2nd Place Ranking $250 

3rd Place Ranking $200

4th Place Ranking $150

5th Place Ranking $100

6th through last – no minimum  

B. The ranking holder may require or decline the challenger’s money if he/she decides. This must be stipulated at the time of challenge.   

C. Challengers are only required to pay the minimum monies listed above but both competitors may agree to a higher amount. The Ranking holder may stipulate a lower amount than listed above to accept the challenge but may not require more than the amount listed. If the challenger is unwilling/unable to produce the minimum required listed above the ranking holder may decline the challenge. This provision only applies to Ranks 1st through 5th. No money is required for rank 6th through last.  

D. The money will be collected from the challenger and held by the referee or TAL Official and verified by the ranking holder prior to the match. Failure to produce the minimum or agreed upon amounts can result in a forfeit and or suspension.  

E. If the challenger wins, they will assume the rank and the money required for the challenge. The former ranking holder will be drop one rank lower on the list.  

F. Challengers may petition their regional director for consideration on a fee-free rankings match which, will be decided by the TAL Rankings Committee.  

Part 4 - Conducting Rankings Matches  

A. IFA, URPA, WAF rules will be the standard for challenge matches. WAL/NAL rules may also be permitted with consent from both pullers, referee and the rankings committee.  

B. Rankings matches may be held during a practice, special event, during early weigh-ins or pre-tournament. When Date and Locations are set, please notify a TAL Director.   

C. Default Format of rankings matches will be “best of three” except first place which will be “best of five”. If a different format is desired by both competitors a request may be made to the TAL Ranking Committee for consideration.  

D. Rankings matches must have two referees and at least one witness to ensure fairness of the match. All efforts must be made to secure Certified Referees or persons knowledgeable and capable of overseeing the match. TAL has number of certified referees across the state. Contact you Region Director for assistance.   

E. TAL requests that video of the challenge match be taken and sent to Billy Ortagus. The purpose of the video will be for promotion through the TAL YouTube channel and in the event that a formal protest is made concerning the match outcome. Please contact Billy for video transfer options.  

F. Competitors may compete and/or hold rankings in multiple weight classes as long as they are capable making weight for the class in which they hold rank.   

G. Any organization wishing to host/hold a Texas Arm wrestling League Ranking matches at their events are requested to inform the Texas Arm wrestling league Rankings Committee with information pertaining to such Ranking matches. Specifics of the match must be communicated to the rankings committee to ensure the match follows the Texas Arm wrestling League rules/guidelines to the fullest extent possible. Exceptions may be considered by the rankings committee in the event of a conflict that is otherwise unavoidable. Texas Arm wrestling League requests matches be recognized as TAL Ranking Matches in any promotion of organizations seeking to host these matches.  

Note: TAL requests that the organization provides video footage of the specified rankings match in the event a formal protest is issued concerning the outcome of the rankings match. Video can be sent to – Billy Ortagus.   

Part 5. Challenge Match Weigh-ins 

A. Weigh-ins are required for challenges. Weigh-ins will be conducted prior to the match or early weigh-ins may be arranged within 24 hours of the match by either competitor with a TAL Director, Referee, TAL designated official or a person designated by the TAL to conduct or witness such weigh-ins. Competitors will be allowed a 2lb clothing allowance with a maximum of 10lbs of the specific weight class if “both competitors agree”. Violations of weigh-in rules/guidelines will be considered an invalidation of the match and or suspension.     

TAL Tournaments Part 7. Rules/Guidelines for TAL Tournament 

A. All TAL Qualifiers and State Championships will be conducted under IFA/URPA/WAF rules, no exceptions.  Other rule sets may be used during special events held by the TAL.  

B. Tournament matches will not be counted towards TAL ranking except under these conditions: 

1. The final match, if both competitors agree, can count towards rankings.  

2. If the situation arises that there are only two competitors in a class and both agree, their matches can count for rankings.  

Note: Provisions set forth in the Ranking Challenges section of these rules will apply.    

C. Weigh – ins for tournaments will be conducted on the day prior to the event and the day of.  Information for weigh-ins will be listed on the event flyer. There is a 2lb clothing allowance for all tournaments. (2lbs with cloths, top and bottom. Shoes may be removed. If a competitor must remove all cloths for weigh-ins then the 2lb clothing allowance is not allowed) 

D. TAL offers cash payouts for a number of tournaments. For a class to be eligible for pay out there must be at least four (4) competitors in the bracket. Classes with at least two (2) competitors will be run and awards only will be presented.   

Part 8. Enhanced Rules for Amateurs at Tournaments and Ranking Matches  

Dangerous Positions 

A. An Amateur competitor who starts to or places themselves in dangerous position, as determined by the Head and or Down Referee, the match will be immediately stopped without caution or warning and a foul will be issued. The competitor that received the foul will be counseled table side about competing in dangerous positions. This will also apply to Amateurs competing in the Open Categories. Amateurs pulling in both Amateur and Open Categories will be identified at the beginning of the tournament.   

Amateur Classification Standards 

Part 9. Standards for classifying Amateurs for Texas Armwrestling League  

A competitor will be evaluated for no longer being allowed to compete in an Amateur Class that is sanctioned by the TAL if they meet the any of the following criteria as determined by the TAL Board of Directors,  

A. A competitor places 1st through 3rd at a State Championship or National Event. 

B. A competitor places 1st in 3 Amateur competitions, does not have to be consecutive. 

C. A competitor consistently places in top 3 in an Open class when pulling both Amateur and Open categories.  

For items A, B, and C the TAL Board of Directors will evaluate a competitors competition history and factor in all information available to make a determination.  

Note: Competitors currently competing in only Open Classes will not be allowed to revert back to competing as amateurs due to not meeting any of the above criteria.   

These guidelines are, at all times, subject to change by the Texas Arm Wrestling League Rankings Committee. 

For questions or comments concerning the TAL Rules/Guidelines contact a TAL-Director in your region.

Northern Orlando Martinez - Todd Threet 

Southern Dustin Lofland - Mark Cano

Western Marc Perez - Orlando Martinez

 Eastern Caleb Ricks – Stanley Peach

Central Sarah Collins McKinney - Danny Gillean

LADIES DIVISION Sarah Collins McKinney

President Billy Ortagus