Post by Rick Laton on May 1, 2005 15:48:39 GMT -5
As you have probably read (if not, see below) the AAA is going to vote on possibly making a few changes to the referees grip. The WORST thing that can happen is for me to get something changed and everyone not really know what they voted on. I have heard of laws/things being changed in the past and thought "That is the stupidest thing I have ever heard of. How did that get voted in?" I don't want this to happen. If these changes are voted in I want as many people to be happy with the change as possible. We have over 5 weeks until Nationals. Please try these changes to the "Referees Grip" at your practices (at least partially) between now and AAA Nationals. I would like to see everyone personally show up and vote but if you cannot, please at least talk it over with your team mates and if only a couple of your members are coming, have them vote the way that the TEAM would vote. I think these are MUCH NEEDED changes but not everyone will see it my way. I don't want to "Talk you into it" I want you to try it yourself and see if you don't think in the long haul they are better, more consistent and have a smaller chance of someone having a HUGE advantage. Thanks in advance.
It will probably be voted on in several different ways.
A. Do we change the way the "Set Grip" is done?
B. Do we still allow one minute before we use it or do we go straight to a set grip?
In other words, we could change the way of doing the set grip and leave the one minute time of trying to get your own grip the same.
This is my proposed new "Set Grip Option":
1. Both competitors come to the table and place their elbows where they would like them on the pad.
2. The refs will square both competitors shoulders.
3. The refs will place their hands at an even height (Without breaking down their wrist). One or more of the elbows may have to
be moved forwards or backward to make this happen. 4. The refs then will get both wrists straight.
5. Each puller will be asked to close their thumbs one at the time.
6. The ref will place his finger on the thumb joint of both competitors. This will indicate and keep the pullers from
wrapping their fingers too high.
6. Each puller will be asked to close their hand one at the time.
7. Any movement sideways or any turning in/bowing of the wrist will be a foul.
8. Once a puller places his fingers down he MAY NOT move them for any reason or it is a foul.
9. Referee will pause for about 2 seconds and will say GO !!
A. I would propose to eliminate the 1 minute that the pullers have to get their own grip if one of more of the pullers says
"Set Us". If only one of the pullers say they are not going to get a grip we should not waste 1 minute while puller #1
doesn't even attempt to get a grip.
OR
Option #2
B. I would even propose to begin every match in this set grip. Let's face it, armwrestling is finally growing and growing quickly.
We must find a way to speed things up and I think this will help tremendously. I have seen in done in one tournament and it
went VERY QUICKLY !! Several of my pullers said they didn't like it at first but after about 3 matches THEY LOVED
IT !! They said they didn't feel at either a huge advantage or a huge disadvantage which usually doesn't happen with a
set grip.
C. Moving the elbows forwards or backwards to match up the arm length will eliminate the longer armed puller starting
with his wrist down.
D. If the puller closes his/her own thumb and fingers then he cannot complain about a bad grip. He or she set it !!!
E. With the refs thumb on the pullers last thumb joint, there is NO WAY someone can get too high without moving !!
F. Eliminating the "Ready" will take out most of the false starts and jumping the gun. There will be no more "Timing" your
starts. You cannot move until the ref says GO !! You DO NOT MOVE until the referee speaks. They will be trained
to not say anything after the fingers have been set except Go or Foul !!!
It will probably be voted on in several different ways.
A. Do we change the way the "Set Grip" is done?
B. Do we still allow one minute before we use it or do we go straight to a set grip?
In other words, we could change the way of doing the set grip and leave the one minute time of trying to get your own grip the same.
This is my proposed new "Set Grip Option":
1. Both competitors come to the table and place their elbows where they would like them on the pad.
2. The refs will square both competitors shoulders.
3. The refs will place their hands at an even height (Without breaking down their wrist). One or more of the elbows may have to
be moved forwards or backward to make this happen. 4. The refs then will get both wrists straight.
5. Each puller will be asked to close their thumbs one at the time.
6. The ref will place his finger on the thumb joint of both competitors. This will indicate and keep the pullers from
wrapping their fingers too high.
6. Each puller will be asked to close their hand one at the time.
7. Any movement sideways or any turning in/bowing of the wrist will be a foul.
8. Once a puller places his fingers down he MAY NOT move them for any reason or it is a foul.
9. Referee will pause for about 2 seconds and will say GO !!
A. I would propose to eliminate the 1 minute that the pullers have to get their own grip if one of more of the pullers says
"Set Us". If only one of the pullers say they are not going to get a grip we should not waste 1 minute while puller #1
doesn't even attempt to get a grip.
OR
Option #2
B. I would even propose to begin every match in this set grip. Let's face it, armwrestling is finally growing and growing quickly.
We must find a way to speed things up and I think this will help tremendously. I have seen in done in one tournament and it
went VERY QUICKLY !! Several of my pullers said they didn't like it at first but after about 3 matches THEY LOVED
IT !! They said they didn't feel at either a huge advantage or a huge disadvantage which usually doesn't happen with a
set grip.
C. Moving the elbows forwards or backwards to match up the arm length will eliminate the longer armed puller starting
with his wrist down.
D. If the puller closes his/her own thumb and fingers then he cannot complain about a bad grip. He or she set it !!!
E. With the refs thumb on the pullers last thumb joint, there is NO WAY someone can get too high without moving !!
F. Eliminating the "Ready" will take out most of the false starts and jumping the gun. There will be no more "Timing" your
starts. You cannot move until the ref says GO !! You DO NOT MOVE until the referee speaks. They will be trained
to not say anything after the fingers have been set except Go or Foul !!!
I was told many years ago when I started armwrestling, that when a ref says "Ready" it's a question, and if your not, you needed to speak up quickly, seems the "Ready Go" has gotten so fast some times you don't have time to respond......just my 2 cents worth 
