Rope Pull Facts

 Rope pull is a week-long tournament during Homecoming, the fi rst week of October.

 Men and women compete in, “the pit,” by the student rec center.

 Started as a Homecoming tradition in the early 1970’s.

 Alpha Upsilon Chapter has won the tournament every year, but once.

 Teams strive to "take tape." This happens when a team gets enough rope from the opposition for the #1 hole to touch the tape. The team that took the tape is declared the winner.

 Chalks: Also known as "holes," these give the puller much needed grip. Especially in wet weather, pullers may risk "blowing out" a hole.

 Teams "get rope" by making hits. A team can get more rope by quickly "hitting" while the other team is in the middle of a pull.

Rope Pull Positions

#1

“Front Hole:” Smaller team member whose job is to control the "swing" of the rope.

#2, #3

Front Holes: The pullers’ front holes spend most of their time “riding the rope.” They rely on the back to, "hit 'em down." Teams work to "pin it down" by pulling their shoulders back while they push their hips up.

#4, #5, #6

Middle Holes: It takes strength, agility, and proper stance from each puller to keep tension on the rope. A team can't do a big hit with slack on the rope. Teams "get rope" by making hits. A team can get more rope by quickly "hitting" while the other team is in the middle of a pull.

#7, #8, #9

Back Holes: The Power pullers of the team generally lie in the back holes. If the front holes are riding the keep tension rope, the back pullers might make hits until the front holes "get right" on the rope.

#10

Anchor: Keeps the rope tight by pulling in the slack front holes in the slack. This puller loops rope under #9 in a hit.