Athletes · builders · officials

Canadianstrengthat every table.

The athletes who carried the maple leaf, the builders who organized the sport, and the referees trusted to protect fair competition.

Meet the legends Referee pathway

Armwrestlers competing with a referee at the table

StrengthUnityExcellence

2Canadian legends profiled

4Referee qualification steps

5TCAF referee levels

Remember the spirit

Canadian legends

TCAF's Legends Series recognizes Canadian armwrestlers whose competitive careers and work behind the scenes helped move the sport forward.

Black-and-white portrait of John Miazdzyk

Builder · Alberta

Founding vision

John
Miazdzyk

John established the Canadian Arm Wrestling Association in 1976 and became a founding member of the World Arm Wrestling Federation. He hosted Alberta's inaugural nationals in 1978 and brought the WAWF World Championships to Alberta in 1979.

1976: Established CAWA
1978: Hosted the inaugural Alberta nationals
1979: Organized the WAWF World Championships in Alberta

His legacy continues through the John Miazdzyk Memorial Award, presented to athletes or promoters who show exceptional dedication to armwrestling.

Explore John's profile

Sylvio Bourque competing at an international championship

Athlete · New Brunswick

Canada's most decorated WAF athlete

Sylvio
Bourque

26WAF World Championship medals

Sylvio began armwrestling in 1979, won his first national title that year, and went on to compete across North America and the world. In 1999, after years of training, study and perseverance, he achieved his goal of becoming a WAF world champion in Tokyo.

His career included medals on five continents, induction into the CAWF Hall of Fame in 2012, and induction into the Nova Scotia Armwrestling Association Hall of Fame in 2018.

Explore Sylvio's profile

Builders

The sport is built long before the match starts.

TCAF recognizes the people who organize events, develop policy, and keep Canadian armwrestling connected to international competition. Their work creates the structure athletes need to compete.

The standard at the table

Qualified referees

TCAF referees follow the same training model WAF uses for world-level officials. Qualification requires four stages, moving from rule knowledge to live tournament evaluation.

Online pre-course

Build a working knowledge of the WAF rules before the in-person session.

In-person classroom

Study table control, commands, positioning, fouls and match procedure.

Scenario evaluation

Apply the rules to match situations and receive direct feedback.

Tournament evaluation

Demonstrate sound decisions and table management in live competition.

Qualification ladderRecommended responsibility

Master

Head referee — any tournament

Advanced rule knowledge and experience across every level of competition.

Advanced Senior

Head referee — any tournament

Very experienced officials with strong command of WAF rules and match procedure.

Senior

Head referee — most tournaments

Reliable head referees who can also work downside at any level.

Advanced Junior

Head referee — under supervision

Officials ready to start selected matches with a Senior or Master referee present.

Junior

Downside referee — under supervision

The entry level for seminar participants still completing tournament evaluation.

Start the pathway

Become a TCAF referee.

Begin with the online pre-course, then complete classroom, scenario and tournament evaluations.

Explore TCAF courses

International connections

Affiliations & recognition

GAISF

AIMS

FISU

WAF

NAAF

IPC

SportAccord

One Team. One Canada.

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