Frequently askedQuestions

Current annual membership is $250 for new adult members, $100 for juniors and sub-juniors, and $100 for returning-member renewals. Official Team Canada jerseys are available separately.

Fees and athlete instructions can change by competition. Review the current event page or email TCAF before submitting payment.

WAF team registrations generally need to reach the WAF office about 30 days before the delegation departs. TCAF must set an earlier athlete deadline so registrations, eligibility and team apparel can be completed in time.

The final 2027 deadline has not yet been published. Athletes should contact the registration desk early rather than wait for the WAF deadline.

TCAF's published guidance says an athlete may apply for a pardon. The process can take up to three months because approval moves through TCAF, NAAF and WAF.

The same guidance warns that competing at another IFA event after a pardon may lead to permanent placement on the not-in-good-standing list. Contact TCAF before entering an event if WAF eligibility matters to your plans.

The 2026 North American Championships were scheduled for March 6–8 at the Infinity Convention Centre in Ottawa, Ontario. This answer is retained as a past-event reference; new event announcements are published on the TCAF events page.

The original Canadian federation chose to leave the World Armwrestling Federation and join the International Federation of Armwrestling. TCAF was formed so Canadian athletes could continue qualifying for WAF-sanctioned competition, including the World Championships and World Combat Games.

Different international organizations choose their own event names. The championships connected to Team Canada through TCAF are sanctioned by WAF, whose international recognition includes bodies such as GAISF, AIMS, FISU and the International Paralympic Committee.

Under TCAF's published guidance, a Canadian athlete who competes at an IFA or PAL event may be placed on WAF's not-in-good-standing list. The restriction applies to WAF-sanctioned events until a pardon is granted.

It does not prevent the athlete from competing within Canada. Eligibility and pardon decisions are governed externally, so athletes should confirm their current status with TCAF before making international plans.

Referee training builds a stronger understanding of the rules, how tournaments operate and what happens when a rule is broken. For active competitors, that knowledge also supports better decisions and greater confidence at the table.

Qualified referees may also be invited to work at sanctioned events and help strengthen officiating in their province.

Provincial head referees work with the TCAF head referee to organize seminars, nominate officials for national and NAAF events, develop provincial referee programs and make sure new rules reach officials as they are introduced.

The guidance published by TCAF describes 306 WAF weight classes across junior, senior, masters and para categories, with up to two athletes per team in each class. That creates a theoretical maximum of 612 athlete entries.

Categories listed in that guidance include Sub-Junior, Junior, Youth, Senior, Masters, Grand Master, Senior Grand Master, and Para Hearing, Visual, Cerebral, Standing and Sitting.

The final 2027 class program and Team Canada selection details remain subject to official publication.

The youngest listed category is Sub-Junior. An athlete may still be 13 on competition day, but must turn 14 by December 31 of that competition year. Always confirm the final age rules for the specific championship before registering.