Mud Wrestling Rules
Mud Wrestling Ground Rules - Having fun, but also keeping safe!
Some common ground rules to consider are described below (our team use these in our house rules):
- No Kicking, punching, biting, hair pulling, gouging, head butting, choking etc
- All participants must remain on their knees - No standing (this prevents injuries from slips and minimizes the impact of the ground when being tackled).
- Always have one nominated referee who ensures that the participants abide by the rules - The refs decision is final. They also have the power to eject participants for overly rough play or misconduct
- No Shoes (shoes can accidentally tear the base of a pool).
- If your opponent yells 'stop', passes out, or is injured in any way then the round ends immediately.
- Remember that while mud wrestling is a competition, it is also meant to be hilarious, slippery, sexy and fun. Don't take it too seriously.
- Enjoy the squishy feel of mud on your skin.

Mud Wrestling Games
To get your party goers really cheering, these below mud wrestling games are sure to add a hilarious entertainment factor to your party! Here are four awesome games to choose from -
Remove Your Opponent's Shirt
This is sexier version of Mud Wrestling. Competitors start each round in the usual way. The objective of the game is to be the first person to remove their competitor’s tshirt and throw it out of the pit. You can use the tshirts that the participants are wearing or supply them with tshirts especially for the event. A good way to get the crowd cheering is to supply team tshirts to help spectators decide who to go for. If you are tailgating for example, have team shirts for the two teams playing in the day’s game.
3 Second Pin Rule
The most common way to mud wrestle is using the 3 second pin rule. Contestants begin each round at opposite ends of the pool. When the referee signals the beginning of play, contestants attempt to pin their opponent flat on the base of the pool. Once a player is pinned on their stomach or backs the referee begins a 3 second count. If the player can hold their opponent in that position for the full 3 seconds than they win the round and players reset their positions for round two. Games are usually best of 3 or 5 rounds. In tournaments, the winner would advance to the next stage.
Find The Object
The find the object game starts with competitors standing outside of the mud pool with their backs turned to the pit. The referee hides a small object such as a coin or small ball somewhere underneath the mud. On the count of three competitors turn around, race to the mud pit and attempt to become the first person to find the object and exit the pool with the object safely in hand. The great thing about this game is there is no limit to the number of competitors that can play at one time. You can have multiple competitors trying to find one object, or you can play similar to musical chairs in which there is one less object then there are competitors. At the end of each round, the person left without an object is out of the game. One more object gets removed from the pool for the next round and play continues until there is a champion.
Tag Team Mud Wrestling
The basic tag team match has two teams of two wrestlers facing off against each other. All standard rules for singles wrestling apply to a team match. However, only one wrestler from each team, called the "legal man" is allowed in the mud pit at a time. All other members of the team wait outside the pool in the team's specified corner. Points are scored by pinning an opponent to the ground in the same way as described in the three second pin version of the game (the 3 second rule is usually extended to 5 seconds for tag team matches to give pinned contestants a reasonable amount of time to attempt to tag out).
Once a tag is made, the wrestler tagging out has a grace period (typically five to ten seconds) to leave the mud pool before risking disqualification. Offensive cooperation from a team member is allowed during this time window and two teammates can be in the ring simultaneously with only one member of an opposing team. The tagged out player must leave the pool within the grace period or risks loosing a point for a disqualification/foul.
The following are standard requisites for making a legal tag:
• Both feet of the wrestler on the outside must be flat on the ground.
• The wrestler inside the pool must reach over the side of the pool wall to make a touch. The outside player cannot reach into the pool for the touch. Contact must be made outside the perimeter of the pool.
• Tags are legal as long as the two team members touch.
• The referee has to see and/or hear the contact between the two wrestlers in order for the tag to be legal.