The strongest person in tug of war is usually best placed at the back as the “anchor” of the team, especially if they are also one of the heaviest members.

Why the back is best

  • The anchor can lean back the most and keep the rope low, which maximizes horizontal pulling force and stability.
  • A strong, heavy anchor acts like a wedge, resisting being pulled forward while the rest of the team works in front of them.
  • The anchor also helps keep the rope tight so that everyone’s pulls are transmitted efficiently instead of creating slack.

When you might adjust

  • If your strongest person is short but powerful, some coaches like them nearer the front so their pull lines up better with the rope height.
  • In formal tug of war, success depends on total team strength, leg drive, grip, and coordination, so exact order matters less than everyone digging in and pulling together.

Simple team setup tip

  • Put the heaviest and strongest toward the back, with the single strongest as anchor.
  • Then arrange roughly from heavier/stronger at the rear to lighter at the front so the whole line can lean and pull in the same direction.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.