For some time now a hot topic on Internet pages and forums has been refereeing with use of a camera. As most of you know, that idea has occurred to PAL a few years ago. For the first time that system has been used in Kremlin in 2005, during the John Brzenk - Taras Ivakin match. The use of camera has caused some trouble for John Brzenk – a record number of fouls for raising his elbow. Why was that – we leave that for the end of this text.

The following years have witnessed the development of camera usage during bouts. In 2009 at the Las Vegas tournament (Vendetta in Vegas), HD cameras have been used, along with a high quality monitor. This allowed for a much more comfortable referee work. No contestant could argue with referee decisions, because they knew how the system works and what to expect.

The most recent tournament where cameras were used was the one in Gdynia, the World Armwrestling Championship. Cameras were used during the finals, the last 2 days of the event. There have been many comments on camera work killing the spirit of the competition. Why is that?

I have pondered that question for the last month, and one answer presents itself. The world of armwrestling will not like that answer. It’s not a simple answer, but it’s the best one. That answer is – training, Ladies and Gentlemen! Training your technique. If the rules say that you can’t lift your elbow during a bout, than that’s what you shouldn’t do. Look at football – even a slight brush with the opposing team’s player means a foul. In snooker – a brush of the wrong ball – that’s a foul. In basketball – one toe outside of the court line, while holding the ball – foul. These are the rules. Footballers, snooker players, basketball players – they all train hard to avoid any mistakes. Our sport is no different in that aspect. Train to learn not to raise your elbow, not to move it sideways. A bigger or softer pad will be of no help here. It’s up to you, dear contestants, whether a fight will be concluded in a fair, sporting manner, or spoiled by fouls caused by faulty training and technique.

Anonymous WAF Referee