The goal of a steinholding competition is simple: correctly hold your stein and avoid disqualification for longer than anyone else. Before you jump into a stein holding competition (or host your own unofficial match), make sure you familiarize yourself with the official rules of steinholding.
Lucky for you, we’ve combined the rules from the two largest stein holding organizations in the United States: the US Steinholding Association and HB Masskrugstemmen.
Let’s start with the official rules of stein holding competitions.
Official SteinHolding Competition Rules
The official Steinholding rules are fairly simple: proper body positioning must be maintained, or a warning will be issued by the judge(s). Just like in baseball, 3 strikes and you’re out; after two warnings, the next violation will result in disqualification.
Be careful not to party foul: If any beer is spilled and/or drips off the stein, there will be no warning, and the competitor will be disqualified immediately.
In addition to spilling beer, use of a prohibited item will result in disqualification.
Stein Holding Competition Prohibited Items
Wearing any sort of brace, support, or strap (including taping and/or bandaging) on the arm, elbow, wrist, hand, and/or back is not allowed during a stein-holding competition. This includes back braces. In addition, gloves and/or grip aids such as powder, pine tar, and other similar substances are not permitted to be used by competitors.
So, what can you wear for a steinholding competition?
Steinholding Competition Clothing
Competitors are welcome to wear athletic and/or compression clothing during a Steinholding competition, as long as the clothing is not stiff or supportive in nature.
Since elbow straightness is required for proper steinholding form, shirts with loose sleeves that extend past the elbow must be able to be rolled up so that the competitors elbow can be seen.
Proper Stein for Steinholding
While HB Masskrugstemmen specifies that, during official steinholding competitions, a Hofbräu Glass Stein filled with Hofbräu beer must be used, the Official U. S. Steinholding Association Rules allow for a little variety and simply require that competitors use a 1L dimpled glass stein with a handle and a weight of approximately three pounds. Although a specific stein and/or beer is not dictated, competition steins should be provided for competitors, and be of the same brand and style.
Now that you have the right beer stein for a steinholding competition, it’s time to discuss how to properly hold it.
SteinHolding Hand Position
During a steinholding competition, the stein must be held by the handle. Holding the stein body, either through the handle hoop and/or directly, is not allowed. The thumb is not permitted to be on top of the handle, and must rest on top of the fingers holding the handle. The pinky finger may be held inside or outside of the stein handle, but is not permitted to touch the body of the stein.
The stein is to be held so that the front of the stein (in the case of HB Masskrugstemmen, the Hofbräu logo on the Stein) must always face towards the audience, away from the contestant, and should be extended parallel to the competitor’s arm.
Speaking of arms, there is a proper steinholding arm position.
Stein Holding Arm Position
Once the competition has begun, switching hands, setting the stein down, or touching the stein with the not-holding hand is not allowed and will result in disqualification.
While competing in a stein-holding competition, the stein must be held directly in front of the competitor’s body, straight out from the shoulder, parallel to the ground, with an unbent elbow. Using the chest and/or torso to support the steinholding arm is prohibited.
A competitor’s off-hand (the hand not holding the stein) should remain at their side, not providing any support.
Now that you know proper stein-holding competition arm position, let’s discuss steinholding body positioning.
Steinholding Body Position
Proper stein holding body position is fairly simple: stand up straight. During a stein-holding competition, a competitor’s elbow cannot cross behind the back of either of the competitor’s ankles. Additionally, the armpit of a competitor can never cross in front of their hips, or in front of the toes of either of their feet. The torso of the competitor must not angle to the left or right, with their shoulders parallel to the ground.
During the stein holding competition, competitors must remain in their designated personal area, moving only to maintain proper steinholding form. Contacting any structures, objects, or individuals is not permitted during a stein-holding competition.
For more information on official steinholding rules, more information about stein holding, or to find a stein-holding competition near you, visit the official US Steinholding Website and/or the HB Masskrugstemmen website.
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