Official U.S. Steinholding Association Rules

The Rules

Simple to explain, brutal to do. Here's the official rulebook in plain English, with pictures, so nothing the judges call comes as a surprise.

Version 1.5 · Updated May 2026
2026 men's champion Jack Carter holding a full stein at arm's length
Jack Carter, 2026 champ: arm level, eyes forward.
In one sentence

Last one holding, with proper form, wins.

Every rule below exists for one reason: so every competitor is holding the same weight, the same way. Learn them now and train with them. Bad habits are much harder to fix on stage.

The Stein Equipment

  • A 1-liter, dimpled glass, Masskrug-style stein with a handle, about 3 lb empty. Every competitor in a match uses the same brand and style.
  • Filled with liquid up to the 1-liter line. At St. Joseph Shrine, competitors in the official Men's and Women's divisions get the beer of their choice. (A separate, unofficial kids hold uses a half-liter stein of root bier or apple cider and is not run under these USSA competition rules.)

The Grip Hand

  • Handle only, held in a closed fist.
  • The logo side (the side opposite the handle) faces straight away from you, in line with your arm. No turning the stein sideways.
  • Your thumb may not rest on top of the handle.
  • Your pinkie may sit outside the handle, but it can't be extended.

The Arm Position

  • Held directly in front of you, not out to the side. The line across your shoulders stays roughly perpendicular to your arm.
  • Parallel to the ground, and from the side, roughly perpendicular to your torso.
  • No bend at the elbow. The arm stays straight.
  • The holding arm stays separated from your chest. It can't rest on or against your torso for support.

The Body Posture

  • Your off-hand stays at or near your side and visible to the judges. If it rests against your body, it must stay straight and can't brace your torso.
  • Your off-hand can never touch or support the stein or your holding arm.
  • A back arch is allowed, with only minimal lean. Your elbow can't cross behind the front of either ankle, and your armpit can't cross in front of your hips or toes.
  • No noticeable leaning left or right. Keep your shoulders level.
  • Stay in your own area and don't touch any structure, object or person.
  • Stay generally still. Small adjustments to fix your form are fine, but big or aggressive movements aren't.

The Match Scoring

  • When the judge signals the start, lift and extend immediately.
  • You can't set the stein down or switch hands once the match starts.
  • Breaking any rule earns a strike. The third strike eliminates you.
  • Any spill or drip eliminates you immediately, however few strikes you have.
See it the way the judges do

Form check

What's legal, what earns a strike, and where the lines are, in the U.S. Steinholding Association's official rule photos.

Photos: U.S. Steinholding Association, Official Steinholding Rules.

From signal to Steinly Cup

How a match runs

USSA judges are told to be conservative but consistent. Here's what happens once the steins go up.

The signalThe judge starts the match. Everyone lifts and extends at once, and from here there's no setting down and no switching hands.
The first 60 secondsJudges can correct your form without a strike. Fix it right away or you'll get one. Spills never get a grace period.
The grindEvery form break is a strike, and the third one ends your match. Any drip, at any moment, ends it too.
Extra timeIf everyone left has lost form and nobody is clearly better, judges call "elimination extra time." The clock stops, everyone left is credited that time, and it goes on until one competitor clearly outlasts the rest.
DisruptionsIf something outside the competitors' control interrupts the match, judges pause, reset and resume quickly. A paused match can't count toward records.
Dress festive, dress legal

What to wear

Lederhosen and dirndls are strongly encouraged at St. Joseph Shrine. Whatever you wear, it has to pass the rulebook.

  • No brace, support or strap of any kind.
  • Athletic compression clothing is fine.
  • Stiff or supportive clothing, like a bench-press shirt, is not.
  • Your holding elbow must stay visible. If your sleeves cover it, you'll be asked to roll them up.
  • No gloves, grip powder, pine tar or anything similar.
  • Pro tip: skip the dress shirt. Something with a little stretch across the shoulders helps. More gear tips →
Watch it done right

The rules, demonstrated

The U.S. Steinholding Association's own video walks through proper form and common strikes. Watch it once before you train, and again before you compete.

Start training →
Straight from the USSA

Go deeper

This page is our plain-English summary. When there's a question, the official USSA rulebook has the final word.

Official Rulebook ↗USSA Competition Rules, Version 1.5 (May 2026). Competitor Code of Conduct ↗Every competitor is expected to follow it, on stage and off. USSA Judging Manual ↗The judges' handbook, with the extra context behind every call. Free to download. Become a Certified Judge ↗Want to referee for us? Get USSA-certified, then drop us a line. Competition Types ↗How local, state and national competitions differ. Our Training Camp →Season plan, training holds, a one-hand timer and game-day prep.