WATL Competitor’s Tournament Guide

1. Decide what tournament you’ll be attending — see the WATL tournament listing.
2. Buy your ticket.
3. Decide which disciplines you want to compete in — Hatchet, Big Axe, Duals, and Knives (if offered).

Your Player ID lives on axethrowing.org:

1. Click Sign In — use the email you registered with in the App.
2. You’ll receive an authentication email to log in. Once in, click My Career from the menu.
3. Your Player ID is listed under your name. You can also edit your profile from this page to add a picture, update your region and home venue, and more.
4. To find your Team ID for an existing Duals team, scroll down to Teams. Click the team name to see the players registered to it and to edit your team name.

Check and double-check your Player ID. The wrong ID can result in you not being added to the bracket, and not being able to participate in the tournament. Enter it in all caps with no spaces. Player IDs are 2 letters then 2 numbers (for example AB12) — make sure i’s, L’s, 1’s, 0’s, and O’s aren’t mistaken for one another or entered in the wrong spot.

Larger tournaments usually provide hotel recommendations or blocks of rooms. You can also connect with other competitors via the Facebook Discussion Group to compare where people are staying, or plan to share an Airbnb.

Driving

• Is there parking at the venue?
• Is parking paid or free?
• Can you carpool with other competitors?

Flying

• How are you getting to your lodging and the venue from the airport?
• Do you need to budget for rideshare, or are you renting a car?
• Can you share a ride with other competitors arriving at the same time?
• Does the hotel or venue have a free shuttle service?

Check the WATL Discussion page, your email, and the venue or tournament event page for updates on:

• Check-in times
• Bracket start times
• Practice availability

• Sandpaper
• Chalk / powder
• Hand towel
• Support braces / sleeves
• File / sharpener
• Axe & blade wax
• Tape

• Lawn chairs
• Snacks and water
• Music and earbuds (for between matches)
• Extra socks

Trust us on the socks. 😁 Changing your socks during a tournament can help refresh and energize you during a long day at the venue.

• Arriving late for your bracket could cause you to forfeit your match if you are not present when it is called.
• Double-check the event page and your email for scheduled practice, check-in, and bracket start times.

If you need to leave the venue during the tournament and you’re still competing, find a buddy. Have them message you when your match is coming up or has been called.

You have 10 minutes to arrive for your match before it is forfeited.

Refresh yourself with the current gameplay rules before you throw — the WATL rules and, if you’re throwing knives, the WKTL rules.

Connect with a Women’s Axe Council member or a WATL Ambassador. One or more members of each of these groups is almost always present at every tournament.

Not sure how to find them, or shy about approaching? Ask the tournament host to introduce you.

Usually 1 hour before the first bracket starts.

• Usually 30 minutes to 1 hour before the first bracket starts.
• Every tournament handles practice times differently. Make sure you know when practice is scheduled for your bracket and discipline.
• Best practice is to take 10 throws, then rotate to the next competitor. Don’t be shy about asking someone to rotate so you get a chance to practice — and don’t hog a lane if other competitors are waiting.

All official sanctioned tournaments run as best 2 of 3 matches, double elimination.

• Best 2 of 3 matches — each time you are called to the lane, you will play at least 2 games. The winner is whoever wins the best 2 of 3 games in the match set.
• Double elimination — you must lose 2 matches (each best 2 of 3) to be eliminated. This means you will play a minimum of 4 games.
• Once your match is called, you have 10 minutes to report to the lane or you forfeit the match.
• At larger tournaments you’ll have quite a bit of downtime between matches. Bring a book or games to stay occupied, or mingle and get to know the community.

• If there’s no official after-party scheduled, connect with other competitors to see if they’re getting together for dinner somewhere.
• Consider getting a group together to see local attractions before or after the tournament.