Kabaddi is a popular team sport that is easy to learn and involves a lot of physical contact. The sport has its roots in millennia-old traditions in India and Southeast Asia. The basic rules of Kabaddi are quite simple: two teams of seven people face each other in a large square area for 2 x 20 minutes. The players from each team take turns running across the center line of the field towards the opponent's area, touching a member of the enemy team, then back. The more opponents you touch, the more points you can earn. However, if the opposing team can prevent you from crossing the halfway line to return to your own playing area, you won't get any points!
Step
Part 1 of 3: Preparation
Step 1. Play on a flat rectangular arena, measuring 13 x 10 square meters
- This size is the official standard for professional Kabaddi games for men - if you're just playing casually with friends, the arena doesn't have to fit this size. Just make sure the arena you use is flat, wide, and rectangular.
- For women, the Kabaddi arena is slightly smaller in size - 12 x 8 square meters.
Step 2. Use borders and markers to divide the arena equitably
The image above shows the official markers used in the professional game of Kabaddi. Again, if you're just playing casually with friends, there's no need to use the exact same marker as the image.
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Borderline:
The line at the end of the playing field measures 13 x 10 square meters.
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Game arena line:
These lines indicate a 13 x 8 square meter arena within the playing field - there is a one meter long space separating the arena from the aforementioned boundary line.
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Center line:
This line separates the playing field into two sides measuring 6.5 square meters each. Each team will occupy one side as their "territory".
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Baulk line:
This line is parallel to the center line of the field and is 3.75 meters from it.
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Bonus line:
This line is parallel to the baulk line and is only 1 meter away from the line.
Step 3. Make two teams of seven people each
Traditionally, only four players from each team are allowed to enter the field, while the other three sit on the bench. However, some variations of the Kabaddi game allow up to seven people from each team to play right away.
Part 2 of 3: Understanding the Basics of the Game
Step 1. Toss a coin to determine which team attacks first
Any method - as long as it is fair, is fine to use to determine this. You can try rolling the dice to see who gets the highest number, guess the number the referee thinks of, etc
Step 2. If your team attacks first, send a “raider” to cross the center line
- In Kabaddi, all teams take turns sending a player (which is referred to as a “raider”) into the opponent's area. the raider will try to touch the opposing player, then return to his own area - each opponent he touches is worth one point if he manages to return to his playing area safely.
- However, The raider must start chanting the word "Kabaddi" before he crosses the halfway line and must not stop until he has returned to his own playing area. If he stops screaming or breathing in the opponent's playing area, even if only briefly, then he must return to his playing field without earning any points. In this case, one point will be awarded to the opposing team as a result of successful defense.
- Each player from each team must take turns attacking - if a team member attacks out of turn, the opposing team earns one point.
Step 3. If your team doesn't attack first, defend
- If your team is under attack, you and your three teammates act as "stoppers" or "anti-raiders". Your goal is to dodge the raider's touch and prevent it from returning to its playing field. You can do this by running away until the enemy runs out of breath, as well as making physical contact, namely tackling or capturing the raider.
- Note that a raider may not be caught by pulling on his clothes, hair, and other parts of his body except the waist and upper body.
Step 4. Take turns attacking and defending
- Both teams take turns attacking and defending for 2 x 20 minutes (with an additional five minutes of rest between halves).
- After the turn of the half, the two teams switch field positions.
- The team with the most points at the end of the game is the winner!
Step 5. Remove players from the field when they are touched, caught, or violate the rules
In Kabaddi, players can be temporarily removed from the game for various reasons. If this is the case, they cannot be substituted for substitutes - substitutions may only be made to players who are on the field. Here are some reasons to let a player out.
- If the raider touches an opposing player and he manages to return to his playing area, the opponent must exit.
- If a raider is caught and is unable to return to his area before running out of breath, then he must exit.
- If any player (attack or defend) steps outside the boundary line, he must exit (unless he is intentionally pushed or pulled, in which case, the player who committed the foul must leave)
- If a team fails to attack three times in a row, then the third raider must come out. Attack failure occurs when a raider doesn't score a single point (or loses a point) while attacking. However, if a raider can cross the baulk line and return to his playing field, the attack is considered successful even if he doesn't touch any of the opposing players.
- If any member of the defending team crosses the halfway line and enters the opponent's area before being given a chance to attack, he must leave.
Step 6. "Revive" the player by taking out an opponent
Whenever your team succeeds in removing a member of the opposing team, you have the opportunity to bring back (or “revive”) your previously ejected team member. This rule applies to both teams, both attacking and defending.
Players are “revived” in the order they came out - bringing in players out of sequence will be awarded one point for the opposing team
Part 3 of 3: Using the Advanced Scoring System
Step 1. Print “Lona” by removing all members of the opposing team
If you are able to take out all the opposing players at once for various reasons and none of their players can be turned on, your team will get “Lona” (two extra points in the match).
When this happens, all members of the opposing team will be revived
Step 2. Score a “super tackle” by capturing an enemy using three players or less
If your team is defending with three people or less and you can still prevent the raider from returning to his field of play, you've scored additional points through a “super tackle.”
These points will be accumulated with the points obtained from the results of removing the attacker. So, in total there are two points that can be achieved
Step 3. Score points when your opponent breaks the rules of the game
Most fouls in Kabaddi end up as a point for the opposing team. This is a list of offenses that can result in points for the opposing team.
- If a raider says something other than “Kabaddi” when he attacks, then the attack must end and the defending team gets one point plus a chance to attack (but the raider was not expelled).
- If the raider is late shouting “Kabaddi” (in other words, he has crossed the center line), then the attack must end and the defending team gets one point plus a chance to attack (same as before, the raider was not sent off).
- If a raider does not attack consecutively, the defending team is entitled to one point and the attack is considered complete.
- If more than one raider crosses the halfway line, the attack must be stopped and the defending team gets one point.
- If any player on the defending team enters the opponent's area before it's their turn to attack, the opponent will get one point for each defender who crosses the boundary.
- If, after scoring a lona, the losing team does not return to the court within ten seconds and the opposing team will get one point.
Tips
- When defending, professional Kabaddi players close ranks to make it easier to surround and catch raiders. Splitting up will actually make it easier for the raider to return to his playing area.
- Try watching professional Kabaddi match videos to understand the rules of the game and start developing your own strategy. You can find high-class tournament videos on Youtube or other video sites.
- Watch the player's movements with one eye and their footwork with the other.
- If the raider moves to the right, the player must move to the left, and if the player moves to the left, the other players must move to the right. The player on the other side must surround the raider, then capture it.
