How to play Kabaddi- Basics and Rules

OVERVIEW

It is a sport played on a court, which is divided into two halves. The size of the court is about 13m x 10m.

(This is the court style used in Pro Kabaddi League, size may vary slightly for international or local matches)

Each side has 7 players when the game starts. There will be 5 substitutes for each side as well. The games in Kabaddi are 40 minutes long.

• The two teams alternate between raiding and defending for two halves of twenty minutes each (with a five minute break between halves and newly introduces small timeouts for teams which is used to generate advertisement revenue)
• After halftime, the two teams switch sides of the court.
• The team with the most points at the end of the game (after 40 minutes) wins!
• The Lobby is the area of the court which is considered active only when contact has been made between the raider and a defender. Else, it is considered out of bounds for both raider and the defenders.

Each side gets alternating turns to send any one player to the opponent’s side. This player is called the raider and each player on the opposing team is called a defender.

Image Source: Pro Kabaddi League, India.

In the picture shown above,

• Players who get out are made to sit on the sitting block and they can go in only in the same order they came out.
• Bonus Line is only active when there are 6 or more players on court in the opposition team

OBJECTIVES DURING A RAID:-

• In order to make the raid valid, the raider must cross the baulk/check line with one foot with the other one in the air.

• The raider tries to tag members of the other team and run back to his side — each player he touches equals one point for his team if he makes it back safely.

However, the raider must start repeatedly saying “Kabaddi” before he crosses the mid line and cannot stop repeating this word until he crosses back over to his team’s side. If he stops saying “Kabaddi” on the opponent’s side of the court, even momentarily, he is cant out and has to go out. In this case, one point is awarded to the defending team for a successful play.

• In order to get a bonus point, the raider must cross the baulk/check line with one foot with the other one in the air, when the defending team has 6 or 7 defenders.
• The time of the raid is limited to 30 seconds. If the raider fails to reach his half within this stipulated time, he goes out and opposition team gets one point awarded.
• The Defending Team’s goal is to keep the raider from tagging you and crossing back over the midline. One can do this either by running away from him or physically restraining him by tackling or grabbing him.
• Note that a raider may not be grabbed or held by his clothes, hair, or any part of his body other than his limbs and torso. If referee finds that any of these is done, raider gets a technical point awarded.
• If the Defending team successfully tackle the raider and prevent him from going back, it gives them 1 point.
• If a team has three unproductive(empty) raids in a row, the third raider is out. An empty raid occurs when a raider cannot score any points (or loses points) during a raid. If a raider can cross the baulk line and return to his side of the court, the raid counts as a valid one even if he doesn’t tag anyone.
• Players are revived in the order they were eliminated — bringing back players out of order results in a point for the other team.

EXTRA POINTS

• All Out — It is a point in the game when all the players of the team are sent off by the other team. At this point, the other team gets extra points (2 in Pro Kabaddi).
• Super Raid: If the raider successfully gets 3 or more defenders out, it is called a super raid. (In case of bonus point + 2 defenders out is also called a super raid)
• Super Tackle: If the defending team successfully tackles the raider, with 3 or fewer defenders in the side, it is called a super tackle and the defending team gets extra points (1 in Pro Kabaddi, hence the defending team gets 2 points instead of 1 point in a normal scenario for their efforts).

Technical Points: Referee can award technical points if there is any misconduct during the game by any player or the coach.

P.S.: Find all the Pro Kabaddi League Rules explained here Pro Kabaddi Rules

Check out videos from this channel to keep updated about Kabaddi : Kabaddi Adda