The raid
Teams alternate raids. The raider must cross the midline, attempt to touch one or more defenders, and return across the midline with part of the body grounded in their own half to bank the points.
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sports_kabaddi
INDIGENOUS · IKF · AKFI
Kabaddi
Kabaddi is India's great contact sport: a single raider crosses into the opposing half, tries to touch defenders and must return to their own court to score. Raids are limited to thirty seconds, and in the traditional form the raider must maintain a continuous chant. Teams of seven trade raids until time expires.
group
PLAYERS
7 on the mat, 12 in the squad
schedule
DURATION
2 × 20 min with a 5 min break
stadium
PLAYING AREA
Mat 13 m × 10 m (men) / 12 m × 8 m (women)
scoreboard
SCORING
1 point per touch or tackle, bonus and all-out points
HOW IT IS PLAYED
Core Rules
The cant
In traditional kabaddi the raider must repeat 'kabaddi' continuously and audibly without taking a second breath. Losing the cant ends the raid and the raider is out.
Thirty-second limit
A raid must be completed within thirty seconds. Exceeding it declares the raider out and awards a point to the defending side.
Bonus line
If at least six defenders are on the mat, a raider who places one foot beyond the bonus line while the other is airborne scores one bonus point, even if subsequently tackled.
Do-or-die raid
If a team's raiders return empty-handed twice in succession, the third raid is do-or-die: the raider must score or be declared out.
Tackling
Defenders may hold the raider by any part of the body except the hair, clothing or the area above the shoulders. A successful tackle that prevents the raider returning scores one point.
Revivals
Players sent out sit on the bench in the order they were dismissed. Each point their team scores revives one player, who re-enters at the back of the queue.
All out
Clearing the entire opposing team off the mat is an all out, worth two bonus points, after which all seven of the opposing players return.
Super tackle and super raid
A tackle made when three or fewer defenders remain is a super tackle, worth two points. A raid scoring three or more points in one go is a super raid.
WATCH OUT
Fouls & Penalties
- errorHolding the raider by hair, clothing or limbs above the shoulder.
- errorStepping out of bounds, or the lobby being used before a struggle has begun.
- errorDefenders crossing the midline into the raider's half.
- errorDeliberately obstructing or pushing a raider out of the playing area — technical point.
- errorTime-wasting, coaching from the sidelines, or violent conduct — warning, then a technical point or suspension.
WHO DECIDES
Match Officials
- sportsReferee — controls the match on the mat.
- sportsTwo umpires — positioned on opposite sides to judge touches, tackles and lobby infringements.
- sportsScorer — records raid points, revivals and all-outs.
- sportsTwo assistant scorers and a TV umpire for reviews in professional leagues.
GOVERNED BY IKF · AKFI
Play Kabaddi On A Real Arena
Book a floodlit, pro-standard venue and put the rulebook to work.
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