How to Play Kabaddi and Kabaddi Rules Full Guide

Our step-by-step guide covers how to play Kabaddi, kabaddi rules, and team positioning needed to dominate on the court!

Learn how to play Kabaddi, an exciting and action-packed sport now!

What is Kabaddi?

Kabaddi is an ancient contact team sport that originated in India during the Vedic era and is still widely popular today. In recent years, Kabaddi has even gone pro with competitions taking place at state and international levels.

The Pro Kabaddi League, established in 2014, has attracted nearly half a billion viewers, highlighting the sport's unprecedented popularity.

Interestingly enough, Kabaddi's appeal isn't just limited to professional athletes. Amateur players throughout the Indian subcontinent are also embracing this exciting sport.

Even beyond Asia, in regions such as the Americas, Europe, Africa, and Australia more people are discovering how to play kabaddi and what makes this game so captivating - from mastering offense (raiding) to developing defense abilities.

With its rich history and growing fanbase across the globe, it's no wonder why Kabaddi is quickly becoming one of the most beloved sports in existence.

The Objective of the Kabaddi Game

Kabaddi is a game where the main objective is to get the opposing team out or eliminate as many opponents as possible in order to score points for your own team.

The team with the most points at the end of the game wins, following Kabaddi rules. Both teams, namely the raiding and defending teams, can score points but in different ways.

The raiding team scores point by tagging opponents while chanting “Kabaddi! Kabaddi!” repeatedly for 30 seconds without getting caught by the other team.

If a raider manages to escape and return to their own side of the field in one breath, they earn one point for each opponent tagged. On the other hand, if defenders manage to stop a raider from returning within 30 seconds, they score points.

How many Players are there in a Kabaddi Team?

A total of 12 players make up each Kabaddi team according to Kabaddi rules; however, only seven players are allowed on the field at any given time. Each player is assigned a position and there are five reserves who do not substitute for players declared out.

A typical Kabaddi match consists of two rounds lasting 20 minutes each with a five-minute break between them making it last for about 40 minutes in total. Both teams take turns raiding and defending during these rounds.

It's important to note that Kabaddi players alternate between offense and defense within matches acting as both raiders and defenders/antis throughout gameplay.

Therefore, it's crucial for them to possess both sets of skills - raiding and defending - since they play each role for twenty minutes during every match.

How to Play Kabaddi

Kabaddi is a game that involves two teams of seven players each, playing on a designated court or field. Following are the tips that will help you in understanding how to play kabaddi.

• The players take turns to raid one another, with the field divided into two halves - one for each team. The Midline is the most crucial line in Kabaddi as it separates the teams' turfs. To mark out the entire play area, you can use chalk or cones.
• In professional men's Kabaddi, the rectangular playing field measures 43 feet (13 meters) in width and 33 feet (10 meters) in length. For professional women's Kabaddi, the rectangular field measures 39 feet (12 meters) in width and 26 feet (8 meters) in length.
• It's important to note that if you're playing Kabaddi recreationally with friends, you don't necessarily have to set up a pitch with these exact measurements.
• Apart from the midline, there are other lines in Kabaddi such as Baulk lines - which are parallel to the Midline and placed on each half of the field at a distance of 13 feet from it.
• Additionally, Bonus Lines are parallel to both Midline and Baulk line and placed on each side at a distance of 3 feet from the Baulk line; they come into play only when defending team has either six or seven defenders on the field.
• To decide which team goes first involves tossing a coin or rolling dice randomly; whichever team wins gets to choose whether they want to play as raiders or defenders during their first round.

Kabaddi Rules

If you're interested in learning about how to play Kabaddi, there are a few rules you should know.

• Firstly, when playing, the raiders can only be grabbed by their limbs or torso and not by their clothes or hair. Secondly, if one team manages to get the entire opposing team out, they score a "Lona" which earns them two extra points.
• Additionally, if three or fewer defenders successfully tackle a raider, the defending team scores a "super tackle" point. Finally, each Kabaddi match is overseen by six officials: two umpires, two assistant scorers, one scorer, and one referee.
• If you want to play like a pro and impress your audience with your skills and techniques in scoring more raid points while escaping to safety with ease and agility then there are some advanced moves that you need to master.
• Some of the most fascinating moves at the pro level include The Scorpio Kick where raiders go directly for the Covers executing back/front kick for scoring points; The Frog Jump where raiders execute jaw-dropping jumps over defenders or chains of defenders to escape and score points for their team.
• And last but not least is The Dubki which requires strength speed and agility as it sees the raider ducking low to escape a chain of defenders while scoring points.

So why not try your hand at these impressive moves? Share this article and play with your friends now!

What is Raid in Kabaddi?

Kabaddi is a high-intensity sport where the offense initiates an attack known as a raid. During a Kabaddi raid, only one player from the attacking team crosses over the line and attempts to touch one or more opponents, also known as raiders. It's important to note that multiple raiders can't be sent at once, as only one raid is permitted at a time.

If the raider successfully tags an opponent, that player is automatically out of the game. The attacking team earns one point for each opponent tagged out if the raider makes it back over the line without getting tackled by the defending team.

It's crucial for the raider to start chanting "Kabaddi! Kabaddi! Kabaddi!..." loudly and continuously upon entering the opposing team's half of the field, according to Kabaddi rules.

While chanting non-stop, in one breath, and within 30 seconds maximum (as per Kabaddi regulations), the raider tries to touch opponents with either their hand or foot in order to score points for their team (one point for each opponent touched). However, it's equally important for them not to get tackled by opponents during this process.

If defenders manage to grab hold of any part of the raider's body and stop them from crossing back over midline within 30 seconds maximum time limit then they're out of play. In such cases, defenders earn one point and can revive one of their previously put-out teammates.

Teams Positioning:

Let's dive into the world of Kabaddi and explore the various positions and roles played by each team.

The Raider Team Position:

When it comes to how to play kabaddi and raiding, there is only one position - the raider. However, during a 20-minute round, each member of the raiding team takes on this role in sequence to avoid giving their opponents a point.

The raider's job is to enter the opponent's turf chanting "Kabaddi! Kabaddi!" while attempting to tag as many defenders as possible within 30 seconds and in one breath. Their ultimate goal is to fetch points for their team through touchpoints and bonus points.

It's worth noting that if a raider stops chanting or fails to cross over the balk line, they are immediately out according to Kabaddi rules.

However, if they get past this line and reach the bonus line in one breath without touching the ground with both feet, their team earns an additional bonus point.

The Defending Teams Position:

Now let's take a look at the defending team positions. The Covers' primary responsibility is protecting their star raiders from being tagged out by using moves such as waist holds and double knee holds.

The Ins form a defensive chain by holding hands with Corners for better balance while initiating tackles through thigh holds, dashes, and ankle holds.

Speaking of Corners

they play an essential role because most raiders attempt to tag them first. They initiate tackles using key moves like thigh holds, dashes, and ankle holds.

Overall, understanding each player's role in Kabaddi can help you appreciate this exciting sport even more.

How to Play Kabaddi Conclusion

We briefly discussed how to play kabaddi, the rules, different team positions, and other aspects of the Kabaddi game. Hope, this blog provides you with a clear understanding of this thrilling and exciting sport.