Kabaddi Rules and Regulations | How to Play Kabaddi Game?

Kabaddi Rules and Regulations 

Kabaddi Rules and Regulations – Kabaddi is an ancient team sport in which two teams go toe to toe against each other on opposite halves of the field. Both the teams take turns to send a ‘raider’ into the opposite half to score points. The Raider’s performance and the reaction of the defenders of the opposing team to the raid decide which team wins a point.

 Objective of the Game

The overall objective of the game is to simply outscore the opposition team and scoring more points within the allotted time. To complete this objective, each team must attempt to score points in both the departments of attacking and defending. When on the attack, the offensive team sends across a raider into the opposition’s half which tries to touch as many members of the opposition as he can and get back to their own half safely to score a point/s. When defending, the defenders try to capture the Raider and prevent him from returning to his own half by the time their breath is up.

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Number of Players in Kabaddi

Kabaddi Rules and Regulations – In the game of Kabaddi, each team shall consist of a minimum 10 and maximum 12 Players. Out of those 12 players, only 7 Players shall take the ground at a time, and the remaining players will be substitutes.

Size of Field/Court

The standard size of the courts according to the Amateur Kabaddi Federation of India (AKFI) is:

Men and Junior Boys – 13 X 10 Meters

Women and Junior Girls – 12 X 8 Meters

Sub-Junior Boys and Girls – 11 X 8 Meters

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General Rules of Play

• In Kabaddi Rules and Regulations , the team winning the toss gets the choice of the court or the raid. The court shall be changed in the second half, and the team, which did not opt for raid shall send their Raider first. The game in the second half shall continue from the same point it was left at the end of the first half with the same number of players, as it was at the end of the first half.
• If any part of a player’s body touches the ground outside the boundary, then the player shall be out. However, during the struggle, if any part of his body touches the ground outside the boundary by keeping the contact of the play-field, the player shall not be out. The portion of contact must be inside the boundaries.
• The player shall be out if any part of his body goes out of the boundary during the course of play. The Umpire or Referee shall try to take out such players at once, and they shall declare such players out by calling out the numbers. No whistle shall be blown by the Referee as the raid may continue. If any player/players, who have gone out of bounds, hold a raider, the raider shall be declared NOT OUT. The player/players who have gone out of boundaries only will be declared out.
• When the struggle begins, the lobbying rule activates automatically; which means the play-field includes the lobbies. The players involved in the struggle can use the lobbies during the struggle and after the struggle in the same raid to enter their respective courts. This lobby rule will only be applicable in the anti’s court.
• A raider shall continue to chant “KABADDI” in the opponent’s court as the approved chant during the raid. If he does not use it, then he shall be ordered back, and the opponent will be awarded one technical point and the chance to raid.
• A raider must start the “KABADDI” chant before he enters/touches the opponent’s court. If he starts the chant late, he shall be ordered back by the Umpire or Referee. The opponent team will be awarded one technical point and the chance to raid.
• If a raider goes out of turn, the Umpire or Referee shall order him to go back to his court. One technical point will be awarded to the opponent team for the Raider’s mistake.
• Not more than one raider shall raid or enter the opponent’s court at a time. If more than one raider enters the opposition’s court at a time, the Umpire or Referee shall order all to go back to their court. One technical point and the chance to raid will be awarded to the opponent.
• After a raider has reached back to his court or is put out in the opponent’s court, the opponents shall send their Raider within the five seconds of the last raid. Thus, each side shall send their raiders alternatively until the end of the game. If the Raider fails to start his raid within five seconds, then the team loses its chance to raid. The opponent team will get the chance to raid and awarded a technical point.
• If a raider, who is caught by the anti or antis, escapes from their attempt to hold and reaches his court safely he shall not be pursued, but if a raider touches the anti or antis and reaches back to his court safely, then he may be pursued.  If a raider loses his chant in the opponent’s court, then he shall be out.
• When a raider is held, the antis shall not try to stifle his chant deliberately. Using unfair means such as shutting his mouth, using violent means to tackle the player, leading to injuries, or any type of scissoring is against the law of the game. If any such incident occurs, then the Umpire or Referee shall declare the Raider NOT OUT.
• No anti shall push the Raider out of the boundary willingly by any part of his (Anti’s) body, nor shall any raider willingly push or pull an anti or antis out of the boundary. If the Raider is pushed outside the boundary or the anti is pushed or pulled outside the boundary, the Umpire or Referee shall declare the Raider or the anti, as the case may be, as NOT OUT. The Raider or the anti who pushes or pulls the opponents outside the boundary shall be declared out.
• None of the antis shall touch the Raider’s court during the course of the raid or before completion of the raid. In case of any anti/antis touch the Raider’s court before completion of the raid, they will be declared out. The opponent team will be given as many points as antis who have touched the court.
• If an anti or antis who are out by touching the Raider’s court during or before completion of the raid, holds a raider or have violated the said rule while holding or helping to hold the Raider then the Raider shall be declared NOT OUT. In such case, the anti or antis who touch the Raider’s court shall be declared OUT.
• A team scores LONA when it manages to put out the entire opponent team, and none of the opponents is entitled to be revived. Two extra points for LONA shall be awarded in addition to the points scored by the team, and the play shall continue. All the players who are out shall enter in their court within 10 Seconds; otherwise, the Referee or umpire shall award one technical point to the opponent. If the team fails to enter within one minute, the team shall be scratched from the match, and the match shall be awarded to the opponent.
• If a raider is warned or instructed in any way by one of his own sides, the Umpire or Referee shall award one technical point to the opponent team.
• A raider or an anti is not to be deliberately held by any part of his body other than his limb or trunk. The one who violates this rule shall be declared OUT, and one point will be awarded to the opponent team. If the Raider is held deliberately other than his limb or trunk, then the Umpire or Referee shall declare the Raider NOT OUT.
• Kabaddi Rules and Regulations

Note: If a raider is caught by his hair or clothes, then the Raider shall be declared NOT OUT, and the anti or antis who have violated this rule shall be declared OUT.

• When one or two players of a team are left during the game, then the Captain of the team can declare them out in order to bring in the full team. In such a case, the opponent shall score as many points as the number of players that existed in the court at the time of declaration as well as Two Extra Points for LONA.
• A Player or players who are out shall be revived in the same order in which they got out. The revival shall happen when one or more opponents are out.

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Age Criteria

According to Kabaddi Rules and Regulations and AKFI, the age bracket for Senior Men & Women is open, which means the player of any age is eligible to play in the senior category. However, for the Junior Boys & Girls, the maximum age limit is 20 Years or below on the Last date of the event. For Sub Junior Boys & Girls, the maximum age must be 16 Years or below on the Last date of the event.

Kabaddi Rules and Regulations

Weight Criteria

The weight criteria according to AKFI, is as follows:

•    The weight of men in the senior category should not be greater than 85 Kg.
•    The weight of women in the senior category should not be greater than 75 Kg.
•    The weight in the junior boys’ category should not be greater than 70 Kg.
•    The weight in the junior girls’ category should not be greater than 65 Kg.
•    The weight in the sub-junior boys & girls’ category should not be greater than 55 Kg.

Fouls and Penalty in Kabaddi

Kabaddi Rules and Regulations – The Referee and the umpires shall have the power to maintain the discipline in the match. They can warn the teams, declare technical point against, and have the power to temporarily suspend or to disqualify any player/team from the match who is committing any of the following violations or Foul:

• Persistently protesting or objecting the official’s decision, thereby disrupting the match.
• Making derogatory remarks about the officials and their actions, thereby trying to influence their decision.
• Showing overt aggression towards the Referee or umpire demanding a favourable decision.
• Choking a raider by shutting his mouth or throat in any way.
• Violent means of tackling a player leading to injuries being sustained by the opponent raider.
• Taking more than five seconds to start the raid unless there is some technical issue specified in the rule.
• Holding the Raider with the help of scissors operated by legs.
• Coaching from the outside of the court by the coaches and the players.
• Preventing or stopping the Raider from taking his turn of the raid.

The Referee and the umpire can use the cards of different colours to warn a player/coach/manager/team. They have power to temporarily suspend, suspend from the match or debar from the tournament, a player coach/manager/ team:

• Green Card: It is shown for an initial warning for any violation of rules.
• Yellow Card: If the yellow card is shown to any player then the player shall be suspended for 2 minutes from the game and one technical point shall be awarded to the opposition
• Red Card: If the red card is shown to any player, then he shall be suspended for the rest of the match, and one technical point shall also be awarded to the opponent team. In this case, No substitute player is allowed to replace the red-carded player and the team that loses the player shall continue the match with the remaining number of players.

Kabaddi Rules and Regulations

Scoring Rules

The Method of Scoring

• One point shall be awarded for each Raider caught without the breach of Rules of Play by the anti/s.
• One point shall be awarded for each anti put out by the Raider without the breach of the Rules of Play.
• One point shall be awarded for each Technical breach.
• One point each shall be awarded for the crossing of bonus line.
• Two points shall be awarded for each LONA in addition to the normal points.   

Bonus Line Crossing

• When a Raider comes in contact with the ground beyond the bonus line while having one foot in the air, it is known as crossing the bonus line.
• The bonus point shall only be awarded if the bonus line is crossed before touching any player or struggle.
• Even if the Raider manages to cross the bonus line more than one time in a raid, only one point shall be awarded.
• If the Raider manages to reach back to his court safely, then additional points shall be awarded for every anti/s touched by him.
• Even if the Raider is subsequently caught by the anti/s the Bonus point shall be awarded if he has crossed the bonus line.
• There shall be no revival of the players for bonus points.
• The bonus point is only awarded if there are a minimum of six players in the oppositions’ court.  If Anti/s is serving the suspension, debarred or are out of the match through injuries, they shall be considered as part of the antis on the court.

Kabaddi Rules and Regulations

LONA Points

• A LONA is scored when a team manages to get all the players of the opposing team out with, and no player from the opposing team is entitled to revival.
• The two LONA points shall be awarded in addition to the player/s put out.
• The match continues after enforcing a LONA with all the out players from the side entering their court once again.  
• If the players fail to enter their court within 10 seconds after the LONA, then the Referee shall award a Technical point to the opposing team.
• If the team still failed to re-enter the court, then the team will get a warning from the Referee.
• The match shall be awarded to the opponents if the team fails to re-enter the court within the one minute of the warning.
• The team Captain or Coach can declare the team out if there are only one or two players remaining in court during a match in order to bring in the full set of seven players. The opposing team will get one point for each player declared out by the Captain or coach in addition to the LONA scored.
• If any team gives a walkover to the opponents or concedes the match before starting or is debarred from a match, then the team shall be scratched from the tournament. In such a case, all the results of matches involving the said team shall be considered null and void.
• The team which out-scores the opposing team at the end of the game shall be declared the winner.
• If the points scored by both sides are equal at full-time in a League match, then the tie is considered drawn.

Kabaddi Rules and Regulations

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Winning and Losing Parameters in Kabaddi

The team with the highest number of points at the end of the match shall be declared the winner.

Tie in knock out Matches

If there is a tie in the knock-out matches then the match will be decided on the following basis:

• Both the teams should field seven players in the court, and the game shall be played on the baulk line. In such case, the baulk line shall be treated as baulk line cum bonus line, and the Raider will get one point if he succeeds in crossing the baulk line cum bonus line as all the bonus point rules shall be followed.
• If after crossing the baulk line cum bonus line, the Raider touches out one or more antis then he shall be rewarded with the number of points scored in addition to the one bonus point scored by crossing the baulk line cum bonus line.
• Only points scored will be counted, and the out or revival rule shall not be applicable.
• Both the teams should give the names of the five different Raiders to the Referee. The teams should also give the chest numbers as per their order of raid to the Referee. There is no substitution of the players allowed from the fielded seven Players.
• Five different raiders shall raid five times alternately from each team.
• If any raider from the given list of five raiders gets injured before his chance of raid, then one of the remaining two players out of the seven in the field can do the raid.
• The team which raids first at the beginning of the match shall be allowed to raid first.
• If there is a tie even after the five raids, then the game will be decided as per the Golden Raid Rule.
• If any player/players are suspended temporarily or get disqualified during the Tiebreaker, then the team will play with less number of players.

Golden Raid

• If there is a tie even after 5 raids from both the teams, then a fresh toss will take place, and the team which wins the toss shall have the chance to raid i.e. GOLDEN RAID.
• If the score remains tied even after the Golden Raid, then a chance shall be given to the opponent team for the Golden Raid.
• The team which scores the first point in the Golden Raid shall be declared the winner.   

League System

• In the League System, the winning team will score two league points, and the losing team will score zero points. If there is a tie then both the sides will score one league point each.

Tie in League Points

• In case of a tie in the league, points scored in the league system, the Winner and runner of the pool shall be decided on the basis of “for and against points” scored.
• To decide the tie, the difference calculated “for and against’ points of the concerned teams only against the teams, which scored 25% or more of the league points. Also, if a team has scored less than 25% of the league points, then it shall not be considered for the “for and against points” formula.
• The team with a greater score difference of “for and against’ will be declared as the pool winner.
• If there is a tie even after considering “for and against points,” then the total points “scored for” only will be counted.
• If there is a tie even after considering only ‘scored for points,” then the result of the match played between the teams shall be considered.
• If there is a tie even after this, then the highest number of points scored without applying 25% rule shall be considered.
• Even after this, if there is a tie, then the Winner of the pool shall be decided through toss.
• The Referee is entitled to give a walkover to the opponent team due to late reporting, non-reporting or due to any other technical issues of the defaulting team. Such a team will be disqualified from the competition, and the score of such teams shall not be considered to decide the tie. The same rule shall also be applicable to teams that conceded the match.
• If a match could not be completed in the same session owing to the failure of light, heavy rains, or any other unforeseen circumstances, then such a match shall be replayed in the next session. In case of replay, the teams can change their players, and they need not be the same for fielding a team.
• The match shall be continued with the same score and remaining time in the same session in any case of temporary suspension of the match, and change of court/ground/play-field. The players shall not leave their respective courts without the permission of the Referee during the temporary suspension. If a team violates this rule, then a technical point will be awarded to the opponent team.

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Safety In Kabaddi

• The ground shall be level with soft/Mat surface, and it is necessary to have a four-meter clear space outside the boundaries of the court.
• No ornaments of any sort shall be allowed during the match and nails of the players must be closely clipped.
• Any application of oils or any other slippery substances to the body is prohibited and shall not be allowed.
• If the match is played on the mat surface, then wearing shoes is compulsory for the players.
• A First-Aid box and a stretcher should be kept in close vicinity to the court.
• Players should appropriately warm-up before entering the court.
• There should be proper cool down and stretching after finishing the session.
• All players must have wear T-shirt with distinctive numbers on their back. These numbers must be of at least 4 Inches thickness in front, and 6 inches thickness at the back and every team should compulsorily follow the dress code.

Kabaddi Rules and Regulations

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