Kabaddi is a contact sport that originated in the Indian subcontinent. It is traditionally played among the youth of South Asia. The sport requires immense physical fitness and agility. It is often referred to as ‘E Sport’ due to its high levels of competition and player aggression. It has seen an exponential increase in popularity over the past few years, with the game spreading across the world like wildfire.

Kabaddi was included in the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo, Japan, for the first time in its history. If you’re interested in getting into kabaddi, this guide will walk you through all the basics of the sport. Read on to find out what equipment you need and how many players are required for kabaddi, as well as rules and skills required to get started with kabaddi.

What is Kabaddi?

Kabaddi is a contact sport which originated in Ancient India. It is popular in countries such as Pakistan, India, and Bangladesh. The game involves two teams competing against each other and is governed by the International Kabaddi Federation and at a domestic level by the Amateur Kabaddi Federation of India (AKFI). The objective of the game is to capture the opponent’s ‘Raksha’ before they can capture yours.

The game is played on a rectangular court divided into two halves by a dividing line known as the ‘line of kabaddi’ (also known as the half-court line or inner line of kabaddi). A team scores points by planting the ‘Raksha’ on their opponents’ ‘Punj’ (a ring-shaped object worn on the player’s head) or ‘Haagh’ (a circular object worn over the player’s body) with one hand while they are holding it with another hand on the ground. It takes seven points to score a point.

The game features several techniques, including ‘clapping’ and ‘haste’, which are used to distract an opponent or score points. There are also rules for tackles, which are used when one player attempts to steal the ‘Raksha’ of another player. A player can score points with either hand, but cannot touch their opponent’s body or leg during a tackle attempt (known as a dead leg tackle). If a player commits a foul during gameplay, they are given a penalty point.

What Equipment Do I Need to Play Kabaddi?

A kabaddi court or field with a midline and two halves is the basic requirement to play the game. Besides, it’s recommended to wear T-shirt or jersey and shorts that allow you freedom of movement.

Players do not need any special equipment to play kabaddi. Apart from that, the game requires four raider players, two player-kickers, and a referee. There are also several other important items like a score keeper, a ball setter, the kabaddi ring, and the kabaddi circle among others.

Professional men’s Kabaddi is played on a rectangular playing field that is 43 feet (13 meters) wide and 33 feet (10 meters) long. On the other hand, professional women’s Kabaddi is played on a rectangular playing field that is 39 feet (12 meters) wide and 26 feet (8 meters) long.

Overall, kabaddi is an exciting team sport which can be enjoyed by both boys and girls of all ages.

How Many Players Are Required to Play Kabaddi?

– Kabaddi is played between two teams of seven players each.

– Each team must have a total of 12 players for a match.

– The game begins with the toss of the coin and this determines who will score first.

– After the coin toss, both teams line up in their half of the field.

– The first player to score points is declared the ‘raider’ and calls out an objective.

– The other team members wait behind the raider until they are ready to score points.

– Points are scored by shooting the kabaddi ball through the opponent’s circle or over the line. A player can score 3 points for a successful raid and 2 points for a tackle.

– If a player from either team holds the kabaddi ball for more than 6 seconds, he/she becomes ‘marked’ and cannot touch the kabaddi ball again. Players can call a ‘mark’ if they think that an opposing player is holding the kabaddi too long or has failed to score points in that turn.

The first team to score 6 points is declared winner of the match.

What Are the Rules of Kabaddi?

Kabaddi is a popular sport that originated in India and is played in many countries around the world. It’s a fast-paced, physical game that requires strength, speed, and agility. Here are the rules of Kabaddi:

Teams: Kabaddi is played between two teams of seven players each.

Court: The Kabaddi court is typically a rectangle measuring 13m x 10m.

Raids: The objective of the game is for a player (known as the raider) from one team to enter the opponent’s half of the court and touch as many of the opposition players as possible before returning to their own half of the court.

Tagging: When a raider touches an opposition player, the opposition player is declared “out” and must leave the court.

Breathing Time: A raider must hold their breath and chant “Kabaddi” while they are in the opposition half of the court.

Timeouts: Each team is allowed two timeouts per half, each lasting one minute.

Scoring: A team scores a point for each player tagged by the raider, and the team with the most points at the end of the match wins.

Revivals: Teams can revive one player per half by scoring a point.

Bonus Points: Teams can earn bonus points for tackling the raider before they return to their own half of the court.

Fouls: A player can be declared “out” for committing a foul, such as crossing the mid-line or crossing the bonus line.

Match Duration: A Kabaddi match typically lasts 40 minutes, split into two halves of 20 minutes each.

These are the basic rules of Kabaddi. The game is highly dynamic and requires quick thinking, good teamwork, and strong physical ability. Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced player, Kabaddi is a fun and exciting sport to play.

What Skills Do I Need to Play Kabaddi?

Agility and quick reflexes: Kabaddi requires players to be quick on their feet, able to dodge and jump to avoid getting tackled by opponents.

Endurance and strength: Kabaddi is a physically demanding sport, and players need to be able to sustain their energy and strength throughout the game.

Breathing control: Kabaddi players need to be able to control their breathing while they are “raiding” or taking turns to cross over to the opponent’s side and tag as many players as they can.

Speed and explosiveness: Players need to be quick and explosive in order to move around the court and make quick raids on the opposition’s side.

Tactical awareness: Kabaddi requires players to have good spatial awareness and the ability to anticipate their opponents’ moves.

Good hand-eye coordination: Players need to be able to catch and hold on to opponents while tagging them.

Teamwork: Kabaddi is a team sport, and players need to work together to coordinate their efforts and outmaneuver the opposition.

Overall, Kabaddi requires a combination of physical skills, tactical awareness, and mental toughness. By practicing and honing these skills, you can improve your game and become a successful Kabaddi play

Let’s Sum Up

There you have it, a beginner’s guide to kabaddi. The game is simple, but the skills required to play it are tough. However, if you practice regularly and put your mind to it, you’ll be able to understand the game more thoroughly and score points for your team. We hope these tips helped you get started with kabaddi. Have more points to add? Tell us in the comments below!