Kabaddi is a popular team sport, which needs skill and power, and conflates the characteristics

of wrestling and rugby. It is originated in India 4000 years ago. It is widely played across the
Indian subcontinent. Originally it was intended to develop selfdefense. It is a simple and
inexpensive game and does need a massive playground nor expensive equipment.

It is also known as the Game of the Masses because of its simplicity and public appeal. As it
requires less expensive equipment, it is very popular in the developing nations. It is an outdoor
sport, which is played on clay court, but synthetic surface indoors are being used now-a-days.
Kabaddi is known by various names, i.e., Chedugudu or Hu-Tu-Tu in southern India, Hadudu
(for Men) and Chu - Kit-Kit (for women) in eastern India, and Kabaddi in northern India. It is far
more popular in the villages of Punjab, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar,
Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, and Gujarat.

Objective

The main objective of this game is to grab points by raiding into the opponent's court and
touching as many opponent players as possible without getting caught on a singlebreath. Each
player, chanting “Kabaddi! Kabaddi! Kabaddi” enters into the opponent court and try to touch the
defense players nearest to him, while the opponents make tactical coordinated efforts to catch
that player.
Team Size
Every team consists of 12 players, of which seven are on court, and five in reserve. The two
teams fight for higher scores, alternating defense and offense. Participants from various
countries form teams for major tournaments or championships conducted across the globe. Two
teams compete with each other for higher scores, by touching or capturing the players of the
opponent team.

The Court
The court measures 12.5 meter length and 10 meter wide. A mid line is drawn in the court,
splitting into two halves. The depth of the court is 1 foot in which sand is filled by removing mud.

Play Duration

The playing duration is different for different genre. For men’s there will be two sections of play,
each bearing a time line of 20 minutes. In women’s and children’s category of match the two
sections and each half is of15 minutes each. After the end of one session, the team is allowed
to take a 5 minutes break.

How to play Kabaddi- Basics and Rules

SKREAM
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Sep 14, 2017 · 4 min read

OVERVIEW

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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.

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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.

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 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

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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).

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 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).

Basic Volleyball Rules and Terminology

The Art of Coaching Volleyball

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Basic Volleyball Rules

 6 players on the floor at any one time - 3 in the front row and 3 in the back row
 Maximum of 3 hits per side
 Points are made on every serve for wining team of rally (rally-point scoring).
 Player may not hit the ball twice in succession. (A block is not considered a hit.)
 Ball may be played off the net during a volley and on a serve.
 A ball hitting a boundary line is in.
 A ball is out if it hits an antennae, the floor completely outside the court, any of the net or cables outside the antennae, the
referee stand or pole, the ceiling above a non-playable area.
 It is legal to contact the ball with any part of a player’s body.
 It is illegal to catch, hold or throw the ball.
 A player cannot block or attack a serve from on or inside the 10-foot line.
 After the serve, front-line players may switch positions at the net.
 Matches are made up of sets; the number depends on level of play. 3-set matches are 2 sets to 25 points and a third set
to 15. Each set must be won by two points. The winner is the first team to win 2 sets. 5-set matches are 4 sets to 25 points
and fifth set to 15. The team must win by 2 unless tournament rules dictate otherwise. The winner is the first team to win three
sets.

Basic Volleyball Rule Violations

Rule violations that result in a point for the opponent

 When serving, the player steps on or across the service line as while making contact with the ball.
 Failure to serve the ball over the net successfully.
 Ball-handling errors. Contacting the ball illegally (double touching, lifting, carrying, throwing, etc.)
 Touching the net with any part of the body while the ball is in play.
 When blocking a ball coming from the opponent’s court, it’s illegal to contact the ball when reaching over the net if both
your opponent has not used 3 contacts AND they have a player there to make a play on the ball.
 When attacking a ball coming from the opponent’s court, contacting the ball when reaching over the net is a violation if the
ball has not yet broken the vertical plane of the net.
 Crossing the court centerline with any part of your body is a violation. Exception: if it is the hand or foot. In this case, the
entire hand or entire foot must cross for it to be a violation.
 Serving out of rotation/order.
 Back-row player blocking (deflecting a ball coming from the opponent) when, at the moment of contact, the back-row
player is near the net and has part of his/her body above the top of the net. This is an illegal block.

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 Back-row player attacking a ball inside the front zone (the area inside the 3M/10-foot line) when, at the moment of contact,
the ball is completely above the net. This is an illegal attack.

Basic Volleyball Court USA

The court diagram shows the official volleyball indoor specifications. The official indoor court dimension is 9 meters by 18 meters
with an attack line 3 meters from the center line.

Basic Volleyball Terminology

A
Ace: A serve that results directly in a point, usually when the ball hits the floor untouched on the receiving team’s side of the court.
Assist: Helping a teammate set up for a kill.
Attack: The offensive action of hitting the ball.
Attacker: Also “hitter” and “spiker.” A player who attempts to hit a ball offensively with the purpose of terminating play.
Attack Block: The defensive team’s attempt to block a spiked ball.
Attack Error: An attack botched in one of 5 ways: ball lands out of bounds; ball goes into net; attacker commits center line or net
violation or attacker illegally contacts ball.
Attack Line: A line 3 meters/10 feet away from, and parallel to, the net. Separates the front-row players from the back-row players.
A back-row player cannot legally attack the ball above the net unless he takes off from behind this line.

B
Back row/court: Space from baseline (endline) to attack line. There are 3 players whose court positions are in this area (positions
1, 6 & 5 on court)
Back Row Attack: When a back-row player takes off from behind the attack line (10-foot/3-meter) line and attacks the ball. Various
terms A-B-C-D-PIPE-BIC.
Back set: Set delivered behind the setter.
Baseline: The back boundary of the court. Also called the end line
Block: One of the 6 basic skills. A defensive play by one or more front-row players meant to intercept a spiked ball. The
combination of one, 2 or 3 players jumping in front of the opposing spiker and contacting the spiked ball with the hands.
Blocking Error: Touching the net, crossing the centerline, blocking a set or serve or any other “local” violation that occurs while
making a block attempt.

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C
Center line: The boundary that runs under the net and divides the court into two equal halves.
Closing the block: The responsibility of the assisting blocker(s) to angle their body relative to the first blocker.
“Cover”: Refers to the hitter having his/her teammates ready to retrieve rebounds from the opposing blockers.
Cross-court attack: An attack directed diagonally from the point of attack. Also called an angle hit.
Cut shot: A spike from the hitter’s strong side that travels at a sharp angle across the net.

D
Deep: Refers to sending the ball away from the net, toward the baseline of the opponent’s court.
Defense: One of the 6 basic skills. The key skills used to receive the opponent's attack are digging and sprawling. The dig
resembles a forearm pass from a low ready position and is used more for balls that are hit near the defender. The sprawl is a result
of an attempted dig for a ball hit farther away from the defender. It resembles a dive.
Dig: Passing a spiked or rapidly hit ball and low to ground. Defensive play. Slang for retrieving an attacked ball close to the floor.
Statistically scored on a 3.0 point system.
Dink: A one-handed, soft hit into the opponent’s court using the fingertips. Also called a tip.
Double block: Two players working in unison to intercept a ball at the net.
Double hit: Violation. Two successive hits by the same player.
Down Ball: Type of attack. “Down” refers to the blockers who neither jump, nor raise their hands above the net.
Dump: Usually performed by the setter, who delivers the ball into the opponent’s court on the second contact.

F
Five-One (5-1): An offensive system that uses five hitters and one setter.
Floater: A serve with no spin so the ball follows an erratic path.
Follow: To move with and block an attacker. Athletes may change positions with another blocker in the process.
Forearm Pass: Sometimes referred to as the “pass,” “bump” or “dig”.
Four-Two (4-2): An offensive system using four hitters and two setters.
Free ball: Returning the ball to the opponent without the intent to get a kill. Usually a slow, arcing pass or “roll” shot rather than a
spike.
Front: Position of a blocker so that she/he can block the attacker.
Front-row: Three players whose court position is in front of the attack line (3M/10 Foot), near the net. These players are in positions
2, 3 & 4 on the court.

G
Game plan: Offensive and defensive emphasis for an opponent. Usually organized for each rotation by the coaching staff.

H
Held ball: A ball that comes to rest during contact resulting in a violation.
Hit: One of the 6 basic skills. To jump and strike the ball with an overhand, forceful shot.
Hitter: Also “spiker” or “attacker.” The player who is responsible for hitting the ball.
Hitting percentage: A statistic derived from total kills minus total attack errors, divided by total attempts.

J
Joust: When 2 opposing players contact the ball simultaneously above the net causing the ball to momentarily come to rest; the
point is replayed if this is called by the official.
Jump serve: The server uses an approach, toss, takeoff and serves the ball with a spiking motion while in the air. There are two
main types: jump float, jump spin.

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K
Key player/play : To discern a team’s best player or probable next play by observation of patterns or habits.
Kill: An attack that results directly in a point or sideout.

L
Libero: A player specialized in defensive skills. This player must wear a contrasting jersey color from his or her teammates and
cannot block or attack the ball when it is entirely above net height. When the ball is not in play, the libero can replace any back-row
player without prior notice to the officials.
Lines: The marks that serve as boundaries of a court. 2 inches (5cm) wide.
Linesman: Officials located at the corners of the court; each linesman is responsible for ruling if the ball is legally in play along the
lines for which he or she is responsible. For indicating touches and play outside of the antennae on their side of net.
Lineup: Players starting rotation and, therefore, serving order. Numbered 1,2,3,4,5,6.
Line serve: A straight-ahead serve landing near the opponent’s left sideline.
Line shot: A ball spiked along an opponent’s sideline, closest to the hitter and outside the block.
Load: Body position for the blockers so that they are most effective.

M
Middle back: A defensive system that uses the middle back player in 6 to cover deep spikes. Also called “6 back” defense.
Middle blocker: Usually plays in the middle of the net when in the front row and moves laterally to her blocking assignments.
Middle Up: A defensive system that uses the middle-back player in 6 to cover tips or short shots along the 3 meter/10 foot line. Also
called a “6 up” defense
Mintonette: The original name of the game of volleyball, created by William Morgan.

N
Net Height: Women – 7 feet, 4-1/8 inches high (2.24m),
Men – 7 feet, 11-5/8 inches high (2.43m).

O
Off-blocker: Outside blocker not included in the double block. Also called off-side blocker.
Off-Speed Shots: An attack that is intentionally slow. Ball spiked with less than maximum force but with spin. Also called “roll” shot.
Opposite: Player who plays opposite the setter in the rotation. In some systems, this player is also a setter. In other systems, this
player is called a right-side.
Outside hitter: Usually plays at the ends of the net when in the front row. Also called right-side (opposite) or left side (power).
Overhand pass: A pass with both hands open that is controlled by the fingers, with the face below the ball. Both hands
simultaneously contact the ball above the head and direct it to the intended target.
Overhand serve: Serving the ball and striking it with the hand above the shoulder. Float or spin.
Overlap: A violation called if a team is lined up out of rotation when the ball is served.
Overpass: A ball passed across the net.
Overset: An errant set that crosses the net without being touched by another offensive player.

P
Pass: One of the 6 basic skills. Receiving a serve or the first contact of the ball with the intent to control the ball to another player.
Also called a “bump”.
Pancake: One-hand floor defensive technique where the hand is extended and slid along the floor palm down while the player dives
or extension rolls so the ball bounces off the back of the hand and is considered legal.
Party ball: When the ball is passed across the net in front of attack line so the front-row attacker can immediately hit the ball on the
first contact.
Penetration: The blocker’s ability to reach over the net above the opponent’s court.
Perimeter: Backcourt defense where 4 players arrange themselves near the boundaries of the court.
Pipe: A back-row attack from the middle of the court. Position 6.
Play: An attack with a planned fake, usually including 2 or more hitter.

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Q
Quick set: An extremely low vertical set used to beat the opponent’s block. Can be set at any position on the net.

R
Rally scoring: Scoring method where points can be won by the serving or receiving team.
Ready position: The flexed, yet comfortable, posture a player assumes before moving to the point of contact.
Red card: Given by the official to a player or coach for flagrant misconduct resulting in a point/side out to the opponent. Results in
automatic ejection and a point/side out for the opponent.
Roof: To block a spike, usually straight down for a point.
Rotation: The clockwise movement of players around the court and through the serving position following a side out. Players must
retain their initial rotational order throughout the entire game, but once the ball is contacted on serve they are allowed to move
anywhere.

S
Seam: The mid-point between 2 players.
Serve: One of the 6 basic skills. Used to put the ball into play. It is the only skill controlled exclusively by one player.
Set: One of the 6 basic skills. The tactical skill in which a ball is directed to a point where a player can spike it into the opponent’s
court. Sets can be set at different heights and different locations on the net and offensively there are names for each of these. First
number is location on net and second number height of set. (Example: 13.) Sets can also be named.
Set attack: When a setter attempts to score rather than set the ball to a setter. Also called a shoot set. Setter: The second passer
whose job it is to position a pass to the hitter.
Shallow: Near the net.
Shank: Severely misdirected pass.
Side out: Change of service when a serving team has failed to score a point. Occurs when the receiving team successfully puts the
ball away against the
serving team, or when the serving team commits an unforced error.
Six-pack: Being hit in the face with the ball.
Six-two (6-2): An offense with four spikers and two spiker/setters. Setter comes from the back row.
Slide/step: A quick attack behind the setter.
Spike: Also called a hit or attack. A ball contacted with force by a player on the offensive team who intends to terminate the ball on
the opponent’s floor or off the opponent’s blocker.
Split block: A double-block that leaves a space between the blockers.
Stuff: A ball deflected back to the attacking team’s floor by the opponent’s blockers.
Substitution: Allows one player to replace another player already on the court. Rules dictate number of subs each team is allowed.
Switch: To change court positions after a ball is served to facilitate strongest player positions.

T
Tandem: A combination in which one player attacks immediately behind another.
Tape: The top of the net.
Telegraph: To show one’s intention to the opponents.
Three-meter line: The line extended across the court to signify the point which a back-row player must leave the ground behind to
attack the ball. Also call “attack line” and 10-foot line
Tip: A one-handed, soft hit into the opponent’s court using the fingertips. Also called a dink.
Tool: When an attacker hits the ball off an opposing blocker’s arms out of bounds. Also called a wipe.
Touch: A player contacting the ball on the defensive play.
Transition: To switch from offense to defense and vice versa.
Triple-block: Block formed by all 3 front-row players.

U
Underhand serve: A serve performed with an underhand striking action. The ball is usually contacted with the heel of the hand.

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W
W serve-receive formation: Three players in the front row, two in the back.
Wipe: To deliberately spike the ball off an opponent’s hands and out of bounds. Also called a tool.

Y
Yellow Card: Given by the official to a player or coach as a warning of misconduct. Two yellow cards result in an automatic red
card.

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