Rules of Kabaddi are to simply score more points than the opposition team within the allotted time. To do this, each team must attempt to score points by both attacking and defending. Kabaddi is played across India and is the official game in the states of Punjab, Tamil Nadu, Bihar, Telangana and Maharashtra. The Kabaddi playing surface measures 13m X 10m and is separated into two halves by a white line, one team occupying each half of the court.
Rules of Kabaddi
Following are the rules of Kabaddi:
Each team shall consist of 12 players with only 7 taking to the field at any one time.
The duration of the match is two halves of 20 minutes with a half time break of 5 minutes.
At the start of a Kabaddi match, there is a coin toss with the winner having the choice as to whether to have the first raid or not. In the second half of the match, the team that did not raid first shall begin the second half with a raid.
To win a point when raiding, the raider must take a breath and run into the opposition"s half and tag one or more members of the opposing team and then return to their own half of the pitch before inhaling again.
To prove that another breath hasn"t been taken, the rider must continue to repeatedly yell the word "Kabaddi". Failure to do this, even for just a moment means that the rider must return to their own side of the court without points and the opposite team is awarded a point for a successful defence play.
The team being raided is defending, and the players must prevent the raiders from tagging them. While in defence, a team may score a point by successfully preventing the raider returning to their own half after tagging them.
Raiders may only be grabbed by their limbs or torso, not by their hair, clothes or anywhere else, and defenders are not permitted to cross the centre line.
The game continues in this way until the time is up, the team with the most points at the end of the match is declared the winner.
Officials involved in Kabaddi
The officials involved in Kabaddi consist of a referee, two umpires, a scorer and two assistant scorers.
1. Referee: The referee has the power to warn, declare point against or disqualify a player from the match. He may also overrule the decision of the umpire.
2. Umpire: Generally the decision of the umpire shall be final.
3. Scorer: The scorer is to fill in the score sheet, keep and note the timings, time-outs.
4. Assistant Scorers: They keep record of those who are out. They also keep record of those who are revived
Scoring in Kabaddi
Scoring in Kabaddi is also a part of the Rules of Kabaddi. Teams score one point for each opponent that they put out of the game. Putting an opponent out and thus scoring a point is done in different ways. When attacking, this is done by the raider touching opposition members, putting them out. When defending, it is done by preventing the raider returning to their own half. At the end of the match according to the rules of Kabaddi, the team with the most points is declared the winner.
