Rules and Regulations of Kabaddi – How to Play Kabaddi?

Rules and Regulations of Kabaddi: Kabaddi is a popular sport in India and other parts of Asia. It is a team game that involves physical contact, skill, strategy, and teamwork. But do you know the rules and regulations of kabaddi? How do you play kabaddi? What are the different types of kabaddi? How do you score points in kabaddi? If you are curious about these questions, then this article is for you.

What is Kabaddi?

Kabaddi is a sport that originated in ancient India. It is played by two teams of seven players each on a rectangular court divided by a midline. The objective of the game is to raid the opponent’s half of the court and touch as many players as possible without getting caught. The raiders have to chant “kabaddi, kabaddi” continuously while raiding, otherwise they will be declared out. The defenders have to stop the raiders from crossing the midline and try to capture them by holding them down.

History of Kabaddi

The exact origin of kabaddi is not known, but some historians believe that it was invented by the Abhira tribe of ancient India around 4000 years ago. The word “kabaddi” comes from a Tamil word meaning “holding hands”. Kabaddi was also mentioned in the Mahabharata, an epic poem from ancient India. Kabaddi was popular among the soldiers and peasants as a way of recreation and physical training.

Kabaddi became an international sport in 1936, when it was demonstrated at the Berlin Olympics. The first Asian Kabaddi Championship was held in 1980, and the first World Kabaddi Cup was held in 2004. Kabaddi is now recognized by the International Olympic Committee and the Asian Games Federation.

Terminology for Kabaddi

• Raider: A player who enters the opponent’s half of the court to touch or capture the defenders.
• Defender: A player who stays in his own half of the court to stop or capture the raiders.
• Cant: The continuous chanting of “kabaddi, kabaddi” by the raider while raiding.
• Out: A player who is touched or captured by the opponent or who crosses the boundary line or commits a foul.
• Revive: A player who returns to the court after being out when his team scores a point.
• Bonus Point: A point awarded to the raider when he crosses the baulk line and returns safely to his own half.
• Super Raid: A raid in which the raider touches or captures three or more defenders.
• Super Tackle: A tackle in which two or fewer defenders capture a raider.
• All-Out: A situation in which all the players of a team are out at the same time.
• Do-or-Die Raid: A raid in which the raider has to score a point or he will be declared out.

Top 10 Kabaddi Teams in World

How to Play Kabaddi?

The rules and regulations of kabaddi vary depending on the type and level of the game, but here are some general guidelines for playing kabaddi:

• Before the start of the game, a toss is conducted to decide which team will raid first.
• The raider from the attacking team enters the opponent’s half of the court and tries to touch or capture as many defenders as possible without getting caught. He has to chant “kabaddi, kabaddi” continuously while raiding, otherwise he will be declared out. He also has to cross the baulk line and return to his own half within 30 seconds, otherwise, he will be declared out.
• The defenders from the defending team try to stop the raider from crossing the midline and capture him by holding him down. They have to stay within their own half of the court and not cross the boundary line, otherwise they will be declared out.
• If the raider touches or captures one or more defenders and returns to his own half safely, he scores one point for each defender touched or captured. The touched or captured defenders are declared out and have to leave the court. They can only return when their team scores a point or revives them.
• If the defenders capture the raider and prevent him from crossing the midline, they score one point and the raider is declared out. The raider has to leave the court and can only return when his team scores a point or revives him.
• If the raider crosses the baulk line and returns to his own half safely without touching any defender, he scores a bonus point. However, he can only claim a bonus point if there are at least six defenders on the court.
• If the raider touches or captures three or more defenders in a single raid, he scores a super raid and gets an extra point. Similarly, if two or fewer defenders capture a raider, they score a super tackle and get an extra point.
• If all the players of a team are out at the same time, the other team scores an all-out and gets two extra points. The game resumes with all the players back on the court.

Benefits of Playing Kabaddi

Kabaddi is not only a fun and exciting sport, but also a great way to improve your physical and mental health. Here are some benefits of playing kabaddi:

• It improves your cardiovascular fitness, strength, endurance, agility, coordination, and reflexes.
• It enhances your teamwork, communication, leadership, decision-making, and problem-solving skills.
• It boosts your confidence, self-esteem, discipline, and sportsmanship.
• It reduces your stress, anxiety, depression, and boredom.
• It fosters your social interaction, friendship, and cultural awareness.

Conclusion