Kabaddi, a captivating team sport deeply rooted in India and South Asia’s ancient heritage, offers an accessible and thrilling experience. This guide will take you through the essentials of Kabaddi, from setting up the court to understanding advanced scoring rules.

Part 1: Setting Up

1. Choosing the Right Arena
   • The official men’s Kabaddi court measures 13 meters in width and 10 meters in length. For casual play with friends, you can adjust the size, but ensure it’s flat and rectangular.
   • Women’s Kabaddi courts are slightly smaller, at 12 meters in width and 8 meters in length.
2. Court Markings
   • Mark the court with the following lines:
     • Boundary lines: Define the court’s edges.
     • Play area lines: Create a 13-meter by 8-meter rectangular area within the court.
     • Midline: Divides the court into two halves.
     • Baulk lines: Run parallel to the midline, 3.75 meters away on each side.
     • Bonus lines: Parallel to the baulk lines, 1 meter from them on the side opposite the midline.
3. Team Formation
   • Assemble two teams, each comprising seven players. Traditionally, four players take the field, while three remain as reserves. Some variations allow all seven players to participate simultaneously.

Part 2: Understanding the Basics

1. Determining the Starting Team
   • Use a coin toss or any random method to decide which team goes first.
2. The Art of Raiding
   • If your team starts, send a “raider” across the midline. The raider’s mission is to tag opponents and return within 30 seconds, continuously chanting “Kabaddi.”
   • If the raider stops chanting or breathes on the opponent’s side, they return without scoring, and the defending team earns a point.
3. The Art of Defending
   • If your team doesn’t begin, you become an “anti-raider” or “stopper.” Your objective is to prevent the raider from tagging you and crossing the midline.
4. Alternating Roles
   • Teams take turns raiding and defending for two halves of twenty minutes each, separated by a five-minute halftime.
   • After halftime, teams switch sides, and the team with the most points emerges as the victor.
5. Handling Player Outs
   • Players may be temporarily sent “out” of the game for various reasons, and they cannot be substituted by reserves.
   • Out scenarios include getting tagged, captured, rule violations, or consecutive unproductive raids.
6. Reviving Teammates
   • You can revive an out player when your team successfully eliminates an opponent. Revivals must occur in the order players were sent out.

Part 3: Employing Advanced Scoring Rules

1. Scoring a “Lona”
   • Achieve a “Lona” when you manage to get the entire opponent team out, with none of their players eligible for revival. This accomplishment earns your team two extra points.
2. Securing a “Super Tackle”
   • Score an additional “super tackle” point when your team defends with fewer than three players and prevents the raider from returning.
3. Earning Points for Rule Violations
   • Many rule violations result in points awarded to the opposing team, such as raider violations, stepping out of bounds, or unauthorized assistance from teammates.

Conclusion

With a solid understanding of Kabaddi’s fundamentals, you’re now prepared to step onto the court and immerse yourself in this exhilarating sport. Whether you’re engaging in friendly matches or pursuing professional play, Kabaddi promises endless excitement and challenges. Keep honing your skills, adhere to the rules, and, most importantly, relish the experience!