Rules of Kabaddi
Kabaddi is a game that finds its origins in India. The sport is
also popular in Nepal, Bangladesh, Canada, Sri Lanka, Japan, Britain and
Pakistan. The MIT club plays two versions of the sport, Gaminee Kabaddi
and Amar Kabddi.
Gaminee Kabaddi
In Gaminee Kabaddi, two teams compete with each other for higher scores, by
touching or capturing the players of the opponent team. Each team consists of
12 players, of which seven are on court at a time, and five in reserve. The
two teams fight for higher scores, alternating defense and offense. The playing
area is 12.50m x 10m, divided by a line into two halves. The game consists of
two 20 minute halves, with a break of five minutes for change of sides.
The side winning the toss sends a 'raider', who enters the opponents' court
chanting, 'kabaddi-kabaddi'. The raider's aim is to touch any or all players
on the opposing side, and return to his court in one breath. The person, whom
the raider touches, will then be out. The aim of the opposing team, will be to
hold the raider, and stop him from returning to his own court, until he takes
another breath. If the raider cannot return to his court in the same breath
while chanting 'kabaddi', he will be declared out. Each team alternates in
sending a player into the opponents' court. If a player goes out of the
boundary line during the course of the play, or if any part of his body
touches the ground outside the boundary, he will be out, except during a
struggle.
The team scores a lona (a bonus of two points), if the entire opposition is
declared out. The game then continues by putting all the players on both
sides. Matches are staged on the basis of age-groups, and weight. Seven
officials supervise a match - one referee, two umpires, two linesmen, a time
keeper and a scorer.
Amar Kabaddi
In the Amar form of Kabaddi, each team consists of 5-6 stoppers and 4-5
raiders. At one time, only 4 stoppers are allowed to play on the field. Every
time a stopper stops the raider from going back to his starting point, that
stoppers team gets 1 point. on the other hand, every time the raider tags
one of the stoppers and returns to his starting point, his team gets one point.
At one time, only one of the stoppers can try to stop the raider. If more
than one touch the raider, an automatic point is awarded to the raider's team.
If the stopper is pushed out by the raider or vice versa, then the team whose
member is still in the field gets a point. If both the raider and the stopper
go out, the result is a common point, where nobody gets a point.
Usually made of 2 20 minute halves, this form of kabaddi can also be
played in 10 or 15 minutes each, depending on the tournament organizers. It
is played in a circle, with a line dividing the field into two halves.
Click below for a PDF version of the rules and regulations of kabaddi
as presented at the 1998 Asian Games in Bangkok.
Rules and Regulations