History

Earliest historical evidence shows that the game was played in the 15th century's Malacca Sultanate, for it is
mentioned in the famous Malay historical text, "The Sejarah Melayu" (Malay Annals). The Malay Annals described in
details the incident of Raja Muhammad, a son of Sultan Mansur Shah who was accidentally hit with a rattan ball by
Tun Besar , a son of Tun Perak, in a sepak raga game. The ball hit Raja Muhammad's headgear and knocked it
down to the ground. In anger, Raja Muhammad immediately stabbed and killed Tun Besar, whereupon some of Tun
Besar's kinsmen retaliated and wanted to kill Raja Muhammad. However, Tun Perak managed to restrain them from
such an act of treason by saying that he would no longer accept Raja Muhammad as the Sultan's heir. As a result of
this incident, Sultan Mansur Shah ordered his son out of Malacca and had him installed as the ruler of Pahang..
In Bangkok, murals at Wat Phra Kaeo which was built in 1785, depict the Hindu god Hanuman playing sepak takraw
in a ring with a troop of monkeys. Other historical accounts mention the game earlier during the reign of
King Naresuan (1590–1605) of Ayutthaya. The game remained in its circle form for hundreds of years, and the
modern version of sepak takraw began taking shape in Thailand sometime during early 1740s. In 1866 the Siam
Sports Association drafted the first rules for takraw competition. Four years later, the association introduced the
volleyball-style net and held the first public contest. Within just a few years, takraw was introduced to the curriculum
in Siamese schools. The game became such a cherished local custom that another exhibition of volleyball-style
takraw was staged to celebrate the kingdom’s first constitution in 1933, the year after Thailand abolished absolute
monarchy.
Some sources in Indonesia say that "Sepak Takraw" in Indonesia is probably developed from the buginese traditional
game which is called "Raga" (the players are called "Pa'Raga"). The "Raga" was originated from Malacca Sultanate,
and was popular in South Sulawesi since 19th century. Some men playing "Raga" within a group, the ball is passed
from one to another and the man who kicked the ball highest is the winner.
In the Philippines the sport was called "sipa" and along with traditional martial arts survived the three century Spanish
colonization. In Myanmar, or Burma, it was dubbed "Chinlone", in Laos "Kator", "cầu mây" in Vietnam and in
Indonesia "Raga" or "Sepak Takraw"
By the 1940s, the net version of the game had spread throughout Southeast Asia, and formal rules were introduced.
This sport became officially known as 'sepak takraw'. "Sepak" is the Malay word for kick and "takraw" is the Thai word
for a woven ball, therefore sepak takraw quite literally means to kick ball. The choosing of this name for the sport was
essentially a compromise between Malaysia and Thailand, the two powerhouse countries of the sport.
Rules and regulations

Measurements of court and equipment often vary among tournaments and organizations that operate from a
recreational to a competitive level; international competitive rules and regulation are used in this section.There two
types of event categories: the regu and the doubles regu. The regu category is played by 3 players on each team
while the doubles regu is played by two players on each team.
Expressions
Sepak is the Malay word for "kick". Takraw is the Thai word for the hand-woven ball originally used in the game. So
the game is essentially "kick ball". Regu is Malay for "team" (four people, three starters, and one substitute player).
Court

The sepak takraw sport is played on a similar to badminton double sized court.
Area of 13.4 m x 6.1 m free from all obstacles up to the height of 8 m measured from the floor surface (sand and
grass court not advisable). The width of the lines bounding the court should not be more than 0.04 m measured and
drawn inwards from the edge of the court measurements. All the boundary lines should be drawn at least 3.0 m away
from all obstacles. The center line of 0.02 m should be drawn equally dividing the right and left court.
At the corner of each at the center line, the quarter circle shall be drawn from the sideline to the center line with a
radius of 0.9 m measured and drawn outwards from the edge of the 0.9 m radius.
The service circle of 0.3 m radius shall be drawn on the left and on the right court, the center of which is 2.45 m from
the back line of the court and 3.05 m from the sidelines, the 0.04 m line shall be measured and drawn outward from
the edge of the 0.3 m radius.
Net
The net shall be made of fine ordinary cord or nylon with 6 cm to 8 cm mesh. Similar to a volleyball net
The net shall be 0.7 m in width and not shorter than 6.10 m in length and taped at 0.05 m from tape double at the top
and sideline, called boundary tape.
The net shall be edged with 0.05 m tape double at the top and the bottom of the net supported by a fine ordinary cord
or nylon cord that runs through the tape and strain over and flush with the top of the posts. The top of the net shall be
1.52 m (1.42 m for women) in height from the center and 1.55 m (1.45 m for women's) at the posts.
Ball
A sepak takraw ball made out of rattan.

The sepak takraw ball shall be spherical in shape, made of synthetic fiber or one woven layer.
Sepak takraw balls without synthetic rubber covering must have 12 holes and 20 intersections, must have a
circumference measuring not less from 0.42 meters (1 ft4 1⁄2 in) to 0.44 m (1 ft 5 1⁄4 in) for men and from 0.43 m (1 ft
5 in) to 0.45 m (1 ft 5 3⁄4 in) for women, and must have a weight that ranges from 170 grams (6 oz) to 180 grams
(6.3 oz) for men and from 150 grams (5.3 oz) to 160 grams (5.6 oz) for women.
The ball can be in plain single colour, multi-colour, and luminous colours, but not in any colour that will impair the
performance of the players.
The sepak takraw ball can also be constructed of synthetic rubber or soft durable material for covering the ball, for the
purpose of softening the impact of the ball on the player’s body. The type of material and method used for
constructing the ball or for covering the ball with rubber or soft durable covering must be approved by ISTAF before it
can be used for any competition.
All world, international, and regional competitions sanctioned by International Sepak Takraw Federation, including but
not limited to, the Olympic Games, World Games,Commonwealth Games, Asian Games and SEA Games, must be
played with ISTAF approved sepak takraw balls.
Players
A match is played by two regus (teams), each consisting of three players.
One of the three players shall be at the back; he is called a “Tekong”. The other two players shall be in front, one on
the left and the other on the right. The player on the left is called a “Left Inside” and the player on the right is called a
“Right Inside”.
Start of play and service
The side that must serve first shall start the first set. The side that wins the first set shall have the options of
“Choosing Service”.
The throw must be executed as soon as the referee calls the score. If either of the "Inside" players throws the ball
before the referee calls the score, it must be re-thrown and a warning will be given to the thrower.
During the service, as soon as the Tekong kicks the ball, all the players are allowed to move about freely in their
respective courts.
The service is valid if the ball passes over the net, whether it touches the net or not, and inside the boundary of the
two net tapes and boundary lines of the opponent’s court.
Faults
Serving side during service

 The "Inside" player who is making service throws, plays about with the ball (throwing up the ball, bumping,
giving to other "Inside" player, etc.) after the call of score has been made by the referee.
 The "Inside" player lifts his feet or steps on the line or crosses over or touches the net while throwing the
ball.
 The Tekong jumps off the ground to execute the service.
 The Tekong does not kick the ball on the service throw.
 The ball touches his own player before crossing over the opponent court.
 The ball goes over the net but falls outside the court.
 The ball does not cross to the opponent side.
 A player uses his hand or hands, or any other part of his arms to facilitate the execution of a kick even if the
hand or arm does not directly touches the ball, but it touches other objects or surfaces instead when doing so.

Serving and receiving side during service

 Creating distracting manner or noise or shouting at his opponent.

For both sides during the game

 Any player who touches the ball on the opponent side.

 Any part of player's body crosses over into opponent's court whether above or under the net except during
the follow-through of the ball.
 Playing the ball more than 3 times in succession.
 The ball touches the arm
 Stopping or holding the ball under the arm, between the legs or body.
 Any part of the body or player's outfits e.g. shoes, jersey, head band etc., touches the net or the post or the
referee's chairs or falls into the opponent's side.
 The ball touches the ceiling, roof or the wall (any objects).

Scoring system
When either serving side or receiving side commits a fault, a point is awarded to the opponent side including making
next service.
The winning point for a set is 21 points, unless the point is tied at 20–20, the set shall be decided on a difference of
two points, up to a ceiling of 25 points. When the score is tied at 20–20, the referee announces “Setting up to 25
points”.
The game is played in 2 sets with 2-minute rest in between.
If each "Regu" wins one set, the game shall be decided in the third set called "Tiebreak" with 15 points unless the
point is tied at 14-14, then the set shall be decided on a difference of two points, up to a ceiling of 17 points. When
the score is tied at 14-14, the referee announces “Setting up to 17 points”.
Before the tiebreak set takes place, the referee shall toss a disc or coin, and the side winning the toss shall have the
option of “Choosing Service”. The change of sides takes place when one “Regu” reaches 8 points.