PHE

Strand: Contact Games

Sub strand: Kabaddi Skills

Introduction
Kabaddi is a full contact game with origins in Tamil Nadu, India.

The objective of the game for each team, is to score more overall points than the opposing
team in a given duration of the match. A single player on offence, referred to as a “raider”,
to run in to the opposing team’s half of a court, repeating “kabaddi, kabaddi”, touch out /
tag as many of their defenders as possible, and return to their own half of the court without
being tackled by the defenders, and in single breath.

Team Composition
It is played by two teams, of seven players a side, on opposite halves of a field or court. Five
players sit outside the court, until their team needs substitutes.

Playing Position of players;

 Four corners who are basically defenders.
 Two major raiders.
 An all-rounder who performs both as defender and the third raider.

Dress code
The game demands excessive physical work where one is to push or pull another. Therefore,
excessive loose-fitting dresses are not allowed. A short and a vest is considered to be ideal.
Coloured T-shirts are also allowed.

The court
The court measures 13 meters long and 10 meters wide, for men and 11 meters by 8 meters
for women and juniors, with some important lines. The surface of the court has to be soft,
even and covered with foam mates. Other materials that can be used include; earth,
manure and sawdust. No equipment is required to play the game.
There are separate competitions for male and female.

Scoring
Teams can score on raid as well as defense.
Points are scored for each player tagged by the raider, while the opposing team earns a
point for stopping the raider.
Players are taken out of the game if they are touched or tackled but are brought back by
their team from a tag or tackle.
The team that outs all the players on the opponent’s side scores four extra points.

Winning
The team with the most points at the end of the match wins.

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Extra Points
All Out: It is a point in the game when all the players of the team are sent off by the other
team. At this point, the other team gets extra points (2 in Pro Kabaddi).
Super Raid: If the raider successfully gets 3 or more defenders out, it is called a super raid.
(In case of bonus point + 2 defenders out is also called a super raid)
Super Tackle: If the defending team successfully tackles the raider, with 3 or fewer
defenders in the side, it is called a super tackle and the defending team gets extra points (1
in Pro Kabaddi, hence the defending team gets 2 points instead of 1 point in a normal
scenario for their efforts).
Duration of the Game
The game is played over 40 minutes with a five-minutes break between halves.
A match that ends with equal points for both sides, is considered draw and no other match
is played to declare the winner.

The highest governing body is International Kabaddi Federation.

The body is responsible for;
 Promoting and developing Kabaddi worldwide
 Standardizing the rules of the game.
 Organizing international tournaments.

History and development of Kabaddi in India

Kabaddi is a contact sport, native to the Indian subcontinent. It is one of the most popular
sports in India, played mainly among people in the village. India has taken part in four Asian
Games of Kabaddi and won gold in all of them.
Legend has it that Kabaddi originated in Tamil Nadu over 4,000 years ago. Past fans include
the Buddha, and the princes who played to display their strength and win the brides.
Kabaddi received international exposure during the 1936 Berlin Olympics. The game was
introduced in the Indian Olympic Games at Calcutta in 1938. In 1950 the All-India Kabaddi
Federation came into existence and compiled the rules. The Amateur Kabaddi Federation of
India (AKFI) was founded in 1973.

Development of Kabaddi in Kenya

Kabaddi was introduced in Kenya in August 2012 and was officially registered in March 2013
under The Sports Registrar, by then Society Act. Kenya has participated in various
International Kabaddi Championship in India since 2012. Some senior players have also
participated in Kabaddi League in India. These are David Silesia, Simon Kabure and Felix
Onyango.
In Kenya the game is governed by Kenya Kabaddi Union.

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Kabaddi Field and Dimensions

The Lobby is the area of the court which is considered active only when contact has been
made between the raider and a defender. Else, it is considered out of bounds for both the
raider and the defenders.
Bonus line is only active when there are 6 or more players on court in the opposition team.
Baulk/check line. To make the raid valid, the raider must cross the bulk/check line with one
foot with the other in the air.

Safety procedures for playing Kabaddi Game

 A pre-season medical, musculoskeletal and fitness assessment can help in identifying
any existing weakness and/injuries.
 Performing warm up activities.

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  The surface of the field should be even to prevent injuries.
 First aid kit and icing should be availed during training sessions and during matches.
 Players should at all times be tested for ascertained standards of leg strength and
agility.
 It’s always advisable to use skin protection to prevent cuts or abrasions over the
body during practice sessions and matches.
 Devise a face mask to prevent abrasions and nose injuries.
 Use elbow and knee cushions to reduce the amount of concussion sustained on
joints.
 Taping the ankle and/or knee to prevent injuries.
 Performing cool down and taking adequate rest.

Drills and mini games for practicing Kabaddi Game

Sub-strand: Coaching Kabaddi

Kabaddi Systems of play

Defense Systems of playing Kabaddi

1) Ankle hold- It involves tactfully grabbing the raider’s ankle and pulling him inside
your own half, enabling the other teammates to join in and tackle the raider.
It interferes with the raider’s kabaddi chant making him to go out.
2) Thigh hold- It is an advanced defensive maneuver that relies on the surprise element
to eliminate the raider. The defender dives at the thigh of the raider from a distance
and brings him down through his body weight, enabling fellow defenders to join in
and tackle the raider.
3) Dash-This move requires a perfect balance of strength and agility and technique
from a defender to execute it. When a raider ventures too deep into the opposition
half or is trying to escape after getting a touch, a defender runs across and pushes
him out of bounds before he gets any part of his body beyond the half line to
eliminate him.
4) Block- This involves getting in front of the raider and stopping him from getting to
the half-line. It requires strength, good positioning and immaculate timing.
A raider might try to escape a block by using a ‘Dubki’ of a Frog Jump over the
defender.
5) Chain Tackle- This is the perfect example of communication and coordination
between teammates.

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 In this move, a defender locks hands with another defender to rush a raider, thereby
reducing the amount of space that he can run into, and then both defenders tackle
him, making it almost impossible for the raider to escape.
6) Wrist catch- This is grabbing the raider’s wrist when he extends his arm to apply a
hand or finger touch on a defender or when he returns to the 1st position to restart
the raid.
7) Crocodile catch-It is holding or catching the arm or raider from a distance later
pulling closer.
8) Washer man hold- In this technique, the raider is held firmly from the wrist or arm
and later is rolled over the body. This makes the catcher to completely overpower
the raider.
NB: A Supper Tackle is when three or less players on the mat make a successful tackle.

Kabaddi Offensive Systems of play

1. The Hand Touch- It involves tagging one or more defenders with either hand to
score points. Touching the defenders with the tip of a finger also counts.
2. The Foot Touch-The raider uses his entire foot, instead of just a toe, to tag one or
more defenders. The raider the proceeds with dragging his foot towards the
defenders in an attempt to touch one or more-this is known as “SLIP.”
3. The Toe Touch- It is similar to foot touch, but the raider only uses his toe to tag one
or more antis. It is quite effective in the bonus line since it can be used by the raider
when he is at a distance.
4. The sudden Squat/Squat Leg Touch- It is similar with the foot touch because it also
involves a sudden thrust of the leg. But in this, the raider is free to slide/drag the
attacking leg both sideward to backward and forward to sideward to touch one or
more defenders. The Squat Leg thrust is applied by a raider in a squatting or
crouching position preferably closer to the midline for an easier escape.
5. The Roll/Side/Front/Back Kick-These are advanced skills that include rolling on the
surface and crawling back to the raiding team’s side, jumping over a chain of
defenders, and ducking as low as possible, below the arm level of the chain to
escape.

Fouls, Misconducts and the Penalties awarded to players during Kabaddi

A foul is an inappropriate or unfair act by a player as deemed by a referee, usually by
violating the rules of the game; A foul is committed when;
 Players violate the rules of the game.
 They display unsporting demeanor.
 Players disagree with referee’s decision by either word or action.
 Players indulge in delaying tactics while starting the match.
 Intentionally or unintentionally enter the field or leaving it without. Prior permission
of the referee.
 Spitting at opponents, insulting them, using derogatory language or fighting.

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Penalties in Kabaddi
As a result of above fouls and misconduct, the referee is entitled to take the following
actions by the help of cards of different colors.

1. Green Card
This card is served a means of warnings. If a player continues to make the same foul, he
is served with another green card. After two green cards, the player is served with
yellow card.

2. Yellow card
This card holds more power than the green one. It is used after 2 warnings of green
card. This card suspends a player or team official for 2 minutes. If the player or
official continues to exhibit same foul he is served with second yellow card. A second
yellow card will make the red card obligatory.

3. Red Card
It comes into use when players or officials are suspended from the match. Second
red card will automatically restrict the offender from participating in the
tournament. The offender, after being served with red card must leave court and
technical area.

Hand signals used in Kabaddi

1.When the match begins: Rising hands simultaneously, whistling long but low and bringing
hands down to start stop watch.
2. Hinting with one hand in front of face in case of losing cant. (When a player goes to the
opposition, he must chant ‘kabaddi’ in one breath in a continuous process. The chant is also
known as cant.)
3. Making T with one palm facing down and the other hand’s finger touching it horizontally
in case of Time Out.
4. Substitution: Circulating both the hands in front.
5. Technical Point: Keeping hand parallel to the shoulder and pointing down with the
thumb.
6. Bonus Point: Keeping one hand parallel to the shoulder and pointing up with the thumb.
7. Half-Time: Making cross with both the hands in front of chest.
8. Point Out: Pointing out with the fingers raised towards the team whose players are out.
Number of fingers raised is equal to the number of players out.
9. Score: Pointing to the scoring team with the hand in that direction, keeping hand parallel
to the shoulder.

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10.Use of Scissor or any unwanted technique: Pointing with the fingers of both the hands
joined in front of Chest.
11.Entry in Lobby without struggle: Raising the close by leg and pointing with hand towards
the entry of Lobby.
12.Warning Signals: Pointing with finger and showing card.

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Rules and Regulations in Kabaddi game that are used when officiating
 Each team shall consist of no more than 12 players with only 7 taking to the field at
any one time.
 Because of the physical nature of kabaddi, matches are categorized in age and
weight categories.
 There are six officials looking after each Kabaddi match. The officials comprise of a
referee, a scorer, two assistant scorers and two umpires
 The duration of the match is two halves of 20 minutes with a half time break of 5
minutes.
 At the start of 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 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 defense play.
 The team being raided Is defending, and the players must prevent the raiders from
tagging them and returning back over the halfway line. Whilst in defense, 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
half, clothes or anywhere else, and defenders are not permitted to cross the center
line.
 Each team will take turns in raiding and defending. Following halftime, the two
teams switch sides of the court and the team who defend first in the first half begin
the second half by raiding.
 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.

Strategies and tactics used during a Kabaddi game

Strategies in Kabaddi
1. Offensive Strategies
 Foot touch
 Toe touch
 Thrust
 Squat Leg
 Kicks
 Touching of hand through upper limbs

2. Defensive Strategies

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  The Ankle Hold
 The Thigh Hold
 The Knee Hold/Double Knee Hold
 The Waist/Back/Trunk Hold
 The Block Tackle
 The Wrist Hold
Duties and Responsibilities of the team and match officials in Kabaddi championship
Match officials
There are seven technical officials in Kabaddi match
1. Referee
Referee is considered all in all in a Kabaddi match. He enforces and implements
the rules of the game. He starts the matches, announces points, issues cards and
decide penalties, substitutions. He has the authority to overturn the decision
given by umpire.

2. The Umpires
There are two umpires who assist match referee. They monitor the match and
make decisions in accordance with the rules of the game.

3. The Scorer
He is entitled with the job of recording scores of both teams. At the end of the
match, he gets score sheets signed by both the referee and umpires.

4. Assistant Scorers
Their work is to maintain the record of the players, who are sent out and revived.
They ensure that players (sent out of the match) have taken their respective
place, substitutes and team officials are in technical area. They also assist
umpires by monitoring the activities of infield as well as outfield players during
the match and inform the umpires when deem necessary.

5. The Seventh Official

He acts as a reserve official. In case any above mentioned officials is unable to
continue, he comes to fill his vacuum.

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