Kabaddi

At a glance

• Seven players per side are normally on court in standard style.
• A raid has a strict time limit under the international rules.
• Touches, tackles, bonus actions, revivals, and all-outs shape the score.

Player profile. A kabaddi player benefits from acceleration, low-body strength, grip endurance, mobility, and the confidence to make decisions in a crowded contact space. Raiders also need deceptive rhythm and a precise awareness of lines and time; defenders need restraint, shared timing, and the ability to convert a first hold without creating a dangerous tackle. Conditioning must support repeated maximal bursts separated by short tactical pauses.

Where it happens

Formal standard-style kabaddi uses a marked rectangular court split by a midline, with baulk, bonus, end, and lobby markings that control when attackers and defenders may use space. Court size and some line positions depend on the division, so organizers should take dimensions from the applicable IKF table rather than a casual diagram. A clear safety margin, scorer's table, substitution area, and unobstructed floor are essential.

• The IKF rulebook specifies division-dependent rectangular courts; senior men's and women's measurements differ.
• The playing surface includes a midline, baulk lines, bonus lines, end lines, and side lobbies.

What you need

• Marked court or approved mat
• Match clock and raid timer
• Scoreboard and officials' signals
• Numbered team kit
• Whistle and substitution documentation

How to play

1. A single raider enters the opposing half, attempts a scoring action, and must return legally before the raid ends. The defending side coordinates a tackle while staying eligible under the court and contact rules.
2. A successful scoring action can revive an out teammate in the prescribed order. Teams exchange attack and defence after every completed raid and compare points at full time.

The essential rules

1. Only one raider enters the opposing half for a normal raid.
2. The raider must begin and complete the raid within the official time limit.
3. A raider must cross the baulk line unless a qualifying touch or struggle makes the raid valid under the rules.
4. A legal touch scores for the raiding side when the raider returns safely.
5. A legal hold scores for the defending side when the raider cannot return in time or is stopped in bounds.
6. Players who step outside a live boundary without a permitted exception are out.
7. The bonus line is available only when the required number of defenders is on court.
8. A scored point normally revives one teammate in the prescribed order.
9. Putting the entire opposing side out produces the additional all-out points specified by the rules.
10. Substitutions occur only through the authorized process and do not erase an out status improperly.
11. Dangerous, violent, or prohibited holds and deliberate delay are penalized.
12. Officials may award technical points, warnings, suspensions, or disqualification for misconduct.

How the result is decided

A side earns points through legal raid touches, successful tackles, bonus actions, technical awards, and the extra value attached to an all-out. The higher total after regulation time wins, with event regulations governing ties.

Fouls and penalties

• Stepping out of bounds
• Illegal or dangerous hold
• Raid-time violation
• Improper substitution
• Delaying restart
• Unsporting conduct

Techniques

• Hand and toe touches
• Running hand touch
• Dubki and escape movement
• Ankle and thigh holds
• Chain tackle
• Block and dash

Tactics

• Target a weak defensive link without exposing the return route.
• Coordinate corners and covers so the first contact receives immediate support.
• Manage bonus risk, revival order, and the number of players alive on court.

Disciplines and variants

• Standard rectangular kabaddi
• Circle-style kabaddi
• Beach kabaddi
• Indoor kabaddi

Competition landscape

• Kabaddi World Cup events under the relevant organizer
• Asian Games
• Asian Kabaddi Championships
• National championships under the competent federation

Records in the reference

No stable record table is published here. Records change; use the current governing-body source before acting.

How the sport developed

Kabaddi grew from regional South Asian contact-and-pursuit traditions into a codified court sport with standardized lines, timed raids, officials, and tournament formats. Indian organizations played a central role in formalizing the rectangular game before it expanded through Asian multi-sport competition and international federation structures. Professional leagues later changed presentation and audience reach, but an event may apply league-specific interpretations, so this draft follows the international federation's public code rather than broadcast convention.

• The attack and defence roles switch after every raid.
• A small scoreboard lead can be fragile because an all-out adds both ordinary and extra points.

Play it in India

• Amateur Kabaddi Federation of India is the current organisation reference and is matched to a dated MYAS recognition source. 4 SAI National Centres of Excellence publish a matching discipline. This does not establish local intake, price, schedule or availability.

Organisation reference

Amateur Kabaddi Federation of India

Recognition state

MYAS recognition list matched

SAI NCOE discipline rows

4

Khelo India discipline

Not established

Olympic programme

Not a current core-programme sport

India Olympic medals

No sport-level total in current sources

Evidence and currency

This is an original KhelPath explainer assembled from editorial research. It is orientation, not an authoritative rulebook.

IKF Rules and Regulations of Kabaddi, version 2.1.0 ↗ · observed 2026-08-28

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