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Kabaddi rules explained: court size, scoring, raids and all-outs

A concise guide to how kabaddi is played, scored and won.

By , Editor

· 2 min read

A kabaddi, general view
Kabaddi (general file photo, not from this event) Photo: Zeeshan suhel / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0

Kabaddi is played between two teams of 12 players, with seven on court at a time. Ninh explained the rules on YouTube, while Rules of Sport and other sources detail court dimensions, scoring and all-outs.

Key takeaways

  • Two teams of 12 players, seven on court at any one time
  • Rectangular court generally a maximum of 13m x 10m
  • Raider must chant kabaddi repeatedly on one breath
  • One point per opponent put out
  • All out earns one point per player plus two additional points

Kabaddi is a contact sport played between two teams of seven players each. Ninh reported that each team consists of 12 players, with seven taking to the court at any one time.

The object of the game is for a team to score more overall points than the opposing side. Ninh said kabaddi is an Indian sport. Ninh said kabaddi was traditionally played outdoors, though competitive matches are held on padded mats.

Kabaddi rules: court size and markings

The game is played on a rectangular court that is generally a maximum of 13m x 10m, Ninh reported. Rules of Sport said the playing surface measures 13m x 10m and is separated into two halves by a white line, one team occupying each half.

Ninh said the court includes baulk lines, end lines, bonus lines and the lobby area. Rules of Sport said kabaddi can be played on a wide range of surfaces, from a dedicated clay court to spare ground where a playing surface has been chalked out.

Kabaddi rules: raids and scoring

A raider enters the opposing half while chanting kabaddi repeatedly, Ninh reported. Ninh said the raider must use only one breath and chant repeatedly to show the referee that he is exhaling and not holding his breath.

Rules of Sport said teams score one point for each opponent put out of the game. Ninh said this is done when attacking by the raider touching opposition members, and when defending by preventing the raider returning to their own half.

Ninh said an all out occurs if a raider gets all defenders out in one raid, and is usually done if the other team is slow to retreat from a raid and a defender is close enough to score a point and make it back to the mid line quickly.

Ninh said the raiding team gets one point per player and an additional two points for an all out, and that all players are revived after an all out.

Kabaddi rules: match structure and what happens next

Rules of Sport said each team will take turns in raiding and defending. Ninh said following halftime, the two teams switch sides of the court and the team who defended first in the first half begins the second half by raiding.

Rules of Sport said the game continues in this way until time is up, and the team with the most points at the end of the match is declared the winner.

Ninh said if the teams are tied, points can be split during group stage matches, or a tie-breaker can be held to determine the winner.

Ninh said in the tie-breaker, both teams are allowed to have all seven players on the mat at all times, the baulk line is considered as both baulk and bonus line for scoring purposes, and five raids are allowed for each team, with a different raider nominated for each raid.

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