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Sports guide · updated 10 November 2026
Kabaddi rules for beginners
Kabaddi is India’s own contact sport: one raider against seven defenders, on one breath of courage. Here is how a match works and how every point is scored.
Players7 on court per team
Match (men)2 halves of 20 minutes
RaidUp to 30 seconds
Court (men)13 m x 10 m
PointsTouch, bonus, tackle, all out
OriginIndia
Also calledHu-Tu-Tu, Chedugudu
How a match works
- Two teams of 7 players on court, with substitutes on the bench. Senior men’s matches are two halves of 20 minutes with a 5-minute break, and the teams change sides at half-time.
- Teams take turns to send one raider into the other half. The raider tries to touch defenders and get back; the defenders try to stop them.
- Traditionally the raider keeps chanting “kabaddi, kabaddi” in one breath (the cant). Modern rules also give each raid a time limit of 30 seconds.
How points are scored
- Touch point: the raider touches one or more defenders and returns across the mid line: one point for each defender touched, and those defenders are out.
- Bonus point: when six or seven defenders are on court, a raider who crosses the bonus line with one foot, the other foot in the air, earns a bonus point.
- Tackle point: the defenders stop the raider from getting back: one point to the defending team, and the raider is out.
- Super tackle: if three or fewer defenders are on court and they tackle the raider, they score two points.
- All out (lona): when a team has no players left on court, the other team gets two bonus points and all seven players come back.
Revival: players coming back
A player who is out sits in the sitting block. Each time their team scores a point by touch or tackle, one player comes back in, in the order they went out. Bonus points do not bring a player back.
Common fouls
- Holding a raider by the hair, clothes or anywhere except the body and limbs.
- Pushing a player out of the court on purpose.
- Leaving the court during a raid (players who step out are out, unless they are struggling with the raider).
- Two raiders from the same team at once, or a raid started after the time limit.
Tips for beginners
- Raiders: stay low and balanced, use your feet to reach a defender, and save enough time to get back.
- Defenders: hold hands with your neighbour to form a chain, and attack the raider together, never alone.
- Kabaddi is a contact sport: learn to fall safely and play on a soft mat or soil.
Kabaddi questions
How many players are in a kabaddi team?
Seven players are on court for each team at a time, with substitutes on the bench.
How long is a raid in kabaddi?
Modern rules give each raid up to 30 seconds. Traditionally the raider also has to keep chanting “kabaddi” in one breath.
What is a super tackle in kabaddi?
When three or fewer defenders are on court and they tackle the raider successfully, they score two points instead of one.
What is an all out in kabaddi?
When every player of a team is out, the other team gets two extra points and the whole team comes back on court.
When does the bonus line count?
Only when six or seven defenders are on court. A raider who crosses it with one foot, the other in the air, earns a bonus point.
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