• In the game of kabaddi each side takes alternate chances of offence and defence. The objective of the game is to grab points by raiding into the opponent’s court and touching as many opponent players as possible without getting caught on a single breadth. 
• Similarly, defenders aim to get hold of raider to earn points by not allowing him/her to cross over the start line. The team having maximum points at end of the scheduled time is declared as winner.

The ground should be level and soft/mat surface. The play field is the main area with measurements for various categories as follows:

• Men & Junior Boys – 13 x 10 Meters
• Women & Junior Girls – 12 x 8 Meters
• Sub-Junior Boys & Girls – 11 x 8 Meters

The other details regarding the field of play are as follows: 

• Sitting block – It shall be at a distance of 2 meter from the end lines.
• Boundary lines – the lines on the four sides of the play field are known as the boundary lines. All lines are 3-5 cm in width and form the part of the play field.
• Lobbies & mid line – The strips on both the sides of the play field measuring 1 meter in width are called lobbies. Midline is the line that divides the play field into two equal halves and each half is known as the Court.
• Baulk line – Each line in the court parallel to the midline is called a baulk line. The distance of the baulk line from the mid line is 3.75 meters (Men & junior Boys) and 3 meters (Women, Junior Girls & Sub-Junior).
• Bonus line - The line parallel to baulk line towards end line is known as the bonus line. The distance between bonus line and baulk line is 1 meter. The raider is said to have crossed the bonus line when he comes into contact with the ground between the end line and the bonus line with no body part having a contact with the ground between the mid line and the bonus line.

Kabaddi is the game that genuinely needs no special equipment, clothing or accessories, ensuring that it is a game for everyone.

• The game of kabaddi consists of minimum 10 & maximum 12 players. Out of the total, 7 players play the match on the ground and the remaining are substitutes. 
• A total of 5 substitutions from the reserved players can be made in a game and these substitutions can be made only in timeouts or interval.

• At the start of match, there is a coin toss with the winner having the choice as to whether to have the first raid or not. 
• The team that did not raid first in the beginning of the match shall begin the second half with a raid.

• The match consists of two halves each of 20 minutes duration with an interval of 5 minutes. The last raider of each half of the match gets to complete the raid even after completion of the match. Each team will take turns in raiding and defending. 
• Following halftime, the two teams switch sides of the court and the team who defended first in the first half begin the second half by raiding.

Each team has a chance to take 2 time outs of 30 seconds in each half while the team must stay on the ground while a time out is taken.

• The team scores one point for each opponent that is put out of the game. 
• Bonus points are also available in the game. The raider can earn an extra point by successfully touching the bonus line in the opposition’s half. 
• Three bonus points are available to a team when all of their opponents are declared out and a point is also available if any part of an opposing team member’s body goes outside of the boundary. 
• At the end of the match, the team with the most points is declared the winner.

• A player who enters into the court of the opponent is known as a raider and he must continue to repeatedly yell the word ‘Kabaddi’ while raiding. 
• To win a point when raiding and have a successful raid, the raider must tag one or more members of the opposing team and then return to their own half of the pitch.

• 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 defence, 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 hair, clothes or anywhere else, and defenders are not permitted to cross the centre line. 
• Defenders can successfully hold the raider if they keep the raider in the court and do not allow him to reach his court until he looses his yelling or the referee blows the whistle.

• It is active when there are a minimum of 6 players on the court. Bonus point is awarded to the raider if he/she crosses the bonus line. 
• While defending, bonus point is active if there are 3 or less defenders on the court.

The various violations or fouls that can be committed by the player during the match are as follows:

• Stifling a raider by shutting his/her mouth or throat in any way
• Violent tackling leading to injuries being sustained by opponent raider
• Taking more than 5 seconds to start a raid (subject to the match guidelines) 
• Holding raider with the help of scissors grip operated by legs
• Coaching from outside during the match by the coaches and the players
• Preventing the raider to take his turn of raiding
• Continuously protesting or objecting the official’s decision thereby disrupting the match
• Showing over aggression/making derogatory remarks towards the referee or match umpire 

The various warning cards that can be used by the match officials during the game are as follows:

• Green card: It is a warning sign and if a green card is given twice to a player or coach or manager, the next card shall be directly yellow card
• Yellow card: The member gets temporarily suspended for 2 min and if yellow card is given twice to a player or coach or manager, the next card shall be directly red card.
• Red card: It results in suspension from the match or debarment from tournament.

There are six designated officials for the game which are as follows:

• Referee
• Two Umpires
• Scorer
• Two Assistant Scorers