What is a "Lona" (All-Out) and how does revival work?

When a team successfully eliminates all 7 players of the opposing team from the mat, an All-Out (traditionally called a "Lona") is declared. The scoring team is awarded 2 extra bonus points for the Lona (in addition to the individual touch/tackle points earned during the raid). Immediately following the Lona, all 7 eliminated players of the defeated team are revived and take their positions back on the mat.

What are the exact requirements to earn a Bonus Point?

To legally score a Bonus Point (1 point without eliminating a defender): 1. The defending team must have at least 6 or 7 active players on the mat at the start of the raid (Bonus is inactive if 5 or fewer defenders remain). 2. The raider must cross the Bonus Line (4.75m from midline in Men's play) with one foot completely grounded past the line while their other foot is elevated in the air. 3. Bonus points do NOT revive an eliminated teammate — only touch and tackle points trigger player revivals.

When does the Lobby become active during a raid?

The yellow 1-meter side channels on both sides of the mat are called the "Lobbies". • Before Contact: If any raider or defender steps onto the lobby before any physical touch/tag occurs, they are immediately declared OUT for stepping out of bounds. • After Contact (The Struggle): The instant physical contact is made between the raider and any defender, the entire lobby area becomes part of the active court. Both the raider and defenders can use the lobby space to wrestle, run, or cross back to the midline.

What is the "Cant" and what happens if a raider loses their breath?

The "Cant" is the continuous, clear, and audible repetition of the word "Kabaddi, Kabaddi, Kabaddi..." chanted in a single continuous breath. The raider must begin chanting before crossing the midline. If the referee determines that the raider took a new breath, hesitated, or stopped chanting while inside the opponent's half, a "Loss of Cant" is called: the raider is declared OUT, and 1 point is awarded to the defense.

Why must a raider cross the Baulk Line?

The Baulk Line (3.75m from midline for men, 3.0m for women) is the minimum legal entry threshold. For a raid to be valid, the raider must cross the baulk line with at least one foot past the line and the other foot in the air, OR touch a defender. If a raider returns safely to their own half without touching a defender and without having crossed the baulk line, they are declared OUT for an invalid raid.

What is the 30-Second Raid Clock rule?

Under Pro Kabaddi League (PKL) and IKF championship rules, each raid is limited to a maximum of 30 seconds. The countdown timer begins the instant the raider crosses the midline. If the raider does not cross back over the midline within 30 seconds, a buzzer sounds, the raider is declared OUT, and 1 point is awarded to the defending team.

What is a "Super Raid"?

A Super Raid occurs when a raider scores 3 or more points in a single raid. This can be achieved through combinations such as: • 3 touch points (eliminating 3 defenders) • 2 touch points + 1 bonus point • 3 touch points + 1 bonus point (4 points total)

What is the official player revival sequence?

When a team earns points that trigger player revivals (via touch points or tackle points), eliminated players sitting in the Waiting Block / Sitting Box must return to the mat in the exact chronological order in which they were eliminated (First Out, First In). If a team revives a player out of turn, the referee will stop play and penalize the team.

What tackles and defensive actions are strictly prohibited in Kabaddi?

The following actions are severe fouls punishable by penalty points and cards: • Scissor Tackles: Locking legs around the raider's neck or lower leg joints. • Clotheslining / Neck Holds: Grabbing or wrapping arms around the raider's throat or face. • Jersey / Short Pulling: Grabbing clothing rather than body limbs. • Pushing Out Deliberately: Shoving a raider violently off the mat without attempting a wrap or tackle. • Dangerous Body Slams: Lifting and violently slamming a raider head-first onto the mat.

What do Green, Yellow, and Red cards mean in Kabaddi?

• Green Card: Official verbal warning for minor misconduct, jersey pulling, or wasting time. • Yellow Card: 2-minute temporary suspension from the mat. The offending player sits out, and their team plays with one fewer defender (no substitute allowed). • Red Card: Ejection for the remainder of the match for violent conduct or receiving two yellow cards. The team plays shorthanded for the duration.

How are tied knockout matches resolved in Kabaddi tournaments?

If a knockout playoff match is tied at the end of 40 minutes regulation: 1. 5-Raid Golden Shootout: Each team nominates 5 distinct raiders to take alternate raids. 2. All 7 defenders from both teams remain active on the mat throughout the 5 raids. 3. Baulk Line functions as the Bonus Line during tiebreakers (earning +1 point simply by crossing the baulk line). 4. No player dismissals or revivals occur — every raid only generates points. 5. If still tied after 5 raids each, Golden Sudden-Death raids continue until a winner emerges.

What are the official dimensions of a regulation Kabaddi mat?

• Senior Men & Junior Boys: 13.0 meters long by 10.0 meters wide. • Senior Women & Junior Girls: 12.0 meters long by 8.0 meters wide. • Mat Material: Interlocking high-density EVA foam tiles, 40mm thick, with textured anti-slip surface and safety run-off buffer (minimum 2 meters on all sides).

How does the Video Referral / DRS system work in Pro Kabaddi?

Each team is granted 1 Video Review Referral per half. A team captain can challenge a referee decision (such as touch validity, bonus line crossing, lobby out-of-bounds, or struggle contact) within 10 seconds of the whistle. If the referral is successful, the team retains their review. If unsuccessful, they lose their referral for that half.

Home / Rules / Kabaddi

Official IKF & Pro Kabaddi League (PKL) Standards

Verified 2026 Season Edition

Official Kabaddi Rules & Regulation Guide

The complete, sanctioned rulebook for modern competitive Kabaddi. Master standard mat blueprints (13m × 10m), 30-second raid clocks, the Cant, Super Tackles, Do-or-Die raids, All-Out Lona bonuses, and referee foul protocols.

Mat Dimensions

13m × 10m Men

12m × 8m Women / Juniors

Raid Duration

30 Seconds

Continuous "Cant" Chant

Team Roster

7 On-Court

5 Active Substitutes

Match Time

40 Minutes

Two 20-Min Halves

Launch Kabaddi Bracket Generator Kabaddi Captains Coin Toss

Official Mat Specifications

Court Dimensions, Baulk Line, Bonus Line & Lobbies

Under International Kabaddi Federation (IKF) and Asian Games guidelines, modern competitive Kabaddi is played indoors on high-density interlocking EVA foam synthetic mats. The court is divided into two symmetrical halves separated by a center midline.

Interactive Mat Blueprint

Official IKF & PKL Kabaddi Mat Specifications

Toggle between Senior Men (13m × 10m) and Senior Women / Junior (12m × 8m) standards. Click any zone on the mat below to inspect exact dimensions, line rules, and IKF citations.

IKF Official Rulebook Section 2.33.75m from Midline

Baulk Line (Mandatory Crossing Threshold)

The mandatory line located 3.75m (Men) or 3.0m (Women) from the midline. A raider must cross the baulk line with one foot past the line and the other in the air for an empty raid to be deemed valid.

Mat Dimensions

13m × 10m

40mm high-density EVA interlocking foam tiles.

Baulk Line Distance

3.75 Meters

Mandatory crossing line for valid active raids.

Bonus Line Distance

4.75 Meters

1.0m past baulk line with 6+ defenders active.

Lobby Width

1.0 Meter

Struggle territory active upon physical contact.

Live Raid Math Tool

Official Kabaddi Raid & Tackle Scoring Calculator

Simulate raid scenarios to calculate touch points, bonus points, Super Tackles (+2), and All-Out Lona (+2) bonuses with player revivals and dismissals.

1. Court State & Defense

Defenders Active on Mat: 7 Defenders

Standard Defense⭐ Bonus Active

Raid Context (Empty Raid Count)

2. Raider Outcome

Raid Result

Defenders Tagged (Touch Points): 2

Bonus Line Crossed

Raid Points ResolutionSUPER RAID!

Raider Team

+3 pts

Defense Team

+0 pts

Defenders Eliminated:2 to Waiting Block

Raider Status:Safe (Returned)

Teammates Revived:3 Player(s)

✔️ Clean Touch: Raiders must cross midline before the 30-second buzzer sounds.

Tactical Guide

Raiding Protocols vs. Defensive Formations

Explore step-by-step turn execution, 30-second clock management, and defense chain dynamics.

Cant & Midline Entry

The raider initiates the continuous audible chant "Kabaddi" in a single breath before crossing the midline. The 30-second raid clock starts.

Crossing the Baulk Line

The raider must cross the 3.75m baulk line with one grounded foot and one trailing foot in the air to validate the raid and avoid a forfeit out.

Tagging & Bonus Attempts

The raider executes signature attacks (Toe Touch, Dubki, Running Hand Touch, Frog Jump) while attempting to cross the bonus line if 6+ defenders are active.

Midline Crossing (Escape)

Upon making contact, the raider must cross any body part past the midline into their home half before the 30-second buzzer sounds.

Official Sanctioned Q&A

Frequently Asked Questions & IKF Rulebook Clarifications

Resolve tournament disputes, Super Tackle criteria, Do-or-Die rules, and lobby struggle edge cases with official citations.

In official Pro Kabaddi League (PKL) and International Kabaddi Federation (IKF) rules, if a team executes two consecutive empty raids (raids where neither team scores any touch or bonus points), their third raid becomes a mandatory "Do-or-Die" raid. The raider on a Do-or-Die raid must score at least one point (via a touch point on a defender or crossing the bonus line with 6+ defenders active). If the raider fails to score any points during the 30-second raid, they are declared OUT, and 1 point is awarded to the defending team.

A Super Tackle occurs when the defending team successfully captures and stops a raider while having 3 or fewer active defenders on the mat (i.e. 3, 2, or 1 defender remaining). A Super Tackle awards 2 points to the defending team (instead of the standard 1 point for a normal tackle). Additionally, the defending team revives 1 eliminated teammate as per standard revival order.

Equipment Standards

Mat Foam Specifications, Roster Limits & Protective Gear

Synthetic Mat System

IKF Official Specs

EVA High-Density

Senior Men Mat Size: 13.0m Length × 10.0m Width

Women & Junior Size: 12.0m Length × 8.0m Width

Mat Thickness: 40mm (± 2mm) shock-absorbing foam

Safety Run-Off Buffer: Minimum 2.0 meters on all 4 sides

Lobby Width: 1.0 meter yellow channel on both flanks

Line Marking Width: 5.0 centimeters (3.0 – 5.0 cm white tape)

Squad & Protective Gear

PKL & Tournament Rules

12-Player Squad

Players on Court: 7 Active Starters per team

Substitutes Allowed: 5 Nominated substitutes (max 5 swaps)

Footwear Standard: Specialized indoor kabaddi shoes or barefoot

Jersey Numbering: Clear 4-inch front and 8-inch back numbers

Permitted Sleeves: Soft elastic knee/ankle sleeves (no hard metal)

Oils & Greases: Strictly Prohibited (Automatic DQ)

Offensive Rules

Raiding Protocols, The "Cant", and the 30-Second Raid Clock

30-Second Raid Clock

Every raid must be completed within 30 seconds. If a raider does not cross back over the midline within 30 seconds, they are declared OUT and 1 point is awarded to the defense.

The "Cant" (Continuous Chant)

The raider must audibly and continuously chant "Kabaddi" in a single breath before crossing the midline. Taking a breath in opponent court results in an immediate "Loss of Cant" dismissal.

Do-or-Die Raid (3rd Raid)

If a team registers two consecutive empty raids (0 points scored), their 3rd raid is a mandatory Do-or-Die raid: the raider MUST score a point or be eliminated automatically.

Defensive Rules

Defensive Chains, Super Tackles, and Lobby Struggle Rules

The Super Tackle (+2 Points)

≤ 3 Defenders

When a team is reduced to 3, 2, or 1 active defenders on the mat and successfully tackles the raider, it is designated as a Super Tackle. The defending team earns 2 points (instead of 1) and revives 1 teammate.

Strategic Value: Super Tackles allow trailing teams on the brink of an All-Out to mount dramatic comebacks by scoring double points while shorthanded.

The Lobby Struggle Rule

1.0m Channel

The yellow side lobbies are out of bounds before contact. However, the exact millisecond physical touch occurs between the raider and any defender, the lobbies activate as valid court territory for both sides during the struggle.

Critical Fault: Any defender who steps into the lobby before contact without touching the raider is automatically declared OUT.

Point System

Touch Points, Tackle Points, Lona (All-Out), and Player Revivals

+1 PT Touch Point

Each defender tagged by a successful raider.

+1 PT Bonus Point

Crossing bonus line with 6+ defenders active.

+1 PT Tackle Point

Stopping a raider with 4 to 7 defenders.

+2 PTS Super Tackle

Tackling raider with 3 or fewer defenders.

+2 PTS Lona (All-Out)

Eliminating all 7 players + full team revival.

Disciplinary Rules

Fouls, Prohibited Tackles & Card Penalties

Green Card (Official Warning)

Issued for minor technical infractions, delay of game, or mild verbal dissent. Serves as a formal warning to the player and team bench.

Yellow Card (2-Min Suspension)

Issued for jersey pulling, aggressive holding, or dangerous tackles. The offending player sits out for 2 minutes and the team plays with one fewer defender.

Red Card (Match Ejection)

Issued for violent conduct, dangerous neck holds, or receiving two yellow cards. The player is ejected for the remainder of the match with no replacement.

Format Variations

Standard Mat Kabaddi vs. Circle Style vs. Beach Kabaddi

IKF & PKL Standard

Standard Mat Kabaddi

Played 7v7 on a 13m × 10m rectangular EVA mat. Features Baulk line, Bonus line, 30-sec raid clock, Do-or-Die raids, and Super Tackles.

Punjabi Tradition

Circle Style Kabaddi

Played on a circular dirt/grass ring (22m diameter). Contested as a strict 1-on-1 duel between the raider and a single designated "stopper" with no chain assistance.

Asian Beach Games

Beach Kabaddi

Played 4v4 on soft sand (11m × 8m court). Fast-paced 15-minute halves with no shoes permitted, creating intense aerobic scrambles.

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