Sepak takraw

SEPAK TAKRAWHISTORY OF SEPAK TAKRAW

In 1935, during the Golden Jubilee Celebrations for King George V, the game of sepakraga was played on a badminton court, in the Malaysian State of Negeri Sembilan. Thedevelopment of the game was interupted by the war. In 1945 in Penang the net wasagain introduced and the popularity spread to surrounding areas and then countries. n1965 Malaysia hosted the South East Asian Peninsular games (SEAP) and sepak ragawas introduced. There were lengthy discussion between Malaysian and Singaporedelegates, on the one hand, and Laos and Thai delegates, on the other, with regard tothe official name of the sport. An agreement was subsequently arrived at and it wasdecided that the sport would be known as "Sepak Takraw". Sepak means KICK inMalay and Takraw means BALL in Thai word.

Almost every nation that played this game knew it by a different name. In Malaysia,Singapore and Brunei, it's called 'sepak raga', whereas in Thailand it's commonly knownas 'takraw'. The same game goes by the name of 'sipa' in the Philippines, 'da cau' inVietnam, 'rago' in Indonesia, and 'kator' in Laos. Since sepak takraw was played andenjoyed in several countries, there were a lot of inconsistencies in terms of how thegame was played and judged.

In 1960, representatives from Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, Lao and Thailand met inKuala Lumpur to standardise rules and regulations for the game. And after a long andheated debate, consensus was reached that the sport would henceforth be officiallycalled sepak takraw.

They also formed the Asian Sepak Takraw Federation (ASTAF), and translated therules into English, setting the stage for the first international competition, held inMalaysia in 1965, at the Southeast Asian Peninsular Games, or SEAP Games, thepredecessor to today's Southeast Asian Games (SEA Games). This chain of events setthe stage for the international development of sepak takraw. However, it was thereplacement of the natural rattan ball, which tended to splinter and warp, with the morestandardised synthetic plastic ball that really kicked the game's popularity into high gear.

In 1990, sepak takraw was included at the Asian Games in Beijing. Women also got inon the action with the first women's championships in Thailand hosted in 1997. Today,more than 20 countries have national sepak takraw associations with representatives onthe board of the global governing body, the International Sepak Takraw Federation(ISTAF).

FACILITIES AND EQUIPMENT

Court

The standard court of the Sport Sepak Takraw is an area of 13.4m X 6.1m free from allobstacles up to a height of 8m. It is advisable that the court is flat concrete surface. Thewidth of the lines that determines the perimeter of the court should not be more than0.04m measured and drawn inside the measurements of the court. The lines of thecourt should also be at least 3.0m away from any obstacles. Each side should have a6.7X6.1m area.

Both male and female players are required to wear shorts and sleeved t-shirts.Players must tuck-in their shirts. The t-shirts for all players must also benumbered permanently in which numbers are only ranged from 1 to 15. Thecaptain of each regu (team of 3 or 4 players) is required to wear an armband ontheir left arm. Any apparel that could endanger opponents is not allowed.

FACILITIES AND EQUIPMENT

Net

The net shall be made of fine ordinary cord or nylon with 6 cm to 8 cm mesh. Similar to a volleyball net.

The net shall be 0.7 m in width and not shorter than 6.10 m in length and taped at 0.05 m from tape double at the top and sideline, called boundary tape.

The net shall be edged with 0.05 m tape double at the top and the bottom of the net supported by a fine ordinary cord or nylon cord that runs through the tape and strain over and flush with the top of the posts. The top of the net shall be 1.52 m (1.42 m for women) in height from the center and 1.55 m (1.45 m for women's) at the posts.

FACILITIES AND EQUIPMENT

Ball

The sepak takraw ball shall be spherical in shape, made of synthetic fiber or one woven layer.

The ball can be in plain single colour, multi-colour, and luminous colours, but not in any colour that will impair the performance of the players.

The sepak takraw ball can also be constructed of synthetic rubber or soft durable material for covering the ball, for the purpose of softening the impact of the ball on the player’s body. The type of material and method used for constructing the ball or for covering the ball with rubber or soft durable covering must be approved by ISTAF before it can be used for any competition.

All world, international, and regional competitions sanctioned by International Sepak Takraw Federation, including but not limited to, the Olympic Games, World Games, Commonwealth Games, Asian Games and SEA Games, must be played with ISTAF approved sepak takraw balls.

FACILITIES AND EQUIPMENT

Players

A match is played by two regus (teams), each consisting of three players.

One of the three players shall be at the back; he is called a “Tekong”. The other two players shall be in front, one on the left and the other on the right. The player on the left is called a “Left Inside” and the player on the right is called a “Right Inside”.

Start of play and serviceThe side that must serve first shall start the first set. The side that wins the first set shall have the options of “Choosing Service”.The throw must be executed as soon as the referee calls the score. If either of the "Inside" players throws the ball before the referee calls the score, it must be re-thrown and a warning will be given to the thrower.During the service, as soon as the Tekong kicks the ball, all the players are allowed to move about freely in their respective courts.The service is valid if the ball passes over the net, whether it touches the net or not, and inside the boundary of the two net tapes and boundary lines of the opponent’s court.

Faults of SEPAK TAKRAW

Serving side during service

The "Inside" player who is making service throws, plays about with the ball (throwing up the ball, bumping, giving to other "Inside" player, etc.) after the call of score has been made by the referee.

The "Inside" player lifts his feet or steps on the line or crosses over or touches the net while throwing the ball.

The Tekong jumps off the ground to execute the service. The Tekong does not kick the ball on the service throw. The ball touches his own player before crossing over the opponent

court. The ball goes over the net but falls outside the court. The ball does not cross to the opponent side. A player uses his hand or hands, or any other part of his arms to

facilitate the execution of a kick even if the hand or arm does not directly touch the ball, but it touches other objects or surfaces instead when doing so.

Faults of SEPAK TAKRAW

Serving and receiving side during service

Creating distracting manner or noise or shouting at his opponent.

Faults of SEPAK TAKRAW

For both sides during the game

Any player who touches the ball on the opponent side. Any part of player's body crosses over into opponent's

court whether above or under the net except during the follow-through of the ball.

Playing the ball more than 3 times in succession. The ball touches the arm Stopping or holding the ball under the arm, between the

legs or body. Any part of the body or player's outfits e.g. shoes,

jersey, head band etc., touches the net or the post or the referee's chairs or falls into the opponent's side.

The ball touches the ceiling, roof or the wall (any objects).

Scoring system

An official match is won by best of five sets, win 3 sets of 5; used on important tournaments on all matches or in finals after group stages. A team event or group match is won by best of three sets, win 2 sets of 3; used in team events and often in tournaments to speed up group stages.

In a knock out system mainly used in tournaments teams doesn’t have to play the 5th (or 3rd)set if winner is known. In a league system it is mandatory for all teams to complete the 5 (or 3) sets.

In the last 5th (or 3rd) set the change of sides takes place when one team reaches 8 points.

Point: When either serving side or receiving side commits a fault, a point is awarded to the opponent side including making next service.

Set: Each set is won by the side which scores fifteen (15) points with a minimum lead of two (2) points. In the event of a 14-14 tie, the set shall be won by the side which gets a lead of two (2) points, or when a side reaches 17 points (whichever occurs first).

Match: Match is won by the team who has won more sets, 3 (or 2). Teams can win 3, 2, 1 or 0 set points per match in best of 5 or win 2, 1 or 0 set points per match in best of 3.

Ranking: In group stages of tournaments or team events aka round robin the ranking in a group is determined by: 1. Sum of match wins; a match win gives 1 point 2. Sum set points, 3. Point difference +/-

Summarized from ISTAF rules since January 2011