Sepak Takraw for Dummies. Useful Information on This Exotic Kind of Sport

Sepak takraw is an exciting and unforgettable kind of sport; it is roughly a combination of football and volleyball. It appeared in the 15th century. Over its long history, the game has changed a lot but this does not prevent it from spreading over whole Asia conquering more and more spectators from the whole world. Nowadays, it is impossible to find a European or American counterpart of the given game. That is why it is of key importance to precisely understand all those rules to enjoy sepak takraw events, and the given article can help to cope with this task.

Court, Equipment, and Ball

Sepak takraw is a team kind of sport that could resemble volleyball if there were a few “buts”. Firstly, players are not allowed to touch the ball with their hands. Secondly, the players use the small ball made of light synthetic materials or plastic. Yes, it is quite difficult to imagine this game at once but it is still possible.

Sepak takraw matches take place on fields of 13.4 meters long and 6.1 meters wide. It is divided into two equal parts by a 0.7-meter-wide vertical net that hangs at a 1.55-meter height. There are certain lines of the fields to denote particular areas. Thus, the center line lies under the net and divides the field into two equal parts. Two goal lines and two sidelines are field borders. There is a circle of 90 cm in diameter in the very center of every sepak takraw field. Each goal line bears a serving zone. To make it safe for the spectators to watch these sporting competitions, the fields are surrounded by a 3-meter free zone.

Players should wear a uniform that does not have significant differences when to compared to volleyball one. Thus, the uniform consists of a T-shirt, short pants, and anti-sliding footwear. The captain’s left hand should bear a corresponding band.

For a game, it is necessary to have a ball braided from synthetic clothes. The ready-for-use supplement should be 44 cm in diameter and no more than 180 g. In ancient times, the sepak takraw balls were made of rattan palm.

General Rules

When it comes to traditional sepak takraw matches, two teams with three players in each compete against each other. There are no limitations as to gender or age of players; there are many women’s and teenager’s sepak takraw teams. A match can last for a maximum of five sets; each team may score up to 15 points in each of the sets. That is why the given kind of sport applies the best-of-five system to determine a winner. To explain, it means that a victory is given to a team that manages to win three sets. There are 2-minute intervals between the sets for the players to have a rest. Over a match, each team may make only one substitution. Any additional substitution will result in a technical loss.

The skill in handling the sepak takraw ball is one of the most important peculiarities of the given sport. The main task of a player is to send it to the opponents’ end of the field with his head, knee or sole of the foot. It is forbidden to touch the ball with the hands. In addition, players also may not hold the ball on their body. Nevertheless, the players are allowed to use their chins to hit the ball!

If there are rules, there will be fouls. Sepak takraw fouls can result in yellow or red cards. Their meaning is the same as in traditional football. The yellow card means a player gets a warning for a particular foul; the red card dismisses a player for the end of a match. Besides, there are also bans to touch the net and its posts, to appear on the opponents’ end of the field, and to step over the central line. Each of these fouls can result in a verbal warning if it is done for the first time; if this scenario repeats, the harsher punishment can be applied.

Rules of Serving

It is extremely difficult to achieve excellence in sepak takraw. In the given kind of sport, they highly appreciate physical stamina, perfect flexibility, ability to make gymnastic tricks, and the ability to land safely. Players state that numerous movements and tricks to hit the ball have come from national dances and Eastern martial arts. To tell the truth, it becomes evident when you watch a sepak takraw match.

To make a serve, a player should place one of his feet within the playing field on at the back serving line. At the same time, his partners take corner positions close to the net. After the serve has been performed, the players are free to move anywhere on the field. If the ball reaches the net after serving, the receiving team gets a point.

International Competitions

The kind of sport started gaining popularity since 1940 when the unified rules appeared. Since then, sepak takraw has been an obligatory part of the Asian Games. There are also Sepak Takraw World Championships held regularly. These events are usually attended by teams from Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, Singapore, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, the Philippines, and India.

The first mentioning of the game dates back to the 15th century. The finding discovered at the territory of modern Indonesia depicts a scene that is very close to modern sepak takraw. A similar drawing was found in a Thai temple built in 1785.

Up to 1940, the unified sepak takraw rules had covered whole South-East Asia. Then, the given kind of sport officially gets its current name. The name consists of the Malay word “sepak” meaning a kick with one’s foot and the Thai one “takraw” meaning a braided ball. The given state of affairs makes it very difficult to name the motherland of the given kind of sport.

The International Sepak Takraw Federation (ISTF) is a governing body in the world of this kind of sport. It is responsible for organizing and running international competitions. To tell the truth, the King’s Cup Sepak Takraw World Championships is the most important tournament for men’s national teams.

Nowadays, the given kind of sport is getting more and more attention over the globe. This opinion can be supported by the fact that sepak takraw national federations are emerging in France, Great Britain, Germany, and the USA.