DEFINITION

Sepak Takraw is a foot volleyball game where players touch as well as

handle the ball using only their feet, knee, chest and head. The rules
and regulations of the game are very much similar to that of
volleyball.

HISTORY

'Sepak Raga' was the name of an ancient game played in the Malay
states and in the neighbouring countries of Singapore and Brunei.
'Sepak' is Malay for "kick" and 'Raga' is the "rattan ball" used in
the game, which involved players standing in a circle keeping the
'Raga' in the air for as long as possible without using their hands.
Variations of this were played in other Southeast Asian countries too;
in Thailand it was called "Takraw", in the Philippines, "Sepa Sepa",
in Myanmar, "Ching Loong", in Indonesia, "Rago" and in Laos, "Kator".

Earliest evidence shows that the game was played in Malacca (Melaka),
Malaysia's most historical city, in the 15 century, for it is
mentioned in the famous Malay historical text, "The Sejarah Melayu"
(Malay Annals). However, the game had undergone a significant change
by the mid-1930s. In 1935, in the Malaysian State of Negeri Sembilan,
during the Silver Jubilee celebration of King George V, 'Sepak Raga'
was played on a badminton court over the net with players on both
sides. Both badminton and 'Sepak Raga' rules were combined to form a
new, very exciting game. Because the game was introduced during the
Jubilee celebration, it was known as 'Sepak Raga Jubilee'.

It is not clear, but most probably, the game then gained popularity in
Negeri Sembilan and spread to the other states. During World War II,
the game developed rapidly in Penang. In the years after World War II
right up to the early 'fifties', it was possible to see the game
played in rural areas and towns all over the country - especially in
areas where the Malay population was quite large.

It is believed that the development of modern Sepaktakraw is mainly

due to three persons from Penang. In February, 1945 a net (Jaring) and
rules similar to volleyball was introduced by Hamid Maidin. He had
invited Mohamad Abdul Rahman (the best player with Raga Bulatan - or
Circle Game) and Syed Yaacob to try his new twist on 'Net Sepak Raga'.
They loved it because of the faster pace, the different styles of
kicking and the higher standard of athleticism that it demanded.

The first official competition was held at a Swim Club on May 16,
1945. Teams from Malay villages in Penang were among those that
competed for the Nyak Din Nyak Sham Trophy. The game, at this
juncture, became known as " Sepak Raga Jaring". From that point on,
the game spread quickly throughout the rest of the Malay Peninsula and
South East Asia. By the late 'fifties' the game was popular in most
schools that had badminton courts. Soccer players usually played it
since they could easily master the skills involved, which are similar
to those used in soccer. Sepak Raga associations had formed in various
Malaysian states by this time as well.

The Malaysian Sepak Raga Federation was founded at a conference held

at the Community Hall in Penang, June 25, 1960. Delegates from Kedah,
Selangor, Negeri Sembilan and Penang attended. The first President was
Mr. Mohd Khir Johari. Later the same year, representatives from
various Southeast Asian counties met in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia's
capital city, to establish a standard set of rules and regulations for
the game. To promote the game further in Malaysia, an inter-state
competition was organised in 1962. Penang became the first holder of
the Khir Johari Gold Cup. By then, Sepak Raga Jaring (Sepak Raga Net)
had become one of the more popular games in the country, and today
modern Sepaktakraw is Malaysia's national sport.

The prime opportunity to create more international recognition for the

game came when Malaysia hosted the 1965 South East Asia Peninsular
Games (SEAP Games, inaugurated in 1959). For the first time in the
SEAP Games, this new sport was included as a medal event, but not
before a lengthy discussion between Malaysian and Singapore delegates,
on the one hand, and Laos and Thai delegates, on the other, with
regard to the official name of the sport. The SEAP Games Committee
eventually agreed that the sport would be known as "SEPAK TAKRAW".
Sepak means "KICK" in Malay and Takraw means "WOVEN BALL" in Thai.
Also in 1965, the Asian Sepaktakraw Federation (ASTAF) was formed to
govern the sport in Asia, then in 1992 the International Sepaktakraw
Federation (ISTAF) was formed as the world governing body for the
sport.

Sepaktakraw has been on the move, being a medal event in the larger
"Asian Games" held in Beijing, 1990, in Hiroshima, 1994 and in
Bangkok, 1998. Women's events were introduced for the first time in an
international tournament in 1997 at the Xlll King's Cup Sepaktakraw
World Championships in Thailand. "Cirlce Sepak Takraw" (where 5
players who stand in a circle receive different levels of points for
each successful passing kick - actually a modification of an earlier
game that was popular in Thailand called Hoop Takraw), was introduced
for the first time in the 1998 Asian Games. Also, making history in
1998, Sepak Takraw was introduced as a demonstration event in the
Commonwealth Games held in Kuala Lumpur - seen for the first time in a
non-Asian, international sporting event! Now there are enthusiasts in
some 20 countries around the world that are playing Sepak Takraw.

EQUIPMENTS
RULES AND REGULATION
A game of Sepak Takraw is played between two teams (known as Regu).
Each Regu has three players on court and two substitutes. The players
on court are the striker, server and feeder. Game play is very similar
to the sport of Volleyball. In Sepak Takraw, players are allowed a
maximum of three contacts with the ball to get it over the net.

A coin toss will decide which Regu will start service, while the other
Regu can pick the side of court they wish to start on. The feeder will
start the game by tossing the ball to the server. The server will keep
one foot within the 'serving circle' and use his other foot to kick
the ball past the net. On the defensive Regu, the server and feeder
becomes the setters to pass the ball to the striker within three
contacts. The striker then hits or smashes the ball over the net.
 During game play, the Regu who commits a fault will lose service and a
point is awarded to the opposing team.

Service will change over after three consecutive points scored by the
serving Regu. Depending on the level of competition and rules set by
the organising committee, the first Regu that scores 21 points wins
the set. The set can only be won by the Regu with a two point lead,
and the maximum points a set typically reaches is 25 points. The
umpire will announce for the set to extend to 25 points when there is
a tie at 20 - 20. The game is played in two sets with a two minute
break in between. The Regu that wins two sets wins the match.

In the event that both Regus win a set each, the match is extended to
a tie-break set. This third set is played to 15 points, and will be
extended to 17 points if there is another tie at 14 - 14. Before the
tie-break set, the Regus will toss a coin to decide who starts the
service. Service will change over when one Regu scores eight points.
RULES
 Teams consist of three members.
 Start of play begins with a “service”
 There is a referee who may call faults or award points based on
the scoring system
REGULATIONS
 Indoor play is on a floor, similar to volleyball
 The net is similar to that of a volleyball net
 Teams must use the Sepak Takraw ball for play

PLAYERS
 SERVER
The “Server”, he is also known as “Tekong” will be position at the
centre of the court.
 STRIKER
The striker or killer is responsible for executing the volleys in to
opponent side with high speed. When the striker does not possess the
ball, he usually tries to block high kicks from the opponent side.
 FEEDER
The third type of player is the Feeder, who has the maximum control
over the ball during the match. He is the most agile and responsive
player in the team. The main job of the feeder is to set the ball in a
suitable way for the striker to kick hard past the net. He can also
hit the ball across the net. The server usually stands in the back
whereas the striker and feeder take the front left side and front
right side.

HOW TO PLAY?
The very basic rules of the game are as follows −

 The game starts with a serve. The team that has to serve first is
decided by tossing a coin. The winner of the toss can either
choose to serve or choose to defend. The side that serves first
starts the set.

 During the serve, the server must have one of his legs inside the
service circle, whereas the other players must stay in their
respective quarter circles.

 Either the feeder or the striker first tosses the ball to the
server who then kicks the ball across the net to the opponent
side with no foot in the service circle.

 Tossing the ball to the server must be done only after the
referee announces the score. If the throw takes place before the
score call, then the ball is again re-thrown and a warning is
given to the team.

 A serve is called valid if it passes over the net to the opponent

side inside the boundary before the boundary line of the opponent
team. Whether it touches the net or not doesn’t matter. Once the
serve is done, the players are free to move in to any part of
their respective court.

 In order to respond the serve, the defending team tries to again

pass the ball across the net to the opponent side within three
touches of the ball.

 Usually the feeder and the server move around the court to defend
the serve of the opposition and set the ball for the striker to
strike in two touches.

 The side that wins the first set has the option of choosing the
service.

 The game continues till one of the team makes a fault. Once a
fault is done by a team, the opponent team gets a point.

 When the ball is not in play, each team is entitled to a tactical

timeout of one minute during the game. There are no automatic
timeouts.
 During the timeout, maximum five players are allowed on the base
line in case of Regu matches.

 In case a player gets injured and needs immediate treatment, the

referee can suspend the game temporarily for 5 minutes. If after
the 5 minutes, the player is still unable to play, he can be
substituted with another player.