The Basic of Takraw

So now you know what takraw is about but you don't know the rules and the equipment?

First of all lets got through the rules and scoring system first.

Rules at a glance - Official rules follow

• Sepak Takraw is basically foot badminton/volleyball
• Played on a similar court to doubles badminton, with the server serving in the middle of the back half of the court.
• Having served (volley kicked) a throw from the net by a team mate, the ball must then travel over the net to begin play.
• The opposing team will then try to volley the ball back over the net into the oppositions court.
• Each team may have as many as three touches between themselves, but in order to win a point, the ball must land in the oppositions court, if it lands outside, it will be the opposing teams point.
• Points are played up to 21.. Unless a 20-21 score line is archived, then you must win by two clear points.

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

• 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 +/-

Too complicated? Here's a video for demonstration.

 

Takraw's Equipment

1. Court:

This is the actual layout of Takraw's court. Look at the position of the player, the bowler will pass the ball to server and the server will kick to the opponent side. The striker will fend off oncoming strike from the opponent and try to score for the team.

2. Takraw Ball

The Sepak Takraw ball shall be spherical in shape, made of synthetic fiber of one woven layer. Sepak Takraw ball without synthetic rubber covering must consist of the following characteristics;

• Have 12 holes.
• Have 20 intersections. 
• Has a circumference measuring not less from 0.42m to 0.44m for men and from 0.43m to 0.45m for women.
• Has a weight that range from 170 gm to 180 gm for men and from 150 gm to 160 gm for women.

THE PLAYERS

•  A match is played by two Regus, each consisting of three players.

• One of the three players shall be at the back and 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".
  
  
  Now we have cover the basics, let us watch some awesome style of play from our national team~
  
  

Sepak Takraw as Sport in Malaysia

1990 National Takraw Team

History of Takraw in Malaysia

Takraw has been in existence since 600 years ago. At the time of the Malacca Sultanate, alongside the aristocracy, the people also love this game. Malay history tells the story of King Mohammed, the son of Sultan Mansor Shah Muhammad getting his 'tanjak' off when hit by the Great Tun kick while playing takraw.

In the 1940, the game was played using nets and using scoring systems similar with badminton. Laws and regulations of takraw game has been drafted and put in writing on 15 April 1960 in Malaysia Kuala Lumpur. Sepak takraw present an adaptation takraw and badminton games. In 1965 the name changed from 'sepak raga jaring' to Sepak Takraw (Malaysia) Takraw (Thai - balls) by the Honourable Mr. Muhammad Khir Johari.

Sepak takraw has been contesded for the first time at international level in 1965 at the SEAP Games were held in Malaysia.

Association related with Takraw in Malaysia

Name: Persatuan Sepak Takraw Malaysia

President: Y.Bhg. Datuk Ahmad Ismail    Website : http://psm-mal.tripod.com

Source :http://sepaktakraw.my/persatuan/persatuan-sepaktakraw-malaysia/

History of Takraw

Sepak Takraw or kick volleyball is a sport native to Southeast Asia, resembling volleyball, except that it uses a rattan ball and only allows players to use their feet and head to touch the ball. A cross between football and volleyball, it is a popular sport in Thailand, Cambodia, Malaysia, Laos, Philippines and Indonesia.

History

Sepak takraw was almost definitely based on the Chinese game of cuju (a name which also means "kick ball"). The sport would have been brought in through early trade and had already become popular in Malaysia and Thailand by the early 1400s. Back then it was called takraw in Thai or sepak raga (literally "kick rattan ball", because the ball is made of rattan) in Malay and played mainly by men and boys standing in a circle, kicking the ball back and forth between them.

In Bangkok, murals at Wat Phra Kaew depict the Hindu god Hanuman playing takraw in a ring with a troop of monkeys. Other historical accounts mention the game earlier during the reign of King Naresuan of Ayutthaya. The game remained in its circle form for hundreds of years, and the modern version of sepak takraw began taking shape in Thailand sometime during early 1800s. In 1829, the Siam Sports Association drafted the first rules for takraw competition. Four years later, the association introduced the volleyball-style net and held the first public contest. Within just a few years, takraw was introduced to the curriculum in Siamese schools. The game became such a cherished local custom that another exhibition of volleyball-style takraw was staged to celebrate the kingdom’s first constitution in 1933, the year after Thailand abolished absolute monarchy. Later in 1935, the game was first played differently in in the state of Negeri Sembilan, Malaysia during the Silver Jubilee celebration of SMK King George V.

 
By the 1940s, the net version of the game had spread throughout Southeast Asia, and formal rules were introduced. In the Philippines the sport was called "Sipa", in Myanmar, or Burma, it was dubbed "Chinlone", in Laos "Kator", "câu mây" in Vietnam and in Indonesia "Raga."

International play is now governed by ISTAF, the International Sepak Takraw Federation. The King's Cup World Championships are held every year in Thailand.