Sepak takraw originated in Malaysia in the 1930s and developed popularity in Southeast Asian countries under different names. In the 1960s, representatives from Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, Laos and Thailand standardized the rules and formed the Asian Sepak Takraw Federation. The sport was included in the Asian Games in 1990 and women's competitions began in 1997. Today over 20 countries have national sepak takraw associations under the global governing body, the International Sepak Takraw Federation.

2. 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.

3. 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.

4. 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.

5. 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.

6. 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).

8. 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
The standard court of the Sport Sepak Takraw
benumbered13.4m X 6.1m free from
is an area of permanently in which
numbers are uptherangedflat 8m.1 to 15.
allobstacles
advisable that
only a height of concrete
to
court is
from It is
Thecaptain of each the lines that of 3 or
surface. Thewidth of regu (team
4 players) is required to wear an
determines the perimeter of the court
should not be more than0.04m measured
armband ontheir left arm. Any apparel
and drawn inside the measurements of the
that could endanger opponents is not at
court. The lines of thecourt should also be
allowed. away from any obstacles. Each
least 3.0m
side should have a6.7X6.1m area.

10. 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.

12. 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.

14. 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”.

15. The 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.

17.  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.

19.  Creating distracting manner or noise or
shouting at his opponent.

21.  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).

23.  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