How do you score points in kabaddi?
B · Beginner · The game · 3 of 9A team scores one point for every opponent it puts out. A raider does that by touching defenders and getting home, and defenders do it by catching the raider. There are three other ways to score: a bonus point for crossing the bonus line, two extra points for an all out and technical points for the other team's offences.
How it works
- Touch points: one for each defender the raider touches before getting home with the cant.
- Catch point: one to the defending team when the raider is held and does not get home.
- Self-outs: a point to the other team for each player who goes out through their own error, such as stepping out of bounds.
- Bonus point: one to the raider for crossing the bonus line, when at least six defenders are on court.
- All out: two extra points for putting the whole opposing team out.
- Technical point: one to the opponents for each listed offence.
- Both teams can score in one raid: a raider who crosses the bonus line and is then caught earns a point, and so does the defence.
- The result: the team with more points wins.
The glossary has the touch, the catch, the bonus point, the all out, the technical point and the super raid.
Tricky cases
A raider touches three defenders and gets home. How many points?
Three, one for each defender put out. Commentators call this a super raid. The term is not in the rule book.
A raider touches two defenders and is then caught. Who scores?
The defending team, one point. The raider did not get home, so the touched defenders are not out.
A raider crosses the bonus line, then is caught. Who scores?
Both. The raider's team gets the bonus point and "the opponent team will also be awarded one point".
A raider goes in, touches nobody and comes home. Does anyone score?
No. It is an empty raid, as long as the raider crossed the baulk line.
Why the rule exists
Putting a player out is the heart of the game, so it is the unit of scoring: one player, one point. The extra ways to score each reward something the game wants to encourage, such as deep raids and finishing a team off, or punish something it wants to prevent.
Where it differs
| Where | What changes | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Each opponent put out | One point | IKF Rule 50 |
| Bonus line crossed with six or more defenders on court | One point; nobody is revived for it | IKF Rule 53 |
| All out | Two extra points on top of the points of the raid | IKF Rule 22; 42; 50 |
| Listed offences | One technical point to the opponents | IKF Rule 66 |
| Pro Kabaddi League | A super tackle earns an extra point | C; this book defines the super catch and does not state a value |
From the rule book
Amateur Kabaddi Federation of India, Rules and Regulations of All Forms of Kabaddi (version 2.1.0, the International Kabaddi Federation rules, 2017), Rules 11, 12, 14, 22, 42, 50, 53, 54 and 66. Checked 14 October 2026. Official document: Rules and Regulations of All Forms of Kabaddi (PDF, a scan).