What happens to a kabaddi player who is out?
B · Beginner · The game · 4 of 9A player who is out leaves the court and sits in the sitting block behind the end line. They are not gone for good. Each time their team puts an opponent out, one of its own out players is revived and returns. Players come back in the order in which they went out.
How it works
- A defender is out: when touched by a raider who then gets home, on stepping out of bounds or on crossing into the raider's half during a raid.
- A raider is out: when caught, on losing the cant, on stepping out of bounds or on failing to cross the baulk line.
- Where they go: the sitting block, seated in the order they were put out. An assistant scorer keeps the order.
- Revival: an out player returns when their team puts an opponent out.
- The order: "A Player or players who are out will be revived in the same order as they were put out."
- No revival for a bonus point: only a point for putting a player out brings one back.
- No substitutes for out players: a player who is out cannot be replaced.
The glossary has the out player, the revival, the sitting block, the bonus point, the substitution and the all out.
Tricky cases
A team's star raider is out. Can the team choose to bring that player back first?
No. Revival follows the order in which players were put out. If two went out before the star, they return first.
A raider scores only a bonus point. Is a teammate revived?
No. "There will be no revival for bonus point."
A raider touches two defenders and gets home. How many teammates return?
Two, if two are out. One is revived for each opponent put out.
Can a coach replace an out player with a fresh substitute?
No. "Substitution is not allowed for out players and suspended players."
Why the rule exists
Revival is what makes kabaddi swing. Every point takes a player from one team and can return one to the other, so a team that is nearly wiped out can rebuild in a few raids. Without it, the first team to lose players would never recover.
Where it differs
| Where | What changes | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Point for putting an opponent out | One player revived | IKF Rule 50 with C |
| Bonus point | Nobody revived | IKF Rule 53f |
| Failed do-or-die raid | The raider is out; the opponents get a point and one player back | IKF Rule 39 |
| All out | The whole team returns within 15 seconds | IKF Rule 42 |
| Tie-breaker raids | Out and revival do not apply; only points count | IKF Rule 55e |
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, 27, 30, 37, 39, 40, 42, 46, 50, 52 and 53 and the duties of the assistant scorers. Checked 14 October 2026. Official document: Rules and Regulations of All Forms of Kabaddi (PDF, a scan).