What is a technical point in kabaddi?
I · Intermediate · Fouls, officials and ties · 4 of 7A technical point is one point given to a team because the other team broke a rule of procedure or conduct. Nobody is put out and nobody is revived. The usual causes are a late cant, a raid out of turn, two raiders at once, a slow start to a raid and coaching the raider.
How it works
- Late or improper cant: one technical point, and the raid is taken again.
- Raid out of turn: one technical point.
- More than one raider: one technical point, and the raid is taken again.
- Raid not started within five seconds: one technical point, and the raid is still taken.
- Raider prompted by their own team: one technical point.
- Stopping a raider from taking their turn: one technical point, and the raid is taken again.
- Breaking a rule in a time-out or substitution: one technical point.
- Oil or another slippery substance: one technical point, and the player is sent to wipe it off.
- Coach on the field of play: one technical point, with a green card the first time and a yellow if repeated.
- Leaving the court during a stoppage or official time-out: one technical point.
- Slow return after an all out: one technical point for every 15 seconds.
- With a yellow card: every yellow card carries a technical point.
The glossary has the technical point, the cant, the raid, the time-out, the all out and the warning cards.
Tricky cases
Does a technical point bring back an out player?
No. Revival follows putting an opponent out. A technical point is a point on the scoreboard and nothing more.
A coach shouts instructions to the raider from the bench. Is that a technical point?
Yes, it can be. If a raider is "coached, guided or in any way instructed by one of his own side during the raid", the umpire or referee may give the opponents a technical point.
Defenders stand over the mid line and block the next raider from starting. What is the call?
A technical point to the raiding team, and the raid is taken.
A player walks off for a drink during an injury stoppage. Penalty?
Yes. Leaving the court during a temporary suspension of the match or an official time-out costs a technical point.
Why the rule exists
Most of these offences do no harm to an opponent, so putting a player out would be too much, and a warning alone would be too little in a game often won by a point or two. One point is a penalty that fits and that a team feels.
Where it differs
| Where | What changes | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Late cant, two raiders, slow start, raider blocked | Technical point and a re-raid | IKF Rule 66 (1), (3), (4), (7) |
| Raid out of turn, coaching, time-out breach, leaving the court | Technical point only | IKF Rule 66 (2), (6), (8), (11) |
| Coach enters the field of play | Technical point; green card, then yellow | IKF Rule 66 (10) |
| Slow return after an all out | One technical point for every 15 seconds; the match is lost after a minute | IKF Rule 66 (12), (13) |
| On the score sheet | A technical point is circled | Technical Officials, duties of the scorer |
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 27, 32 to 35, 42, 43, 51, 63, 65 and 66 and the Technical Officials chapter. Checked 14 October 2026. Official document: Rules and Regulations of All Forms of Kabaddi (PDF, a scan).