How long is a kabaddi match?
B · Beginner · The game · 1 of 9A men's kabaddi match lasts 40 minutes, in two halves of 20 with a five-minute break. Women, junior girls and sub-juniors play two halves of 15. The team that wins the toss chooses either to raid first or which half of the court to take, and the teams change ends at half-time.
How it works
- Men and junior boys: two halves of 20 minutes, five-minute break.
- Women, junior girls and sub-juniors: two halves of 15 minutes, five-minute break.
- The toss: the winner chooses to raid first or picks a half. The loser has the other choice.
- Second half: the teams change halves, and the team that did not raid first now raids first.
- Players carried over: each team starts the second half with the number of players it had on court at the end of the first.
- The last raid: a raid under way when time runs out is allowed to finish.
- Stopped time: time-outs and official stoppages are added to the match time.
- The winner: the team with more points at the end.
The glossary has the toss, the half, the raid, the time-out, the out player and the referee.
Tricky cases
Time runs out while a raider is in the other half. Does the raid count?
Yes. "The last raid of each half of the match will be allowed to be completed even after completion of the scheduled time".
A team has three players left at half-time. Does it restart with seven?
No. It restarts with three. Players who are out stay out until they are revived.
Does the clock stop for an injury?
Yes. The referee or an umpire can take an official time-out for an injury, and that time is added to the match.
Can a match end level?
It depends. A league match can be a tie, with one league point each. A knockout match goes to a tie-breaker.
Why the rule exists
Teams raid in turn, so raiding first is a small advantage. The rules share it by giving the other team the first raid after the break. Carrying player numbers across half-time means a team cannot use the interval to wipe out a bad spell.
Where it differs
| Where | What changes | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Men and junior boys | 20 minutes, 5-minute break, 20 minutes | IKF Rule 49; measurement chart |
| Women, junior girls and sub-juniors | 15 minutes, 5-minute break, 15 minutes | IKF Rule 49; measurement chart |
| League match level at the end | A tie: one league point each | IKF Rule 57 |
| Knockout match level at the end | Five raids each, then the golden raid | IKF Rule 55; 56 |
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 23 to 26, 49, 51 and 54. Checked 14 October 2026. Official document: Rules and Regulations of All Forms of Kabaddi (PDF, a scan).