Who referees a sepak takraw match?
A · Advanced · Stoppages and discipline · 5 of 5Five officials work each match. The referee sits at one end of the net and the assistant referee at the other. The court referee stands behind the referee and conducts the toss. Two line referees watch the side lines. An official referee off the court supports them and is the only one who can suspend a match.
How it works
- Referee: stationed at one end of the net. Calls the score, which starts the service, and calls lets.
- Assistant referee: stationed opposite the referee.
- Court referee: stationed behind the referee. Tosses the coin before the match.
- Two line referees: one to the right of the referee and one to the right of the assistant referee, along the side lines.
- Official referee: off the court, supporting the referee.
- Stopping for injury: the referee.
- Suspending the match: only the official referee, after consulting the tournament committee.
- Leaving the court after a suspension: only with the official referee's permission.
- Disputes: only the captain may approach the referee, and disputing a decision is a serious breach of discipline.
The glossary has the match officials, the let, the coin toss, the regu captain, the suspension of play and the yellow card.
Tricky cases
Who tosses the coin?
The court referee, in the presence of both captains.
The referee cannot tell which side made the fault. What is the call?
A replay. The referee declares a let and the point is played again.
Can the referee abandon a match because of crowd trouble?
No. Only the official referee may suspend the match, after consulting the tournament committee.
Is there a video review of decisions?
No, not in the Law of the Game, which names no review or challenge. A competition's own regulations may add one, and those are not saved here.
Why the rule exists
The ball moves fast and most faults happen at the net, so an official sits at each end of it with a view along the tape. The line referees take the calls the referees cannot see. Keeping the power to suspend a match with one person off the court takes that decision away from the heat of the game.
Where it differs
| Where | What changes | Source |
|---|---|---|
| On the court | Referee, assistant referee, court referee and two line referees | ISTAF Law 10.1 |
| Off the court | An official referee | ISTAF Law 10.2 |
| The toss | By the court referee | ISTAF Law 8.1 |
| Suspending a match | The official referee only | ISTAF Law 14.3 |
| Matters not covered | Referred to the council of the association or federation | ISTAF Law 18.1 |
From the rule book
International Sepaktakraw Federation, Law of the Game 2024 (regu event, 1 January 2024), Laws 8, 10.1, 10.2, 14, 15 and 18. Checked 14 October 2026. Official document: the federation's Law of the Game (regu).