Two players standing a metre apart on a kabaddi court can have completely different jobs, different training programmes and different market values. The positions are not formally listed in the rulebook, yet every professional squad is built around them.
Understanding kabaddi court and player positions means knowing the marked lines, what each zone does and how the seven players on court divide the defensive and attacking work.
This guide covers the court markings, every positional role, how formations are arranged and why corner defenders are the most valuable specialists in the sport.
The Court and Its Markings
Every line serves a specific function.
A midline divides the two halves.
The baulk line marks the minimum raiding depth.
The bonus line sits further back again.
Lobbies run along both side boundaries.
The end line closes the rear of each half.
Dimensions differ slightly for men and women.
Court Zones Explained
| Marking | Position | Function |
|---|---|---|
| Midline | Centre of the court | Separates the two halves |
| Baulk line | Behind the midline | Raider must cross to score certain points |
| Bonus line | Behind the baulk line | Bonus point available when six defend |
| Lobby | Both side strips | In play only after contact |
| End line | Rear boundary | Out of bounds beyond it |
| Sitting block | Off court | Area for players who are out |
The lobby rule is the most frequently misunderstood element, because the side strips only become legal playing area once a raider and a defender make contact.
The Defensive Positions
Seven defenders occupy defined spots.
Two corners sit at the rear boundary edges.
Two covers work inside the corners.
Two in-corners sit ahead of the covers.
A centre defender anchors the middle.
Each position implies a different skill set.
Chains form between adjacent defenders.
What Each Defender Does
- Corners execute ankle holds and dashes near the boundary
- Covers perform thigh holds and block escape routes
- In-corners support both the corner and the cover
- The centre reads the raid and directs the line
- Right and left sides mirror each other’s responsibilities
- Defenders communicate constantly during a raid
- Chains link two or more players for a combined tackle
- Positions rotate as players are sent out and revived
Corner defenders are generally the highest-paid specialists because an ankle hold near the boundary is the highest-percentage tackle available in the sport.
The Raiding Roles
Attack is also divided by type.
A primary raider carries most of the attacking load.
Support raiders take secondary turns.
All-rounders both raid and defend.
Specialist bonus raiders target the line.
Running raiders rely on speed and evasion.
Powerful raiders use hand touches and strength.
Squads balance these types deliberately.
Formations and Their Purpose
Defensive shapes vary by situation.
A standard chain covers the full width.
A compressed shape protects against bonus points.
Spread formations prevent multi-point raids.
Depleted sides adopt deeper positions.
Corners may advance to force errors.
Coaches adjust these between raids.
Positions and Their Attributes Compared
| Position | Primary skill | Physical profile |
|---|---|---|
| Left corner | Ankle hold | Explosive, low centre of gravity |
| Right corner | Ankle hold and dash | Similar, mirrored footwork |
| Left cover | Thigh hold | Taller and stronger |
| Right cover | Block and thigh hold | Similar build |
| In-corners | Support and chain work | Mobile and versatile |
| Centre | Reading and directing | Experienced all-rounder |
Auction valuations consistently reflect this hierarchy, with established corners and covers commanding the highest prices among defensive specialists.
All-rounders capable of both raiding and defending are valued for the squad flexibility they provide rather than for peak output in either discipline.
How Positions Shift During a Raid
The defensive shape is never static.
Defenders advance as the raider commits.
Corners hold position longest.
Covers close the escape angles.
The centre calls the timing of the tackle.
Chains form and break within seconds.
Positional discipline decides most raids.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many players are on a kabaddi court?
Seven per side, with substitutes available from the bench.
What is the baulk line?
A line the raider must cross before returning in defined situations.
Why are corner defenders so valuable?
Because ankle holds executed near the boundary are the most reliable tackles in the game.
When does the lobby come into play?
Only after contact between the raider and a defender during a raid.
The Short Version
A kabaddi court is divided by a midline, baulk line and bonus line, with lobbies along both sides. Seven defenders occupy corners, in-corners, covers and a centre position, while raiders are categorised by style. Corners are the most valued specialists because of the ankle hold.
Court Dimensions
Measurements are standardised by the governing body.
Men’s courts are slightly larger than women’s.
Mat surfaces are used in professional competition.
Lobby width is specified precisely.
Line widths are also defined.
Junior competitions may reduce dimensions.
Mat quality affects movement considerably.
Training by Position
Preparation is highly specialised.
Corners train explosive lateral movement.
Covers develop upper body strength for holds.
Raiders focus on agility and evasion.
All players train grip strength extensively.
Flexibility work reduces injury risk.
Video analysis supports positional learning.
Substitutions and Positional Cover
Squads must cover every role.
Specialist backups are retained for corners.
Substitutions are limited per match.
Tactical changes protect a depleted position.
Injury replacements may force improvisation.
Versatile players increase bench value.
Coaches plan these scenarios in advance.
Auction strategy reflects the same logic.
The Ankle Hold Explained
It is the signature defensive skill.
A corner grips the raider’s ankle from below.
Timing matters more than strength.
The raider’s momentum is used against them.
Support from a cover completes the tackle.
Boundary proximity increases the success rate.
Mistiming leaves the corner exposed.
The Thigh Hold and Block
Covers rely on different mechanics.
A thigh hold stops forward movement.
Blocks cut the return path to the midline.
Leverage and body position are decisive.
Covers often initiate a chain.
Height is an advantage in this role.
Strength training is heavily emphasised.
Technique still outweighs raw power.
Raiding Styles in Detail
Attackers are categorised by approach.
Running raiders use speed and direction changes.
Hand touch specialists rely on reach and timing.
Kick raiders deploy toe touches and back kicks.
Bonus raiders target the line consistently.
Power raiders break through chains physically.
Most elite raiders combine several methods.
Defences prepare specifically for each style.
Reading the Defensive Line
Raiders assess the shape before committing.
Gaps between defenders indicate opportunity.
Corner positioning reveals likely tackles.
Body orientation signals intent.
The bonus line may be available or defended.
Raiders test the line before attacking it.
Thirty seconds is less time than it appears.
Hesitation usually results in a do-or-die raid.
Communication on Court
Defence is a coordinated activity.
The centre usually issues instructions.
Calls indicate when to advance or hold.
Players track the raider’s preferred side.
Crowd noise complicates verbal signals.
Hand gestures supplement calls.
Established units need fewer instructions.
Positional Play in Women’s Kabaddi
The structure is identical in principle.
Court dimensions are slightly smaller.
Corner and cover roles function the same way.
Chain defence is widely used.
Raiding styles show similar variety.
Domestic leagues have expanded recently.
International standards continue to rise.
Tactical sophistication matches the men’s game.
Surfaces and Equipment
The playing surface shapes technique.
Professional competition uses synthetic mats.
Traditional kabaddi was played on earth.
Mats allow faster lateral movement.
Footwear choice affects grip significantly.
Line markings must be clearly visible.
Mat condition influences injury rates.
How Statistics Track Positions
Analytics have become positional.
Tackle success rate is recorded by role.
Corners are measured on ankle hold conversion.
Covers are assessed on chain contribution.
Raiders are tracked by points per raid.
Super tackle involvement is logged separately.
Teams use these in auction valuation.
Public coverage of them has improved.
Building a Squad by Position
Team construction follows a template.
Two specialist corners are considered essential.
Two covers complete the defensive core.
A primary raider carries the attacking load.
Two support raiders share the remaining raids.
All-rounders provide depth across roles.
Bench strength covers injuries and suspensions.
Budget allocation mirrors these priorities.
Common Misunderstandings
Several assumptions about positions are wrong.
Positions are not fixed in the rulebook.
Corners are defenders, not boundary markers.
Raiders do defend when numbers demand it.
The lobby is not always in play.
The bonus line is not always active.
Substitutes are not freely interchangeable.
Each confuses viewers new to the sport.
What Viewers Should Watch
A few habits make positional play visible.
Identify the two corners before each raid.
Watch which cover moves first.
Note whether the chain forms or breaks.
Track how the shape changes as numbers fall.
Observe which raider is given do-or-die raids.
See whether the bonus line is being protected.
The tactical pattern becomes clear quickly.
Developing Young Players
Specialisation begins relatively early.
Coaches assess build and reaction speed.
Corner candidates show explosive low movement.
Cover candidates develop later physically.
Raiders are identified by agility and confidence.
Academies rotate players before fixing roles.
Early specialisation carries some risk.
Versatility is encouraged at junior level.
How Positions Have Evolved
Professional leagues formalised the roles.
Traditional kabaddi used looser arrangements.
Televised analysis popularised the terminology.
Auction economics reinforced specialisation.
Coaching staff expanded to cover each role.
Statistics made individual contribution measurable.
The vocabulary is now standard across the sport.
It barely existed two decades ago.
A Closing Assessment
Kabaddi’s positional system is an unusual case of structure emerging from professional competition rather than from the rulebook.
Nothing in the laws requires a corner, a cover or an in-corner, yet every serious squad is built around exactly those roles.
The court markings explain why. A boundary behind the defence makes the ankle hold viable, and that single tackle creates the most valuable specialist position in the sport.
Raiding roles divided along similar lines once teams began tracking points per raid rather than total points.
For a new viewer, identifying the corners before each raid is the fastest route into understanding what is happening.
Everything else on the court is arranged around them.
That arrangement also explains the rhythm of a professional match.
Early raids are exploratory as both sides test positioning.
Mid-half the shape tightens as numbers begin to fall.
Late in a half the corners become decisive.
A side missing one corner is visibly weaker.
Coaches substitute specifically to avoid that situation.
Watching for it reveals most of the tactical plan.
The same logic governs how squads are assembled before a season.
Teams secure their corners first and build outward from there.
A strong raider without defensive support rarely wins matches.
A strong defence can survive an average raiding unit.
That asymmetry is reflected in auction spending every year.
It is also why defensive specialists have become household names.
Twenty years ago the sport had no equivalent recognition for them.
Professionalisation changed that in a remarkably short period.
Broadcast graphics began labelling positions during live coverage.
Commentary adopted the terminology consistently.
Statistics were published by role rather than by player only.
Audiences learned the structure without being taught it formally.
That is an unusually effective piece of sports education.
Most viewers now use the vocabulary without hesitation.
For players entering the sport the implications are practical.
Choosing a position early shapes the entire training programme.
Corners need explosive power and exceptional reaction time.
Covers need strength, height and patience.
Raiders need agility, confidence and a tolerance for pressure.
Coaches will usually identify the best fit within a few sessions.
Following that advice tends to produce faster progress.
None of it changes the fundamentals of the court itself.
A midline, a baulk line, a bonus line and two lobbies.
Five markings that between them generate every tactical decision in the sport.
Learning what each one does takes a few minutes.
Understanding how seven players arrange themselves around them takes a season.
Both are worth the effort for anyone following kabaddi seriously.
The corners are the place to start, and everything else on the mat will gradually make sense from there.
That is how most experienced supporters learned to read the game.
It remains the quickest route in for anyone starting now.
A single televised match is usually enough to confirm it.
