Kabaddi is a game of 2 teams of 12 players each, where one team becomes the raiders and the other team anti raiders. Seven players shall take the ground at a time and the remaining five players shall be reserved. The raider has to go to the opposing court with the continuous clear sound recitation aloud of the word 'Kabaddi' without stopping to take a breath and should try to touch an anti raider and make him out. The duration of a match for men shall be 2 halves of 20 minutes each. For women and juniors there will be 2 halves of the duration of 15 minutes each. There shall be an interval of 5 minutes between both the halves.

The side that wins the toss shall have the choice of the court or the raid. In the second half, the court shall be changed and the side which had not sent their raider first shall send their raider first. The game in the second half shall continue with the same number of players as it was at the end of the first half.

A maximum of three players can be substitutes with the permission of the referee during the duration of the game. Doping is not allowed. Raids must be closely paired. The players shall be properly numbered at their back and front. Use of oil or any other substance on the body is not allowed. A player shall not be allowed to use any metallic substance.