Chapter Notes

Team Games: An Introduction

A team game is an activity where two or more players work together to achieve a common goal. In these games, individuals are organized into a team to compete against an opposing team, following a specific set of rules to win. Classic examples include Basketball, Cricket, Football, Handball, Hockey, and Volleyball.

Over time, team games have become incredibly popular, positively impacting not just the players but also their fans and even local and national economies. They provide a platform for professional athletes to achieve their dreams, with star players often becoming role models for the youth. Through these games, young athletes learn valuable life skills by following in the footsteps of their role models.

This guide will explore the history, rules, and skills of several major team games: Basketball, Cricket, Football, Handball, Hockey, Kabaddi, Kho-Kho, and Volleyball.

Basketball

Basketball is a fast-paced team game played on a court between two teams of five players each. It is a high-energy sport that helps build bone and muscle strength, boosts the immune system, and develops self-discipline and concentration.

History

Basketball was invented in December 1891 in the United States by Dr. James Naismith, a physical educator at the International Young Men's Christian Association (YMCA) Training School in Springfield, Massachusetts. Dr. Naismith was looking for a vigorous indoor game to keep his students fit and occupied during the winter.

He used a soccer ball and two wooden peach baskets, which he hung on the balcony railing at each end of the gym, 10 feet above the floor. The objective was simple: toss the soccer ball into the baskets. The first game was played between physical education students, with nine players on each side.

The international governing body for basketball, the International Basketball Federation (FIBA), was founded in Geneva in 1932. Basketball was first featured as a demonstration sport in the 1904 St. Louis Olympic Games and was officially recognized as an Olympic game in 1936 in Berlin.

History of Basketball in India

American missionaries introduced basketball to India around the early 20th century. It is believed to have started at the YMCA Calcutta in 1905. However, the YMCA College of Physical Education in Madras (now Chennai) is credited with popularizing the game in 1920.

The first National Basketball Championship was organized in 1934 by the Indian Olympic Association. Later, after the Basketball Federation of India (BFI) was formed in 1950 in Mumbai, it held its first National Championship in Ludhiana, Punjab, in 1951.

Measurement of Playgrounds and Specifications of Equipment

Playing Court

• Dimensions: The court is a hard, flat surface measuring 28 m in length and 15 m in width. It must have a free space of at least 2 m on all sides.
• Boundary Lines: All lines are 5 cm wide and are not part of the playing court. The court is divided into a Back Court (the team's own basket area) and a Front Court (the opponents' basket area) by a centre line.
• Centre Circle: It is marked in the centre of the court with a radius of 1.80 m.

Free-throw Lines and Restricted Areas

• Free-throw Line: This line is 5.80 m from the end line and is 3.60 m long.
• Restricted Area: This is the rectangular area under the basket, often called the "key" or "paint." The inner side of this area must be painted in a single color.

Equipment

• Backboard: The backboard is a rectangular board made of transparent material, measuring 1.80 m horizontally and 1.05 m vertically.
• Ring: Made of solid steel, the ring has an inside diameter of 450 mm to 459 mm.
• Net: The net is made of white cord, is 400 mm to 450 mm in length, and has 12 loops to attach it to the ring.
• Basketball: The ball is spherical and typically orange.
  • Men (Size 7): Circumference of 749-780 mm; Weight of 567-650 g.
  • Women (Size 6): Circumference of 724-737 mm; Weight of 510-567 g.

Functional Rules of Basketball

The main goal is to score in the opponent's basket while preventing them from scoring in yours. The team with the most points at the end of the game wins.

• Team Composition: A team consists of up to 12 members, with five players on the court at any time.
• Playing Time: The game is divided into four periods of 10 minutes each. There is a 15-minute half-time interval. If the score is tied, the game continues with extra periods of 5 minutes until a winner is decided.
• How the Ball is Played: The ball is played only with the hands and can be passed, thrown, tapped, rolled, or dribbled.
• Scoring:
  • 3 points: Awarded for a basket scored from outside the three-point line.
  • 2 points: Awarded for a basket scored from inside the three-point line.
  • 1 point: Awarded for a successful free throw.
• Time-out: Each team gets two time-outs in the first half and three in the second half. Each time-out lasts for one minute.
• Game Lost by Forfeit/Default: A team forfeits the game (score 20-0) if it fails to appear with five players or refuses to play. A team loses by default (score 2-0) if it has fewer than two players on the court during the game.

Violations

A violation is an infraction of the rules that results in the other team gaining possession of the ball.

• Out-of-bounds: A player is out-of-bounds if they touch the sideline or endline.
• Dribbling Violation: A player cannot touch the ball with both hands simultaneously while dribbling (double dribble) or stop and then start dribbling again.
• Time Rules:
  • Three seconds: An offensive player cannot remain in the opponents' restricted area for more than three continuous seconds.
  • Five seconds: A player cannot hold the ball for more than five seconds without dribbling, passing, or shooting.
  • Eight seconds: A team must move the ball from its back court to its front court within eight seconds.
  • Twenty-four seconds (Shot Clock): A team must attempt a shot within 24 seconds of gaining possession.
• Back Court Violation: Once a team has possession of the ball in its front court, it cannot illegally return it to its back court.

Fouls

A foul is an infraction involving illegal personal contact or unsportsmanlike behavior.

• Personal Foul: Illegal contact such as holding, blocking, pushing, or charging an opponent. A player who commits five personal fouls is excluded from the game.
• Technical Foul: A non-contact foul of a behavioral nature, such as using foul language or disrespecting an official.
• Unsportsmanlike Foul: A foul involving hard contact or an action not in the spirit of the game.
• Disqualifying Foul: Any flagrant unsportsmanlike action, resulting in immediate ejection from the game.

Basic Skills of Basketball

• Dribbling: Moving the ball by bouncing it on the floor. Key types include the low dribble (for protection), high dribble (for speed), and crossover dribble (to change direction).
• Passing and Receiving: Moving the ball between players. Common passes include the chest pass, bounce pass, and overhead pass.
• Shooting: The act of throwing the ball into the basket to score. Techniques include the jump shot, layup, and free throw.
• Rebounding: Gaining possession of the ball after a missed shot. An offensive rebound is when the attacking team recovers the ball, while a defensive rebound is when the defending team gets it.
• Defence: Strategies used to prevent the opposing team from scoring.
  • Man-to-man defence: Each defender guards a specific offensive player.
  • Zone defence: Each defender is responsible for guarding a specific area of the court.
  • Combined defence: A mix of man-to-man and zone strategies.

Awards in Basketball

The Government of India honors exceptional players and coaches with awards. In 2017, Prasanthi Singh received the Arjuna Award and in 2018 became the first basketball player to receive the Padma Shri.

Famous Indian Basketball Players

Paramjeet Singh, Sarabjit Singh, Vishesh Bhriguwanshi, Satnaam Singh, and Suman Sharma are some of the well-known Indian basketball players.

Cricket

Cricket is a bat-and-ball game that enhances stamina, balance, hand-eye coordination, and flexibility. The constant running, throwing, and sprinting make it an excellent cardiovascular activity.

History

The origins of cricket can be traced back to 16th-century England, evolving from a simple game where one person threw a piece of wood and another hit it with a bat-like object. The first recorded cricket match took place in Kent in 1646.

A major evolution occurred after 1760 when overarm bowling replaced underarm bowling. The Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) was formed in 1787 and established a code of laws that became the standard for the game. The MCC remains the custodian of cricket laws today.

The first international cricket match was played between the USA and Canada in 1844. The first official Test matches were played in 1877 between an England touring team and Australia.

History of Cricket in India

Cricket is one of India's most popular sports. The first Indian cricket club, the Parsee Oriental Cricket Club, was founded in 1848 in Bombay (now Mumbai). India's journey in international cricket began in 1926 when an MCC team toured the country.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) was established in 1928. India played its first official Test match against England in 1932. Today, cricket is played in three main formats: Test cricket (five days), One-Day Internationals (50 overs per side), and Twenty20 (T20) (20 overs per side).

Functional Rules

Cricket is played between two teams of 11 players each on a large field called a ground. The objective is for the batting team to score runs and for the fielding team to dismiss the batsmen.

• Team: Each team has 11 playing members and may have a 'twelfth player' who can act as a substitute fielder but cannot bat, bowl, or keep wicket.
• Officials: The game is officiated by two on-field umpires and a third umpire who makes video decisions.
• Game Structure: A coin toss decides which captain chooses to bat or field first. The game consists of one or two innings per team, depending on the format.
• Scoring Runs: Batsmen score runs by hitting the ball and running between two sets of wickets at either end of a central strip called the pitch. Hitting the ball to the boundary scores four runs, and hitting it over the boundary without it bouncing scores six runs.

Special Deliveries

• No Ball: An illegal delivery where the bowler oversteps the crease, the ball is deemed dangerous, or fielders are in illegal positions. The batting team gets one extra run, and the batsman cannot be out (except for specific dismissals like run out).
• Wide Ball: A delivery bowled too far from the batsman for them to have a reasonable opportunity to score. The batting team gets one extra run.

Extra Runs

• Bye: Runs scored without the batsman hitting the ball, which the wicketkeeper fails to stop.
• Leg Bye: Runs scored when the ball deflects off the batsman's body or protective gear, not the bat.

When is a Batsman declared 'out'?

There are eleven ways a batsman can be dismissed:

1. Bowled: The bowler's delivery hits and dislodges the bails from the batsman's wickets.
2. Caught: A fielder catches the ball after the batsman has hit it with the bat (or a hand holding the bat) before the ball touches the ground.
3. Stumped: The wicketkeeper dislodges the bails with the ball when the batsman is out of their crease and not attempting a run.
4. Leg Before Wicket (LBW): The ball hits the batsman's body (usually the leg) before the bat, and the umpire judges that the ball would have gone on to hit the wickets.
5. Run Out: A fielder dislodges the bails with the ball while the batsman is short of their crease when attempting a run.
6. Hit Wicket: The batsman dislodges their own wickets with their bat or body while the ball is in play.
7. Handled the Ball: The batsman willfully touches the ball with a hand not holding the bat without the opposition's consent.
8. Obstructing the Field: The batsman willfully obstructs a fielder by word or action.
9. Timed Out: A new batsman fails to be ready to face a delivery within three minutes of the previous batsman being dismissed.
10. Hit the Ball Twice: The batsman hits the ball a second time for any reason other than to protect their wicket.
11. Retired: A batsman retires from their innings without the umpire's consent and fails to get the opposing captain's permission to resume.

Field and Equipment Specifications

• Pitch Length: 22 yards (20.12 m).
• Stumps Height: 28 inches.
• Stumps Width: 9 inches.
• Bat Length: Maximum 38 inches.
• Bat Width: Maximum 4.25 inches.
• Ball Weight: 155.9 g to 163 g.
• Ball Circumference: 22.4 cm to 22.9 cm.
• Ball Colour: Red for Test matches and most day matches, white for day-night matches.

Awards in Cricket

In 2018, Virat Kohli received the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award, and Smriti Mandhana was honored with the Arjuna Award.

Football

Football, also known as soccer, is the world's most popular sport, with a history spanning over a thousand years. It is played in nearly every country.

History of the Game

The roots of modern football lie in Britain, where various ball-kicking games were played. These early forms were often rough and without standardized rules. The game's modern form began to take shape in English schools, which saw the need for a unified set of rules.

A key moment came in 1863 when a meeting at Cambridge University led to the establishment of common rules. At this meeting, the group that favored carrying the ball split off to form rugby, leading to the creation of 'Association Football'. This is when the Football Association (FA), the sport's first governing body, was formed in England.

The international governing body, 'Federation International de Football Association' (FIFA), was founded in Paris in 1904.

History of Football in India

The British army introduced football to India in the 19th century. The Durand Cup, founded in 1888 by Mortimer Durand, is the third oldest tournament in the world after the FA Cup and the Scottish Cup. Iconic clubs like Mohan Bagan were formed in 1889.

The All India Football Federation (AIFF) was established in 1937 to serve as the national governing body. The AIFF affiliated with FIFA in 1948 and the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) in 1954. It organizes major tournaments like the I-League, Federation Cup, and the Santosh Trophy.

Laws of Football

The rules of football are known as the Laws of the Game, and there are 17 of them, governed by FIFA.

• Law 1: The Field of Play: The field must be rectangular. For international matches, the length is 100-110 m and the width is 64-75 m.
• Law 2: The Ball: The ball must be spherical, with a circumference of 68-70 cm and a weight of 410-450 g.
• Law 3: The Number of Players: A match is played by two teams, each with a maximum of 11 players (one of whom is the goalkeeper). A match cannot start if a team has fewer than seven players. A maximum of three substitutes can be used in official competitions.
• Law 4: Players' Equipment: Basic equipment includes a jersey, shorts, stockings, shin guards, and shoes.
• Law 5: The Referee: The referee enforces the Laws of the Game and has the final authority on all decisions.
• Law 6: The Assistant Referees: Two assistant referees help the main referee by indicating when the ball is out of play, which team gets a corner kick or throw-in, and when a player is in an offside position.
• Law 7: The Duration of the Match: A match consists of two equal halves of 45 minutes each, with a half-time interval not exceeding 15 minutes.
• Law 8: The Start and Restart of Play: A kick-off is used to start the match, begin the second half, and restart play after a goal.
• Law 9: The Ball In and Out of Play: The ball is out of play only when it has completely crossed the goal line or touchline, or when the referee has stopped play.
• Law 10: The Method of Scoring: A goal is scored when the entire ball passes over the goal line, between the goalposts and under the crossbar.
• Law 11: Offside: A player is in an offside position if they are nearer to the opponents' goal line than both the ball and the second-last opponent when the ball is played to them. Being in an offside position is not an offense in itself; a player must become involved in active play to be penalized.
• Law 12: Fouls and Misconduct:
  • Direct Free Kick: Awarded for offenses like kicking, tripping, pushing, or deliberately handling the ball.
  • Penalty Kick: Awarded if a direct free kick offense is committed by a defender inside their own penalty area.
  • Indirect Free Kick: Awarded for less serious offenses, like dangerous play or a goalkeeper holding the ball for more than six seconds.
  • Yellow Card: A caution for unsporting behavior, dissent, or persistent rule-breaking.
  • Red Card: Sending-off for serious foul play, violent conduct, or receiving a second yellow card.
• Law 13: Free Kicks: A goal can be scored directly from a direct free kick, but not from an indirect free kick unless it touches another player first.
• Law 14: The Penalty Kick: A direct shot on goal from the penalty mark (11 m from the goal), with only the goalkeeper to beat.
• Law 15: The Throw-in: A method of restarting play when the ball goes out over the touchline.
• Law 16: The Goal Kick: A method of restarting play when the attacking team last touched the ball before it went out over the goal line.
• Law 17: The Corner Kick: A method of restarting play when the defending team last touched the ball before it went out over the goal line.

Field and Equipment Specifications

• Goal Area: An area measuring 5.5 m from each goalpost into the field.
• Penalty Area: A larger area measuring 16.5 m from each goalpost into the field.
• Goalposts: The distance between the posts is 7.32 m (8 yds), and the height from the ground to the crossbar is 2.44 m (8 ft).

Famous Indian Football Players

P.K. Banerjee, Chuni Goswami, Sunil Chhetri, Baichung Bhutia, and Aditi Chauhan are among India's most famous football players.

Handball

Handball is a team sport where two teams pass a ball using their hands with the aim of throwing it into the goal of the other team.

History

The modern rules of handball were established in Berlin in 1917 by Karl Schelenz. The sport's international governing body, the International Handball Federation (IHF), was formed in 1946 in Copenhagen, Denmark.

Field handball first appeared at the 1936 Berlin Olympics. The modern indoor version of handball returned to the Olympics at the 1972 Munich Games for men, with the women's event added in 1976.

The Handball Federation of India was established in 1972, and the first senior National Championship was also held that year. India's handball team first participated in the Asian Games in 1982.

Functional Rules

• Playing Area: The court is 40 meters long and 20 meters wide. The most important marking is the 6-meter line (goal area line). Only the goalkeeper is allowed inside this area.
• Number of Players: A team consists of 16 players, with seven playing members on the court at one time (six court players and one goalkeeper).
• Duration: For players aged 16 and above, a match consists of two halves of 30 minutes each, with a 10-minute interval.
• Team Time-out: Each team can take one 1-minute time-out per half.
• Playing the Ball: A player is allowed to:
  • Run with the ball for a maximum of 3 steps.
  • Hold the ball for a maximum of 3 seconds.
  • Dribble the ball an unlimited number of times (but no double-dribbling).
• Scoring: A goal is scored when the entire ball crosses the goal line inside the goal.
• Defending: Players can use their torso to block an opponent but cannot use outstretched arms or legs to push, hold, or trip.
• 7-Meter Throw: Similar to a penalty kick in football, this is awarded for serious fouls that deny a clear goal-scoring opportunity.
• Progressive Punishments:
  • Warning (Yellow Card): A referee can give one warning to a player and a total of three to a team for rule violations.
  • 2-Minute Suspension: Awarded for serious or repeated fouls.
  • Disqualification (Red Card): Equivalent to three 2-minute suspensions. The player must leave the court and bench, and their team plays one player short for the rest of the game.

Measurement of Playground and Specifications of Equipment

• Court: 40 m x 20 m.
• Goal Area Line: A semi-circle 6 meters from the goal.
• Free Throw Line: A broken line 9 meters from the goal.
• 7-Meter Line: A 1-meter line parallel to the goal, 7 meters away.
• Goal: 2 meters high and 3 meters wide.
• Ball: A 32-panel leather ball.
  • Men (Size 3): 58-60 cm circumference; 425-475 g weight.
  • Women (Size 2): 54-56 cm circumference; 325-375 g weight.

Hockey

Field hockey is a game played with a stick and a hard ball, with roots tracing back thousands of years to ancient Egypt. The modern game developed in England in the mid-18th century.

History

Men's hockey made its first Olympic appearance in London in 1908. After being dropped and reinstated, it became a permanent fixture. However, its exclusion from the 1924 Paris Olympics spurred the creation of a global governing body.

As a result, the Federation International de Hockey (FIH), or the International Hockey Federation, was founded in Paris in 1924, with Frenchman Paul Leautey as its first president. The FIH now serves as the guardian of the sport, regulating rules and promoting its development worldwide.

Measurement of Playground and Specifications of Equipment

• Field of Play: A rectangular field 91.40 meters long and 55 meters wide.
• Markings: All lines are 75 mm wide and marked in white. Key lines include the centre line and the 22.90-meter lines.
• Shooting Circle: A semi-circular area in front of each goal from which goals must be scored.
• Goals: The goalposts are 3.66 meters apart and the crossbar is 2.14 meters from the ground.
• Stick: The stick has a flat side (the playing side) and a rounded side. The ball can only be played with the flat side.
• Ball: A hard, spherical ball with a circumference between 224 mm and 235 mm and a weight between 156 grams and 163 grams.

Goalkeeper's Equipment

Goalkeepers wear extensive protective gear, including a helmet, hand protectors, and leg guards, allowing them to use their body to stop the ball.

Functional rules of Hockey

• Teams: Each team has up to 16 players, with 11 on the field at a time, including a goalkeeper. Rolling substitutions are allowed, meaning players can be substituted any number of times.
• Handling the Stick: Players can only use the flat side of the stick to play the ball. Using the rounded back of the stick is a foul.
• Scoring: A goal can only be scored if the ball is touched by an attacker's stick inside the shooting circle before it enters the goal.
  • Field Goal: A goal scored from open play.
  • Penalty Corner: Awarded for a defensive foul inside the shooting circle or an intentional foul inside the 23-meter area. It is a set-piece that gives the attacking team a significant scoring opportunity.
  • Penalty Stroke: A one-on-one shot between an attacker and the goalkeeper, awarded for a foul that prevents a certain goal.
• Fouls: Common fouls include using the feet to play the ball (foot foul), dangerously lifting the ball into the air, and obstruction (shielding the ball from an opponent with one's body or stick).
• Match Time: An international match consists of four quarters of 15 minutes each, for a total of 60 minutes of playing time.
• Penalty Shootout: If a knockout match is tied, the winner is decided by a penalty shootout. An attacker has 8 seconds to score in a one-on-one situation against the goalkeeper, starting from the 23-meter line.
• Umpire Cards:
  • Green Card: 2-minute temporary suspension.
  • Yellow Card: Minimum 5-minute temporary suspension.
  • Red Card: Permanent suspension from the match.

Outstanding Hockey Players

India has produced many legendary hockey players, including Ajit Pal Singh, Dhanraj Pillai, Sandeep Singh, and Sardar Singh.

Kabaddi

Kabaddi is an indigenous game of India, with its origins traced back to the epic age of the Mahabharata. The word 'Kabaddi' means 'to challenge an opponent.' The game is known by various names across India, such as Hu-Tu-Tu in the west and Chedugudu in the south.

History

Kabaddi gained national status in 1918, with Maharashtra playing a key role in its promotion. Standard rules were formulated in 1918 and published in 1923.

The All India Kabaddi Federation was formed in 1950. In 1973, the Amateur Kabaddi Federation of India (AKFI) was founded, which now governs the rules of the game.

Rules of Kabaddi

• Team: Each team has 10 to 12 players, with seven players on the court at a time.
• Duration: A match for men consists of two halves of 20 minutes each, with a 5-minute interval.
• The Raid: A player, known as the raider, enters the opponent's court while continuously chanting "Kabaddi" (the cant). The raider's goal is to touch one or more opponents and return to their own court without being caught and without breaking the cant.
• Scoring:
  • A team scores one point for each opponent the raider touches and safely returns.
  • The defending team (catchers) scores one point if they successfully tackle the raider and prevent them from returning to their court.
  • Bonus Point: A raider can score an additional bonus point by crossing the bonus line if there are six or more defenders on the court.
  • Lona: When a team puts out the entire opposing team, they score a lona, which is worth two extra points.
• Revival: A player who is out is revived when their team scores a point by getting an opponent out.
• Tie in Knockout: If a knockout match is tied, five raids are given to each team. If the tie persists, a 'Golden Raid' is used to determine the winner.
• Cards:
  • Green Card: Warning.
  • Yellow Card: 2-minute temporary suspension.
  • Red Card: Suspension from the match.

Measurement of Kabaddi Ground

• Men: 13 m x 10 m.
• Women and Junior Boys: 11 m x 8 m.
• Lobby: 1 m wide strips on both sides of the court, which are active only during a struggle.
• Baulk Line: 3.75 m from the mid-line. A raider must cross this line to make the raid valid.
• Bonus Line: 4.75 m from the mid-line.

Fundamental skills in Kabaddi

Defensive Skills (Catching)

• Ankle Hold: A defender grabs the raider's ankle to immobilize them.
• Thigh Hold: A powerful tackle where the defender holds the raider's thighs.
• Waist Hold: Used to stop a raider who is trying to turn back to their court.
• Wrist and Arm Hold: Techniques used to control the raider's upper body during a struggle.

Offensive Skills (Raiding)

• Toe Touch: A quick extension of the leg to touch a defender with the toe.
• Side Kick and Front Kick: Kicking movements to score a touch point while keeping a safe distance.
• Mule or Back Kick: A surprise kick performed with the back turned towards the defender.

Awards in Kabaddi

In 2018, G. Pranav Sai Reddy received the Arjuna Award, and coach E. Prasad Rao was honored with the Dronacharya Award.

Kho-Kho

Kho-Kho is a traditional Indian game based on the principle of 'Run and Chase.' It is a game of speed and agility that develops motor skills and a healthy competitive spirit.

History of Kho-Kho

Kho-Kho is believed to have originated in Pune, Maharashtra, as a modified form of 'Run and Chase.' The rules were first framed in 1914. The Kho-Kho Federation of India was established in 1956, and the first national championship was held in 1959.

The modern form of the game is credited to the 'Hanuman Vyayam Prasarak Mandal' Amravati. Kho-Kho was introduced as a demonstration game at the 1936 Berlin Olympics.

Measurements of Kho-Kho Playground

• Playfield Dimensions (Men/Women): 27 m x 16 m.
• Centre Lane: A lane running down the middle of the court where chasers sit.
• Cross Lanes: Eight lanes that cut across the centre lane.
• Poles: Two wooden poles, 1.20 m to 1.25 m high, are fixed at each end of the centre lane.
• Free Zone: The rectangular area beyond each pole.

General rules and regulations

• Team: Each team consists of 12 players, but only nine play at a time.
• Innings: A match consists of two innings. In each inning, a team gets a turn for chasing and a turn for running (defending), each lasting nine minutes.
• Chasing: Eight members of the chasing team sit in the squares on the central lane, facing alternate directions. The ninth player is the active chaser.
• Giving 'Kho': The active chaser can transfer their turn to a sitting teammate by touching them on the back and shouting "Kho!" The sitting player then becomes the active chaser.
• Rules for Chasers: A chaser must run in the direction they first take and cannot change it unless they enter the free zone around the pole.
• Running (Defending): The running team sends players in batches of three. A runner is out if they are touched by an active chaser.
• Scoring: The chasing team scores one point for every runner they get out.

Fundamental skills of Kho-Kho

• Giving Kho: The technique of passing the chase to a teammate. It can be simple, early, or late to deceive the runner.
• Chasing: The art of pursuing and touching a runner.
• Dodging: The runner's skill of avoiding being touched by feinting and changing direction.
• Diving: A spectacular skill where a chaser dives to touch a runner who is just out of reach.

Important tournaments

• International: Asian Championship.
• National: Federation Cup, Nehru Gold Cup, National Kho-Kho Championship.

Volleyball

Volleyball is a popular team sport played by two teams of six players on a court divided by a net. The objective is to score points by grounding the ball on the opponent's court.

History of Volleyball

The game was invented in 1895 by William G. Morgan and was originally called "Mintonette."

The international governing body, the Federation Internationale de Volleyball (FIVB), was founded in 1947. In India, the Volleyball Federation of India (VFI) was formed in 1951.

Volleyball was introduced to the Asian Games in 1958 (for men) and made its Olympic debut at the 1964 Tokyo Games.

Court Dimensions and Equipment

• Playing Court: A rectangular court measuring 18 m x 9 m.
• Attack Line: A line drawn 3 m from the centre line, marking the front zone.
• Net Height:
  • Men: 2.43 m.
  • Women: 2.24 m.
• Antenna: A flexible rod, 1.80 m long, attached to each side of the net to mark the crossing space for the ball.
• Ball: A spherical leather or synthetic leather ball with a circumference of 65-67 cm and a weight of 260-280 g.

How to play volleyball

• Team: A team consists of 12 players, with six on the court. A toss decides the first serve.
• Rotation: When a team wins the right to serve, its players rotate one position clockwise. This ensures that all players play in both front-row and back-row positions.
• Playing the Ball: Each team is allowed a maximum of three hits to return the ball over the net (a block does not count as one of the three hits). A player cannot hit the ball twice consecutively.
• Scoring (Rally Point System): A point is scored on every rally, regardless of which team served.
  • If the serving team wins the rally, it scores a point and continues to serve.
  • If the receiving team wins the rally, it scores a point and gains the right to serve.
• Winning a Set: A set is won by the team that first scores 25 points with a minimum lead of two points.
• Winning the Match: A match is won by the team that wins three sets. If the match is tied 2-2, a deciding 5th set is played to 15 points (with a two-point lead).
• The Libero:
  • A specialized defensive player who wears a different colored jersey.
  • Can replace any back-row player without prior notice to the officials.
  • Is restricted to playing as a back-row player and cannot serve, block, or complete an attack hit from above the top of the net.

Fundamental Skills

1. The Service: The act of putting the ball into play. Types include the tennis service (overhand), jump serve, and floating service.
2. The Pass (Bump): Also known as the underarm pass, this is used to receive a serve or a hard-hit spike.
3. The Set-up (Volley): An overhead pass used to set the ball for an attacker to spike.
4. The Attack (Spike): A powerful, one-handed hit that sends the ball over the net into the opponent's court.
5. The Block: A defensive play where one or more front-row players jump and raise their hands above the net to stop or slow down an opponent's attack.

Awards in Volleyball

In 2014, Tom Joseph was a recipient of the Arjuna Award. Coach G.E. Sridharan was honored with the Dronacharya Award in 2007.