Sepak takraw is a volleyball-like sport that originated in Southeast Asia. It’s played with a ball made of braided rattan.
Sepaktakraw is administered worldwide by ISTAF (International Sepaktakraw Federation). Court sizes, markings and equipment can be tailored to fit local conditions.
Game
Sepak Takraw is a sport where two teams of players use their feet, knees and chest to kick a hand-woven rattan ball over the net. It’s similar to volleyball but played across Southeast Asian countries such as Thailand and Laos.
This game takes place on a double-sized court that’s marked out and topped with a net that looks like a quarter circle. Each team is allowed three touches of the ball before they must return it over without it hitting any ground; failure to do so results in a point for their opponent.
Though similar to volleyball, basketball differs in that the ball has a spherical shape and can be made of synthetic fibre or one woven layer. Historically, these balls were hand woven rattan but more recently have been replaced by modern synthetic balls.
A numerical simulation of the aerodynamics of a nonspinning sepak takraw ball was conducted to explore its dependence on face orientation. The model was simulated using Ansys CFX at various wind speeds and Reynolds numbers.
Flow visualization demonstrated that drag and lift coefficients changed as velocity increased for each position of the sepak takraw ball. Notably, behind the ball, vortices became more chaotic as speed increased.
This marked a dramatic improvement in the aerodynamics of a sepak takraw ball. At position 1, drag force was measured at 0.424 and lift force at -0.105; these values were affected by the geometry, number of holes and surface roughness of the ball.
CFD analysis was then used to investigate the effect of these factors on drag and lift for a sepak takraw ball in a rectangular box at 4 x 104 m/s with an initial mesh size of 1.5 million nodes and 8.3 million elements. Results showed that the turbulence model accurately predicted both drag and lift for this nonspinning rattan ball.
Court
Sepak takraw is a sport that originated in Thailand and plays similarly to volleyball but with several important differences. For one, the ball used is made of rattan; additionally, players must work in teams of two and only use their feet, knees, chest and head when touching the ball.
International Sepak Takraw is overseen globally by the International Sepak Takraw Federation (ISTAF), which also organizes major competitions like the ISTAF Super Series, ISTAF World Cup and King’s Cup World Championships. Though not an Olympic sport yet, it has been part of Asian Games since 1990.
In Canada, Sepak Takraw was officially established in December 1998 by the Sepak Takraw Association of Canada (STAC). STAC works to promote and organize tournaments throughout Canada; its first annual Canadian Open Sepak Takraw Championships were held in 1999 at Regina, Saskatchewan.
Manipur, India’s northeasternmost state, has long been known for its vibrant sepak takraw culture. At the 22nd King’s Cup International Sepak Takraw Tournament held in Bangkok last year, India took home a bronze medal in men’s team regu and silver in women’s doubles competition.
Though still relatively young, rugby is rapidly gaining worldwide recognition. It’s an enjoyable and fast-paced game suitable for everyone regardless of age or skill level.
The game is played on a court that meets ITSAF specifications, with an official Sepak Takraw ball. Before play begins, teams are decided who serves first by coin toss.
Play begins when a server receives the ball from their teammate and must kick it over the net while keeping one foot inside the service circle. Only feet, knees, head and chest may touch the ball; any attempt at touching with hands will result in a fault and point for the opposition.
This ball is uniquely textured, featuring numerous holes and weave patterns. CFD studies of this unique ball have been conducted to investigate how these geometric factors impact its drag and lift parameters. Results reveal that drag coefficients range from 0.455 to 0.465 for various Reynolds numbers.
Equipment
Sepak takraw, or kick volleyball, is a game from Southeast Asia played on a rattan ball. Similar to volleyball but differing in that players use their feet, knee, chest and head instead of their hands to touch the ball.
The game of badminton is played on a court that’s twice the size of badminton’s court. It requires at least 13 meters by 6 meters with free space overhead up to 8 meters, as well as having a net post at least 1.45 metres tall for female competitions and approximately 1.55 meters high for male matches.
In addition to the net, another essential item is a spherical ball made of synthetic fibre in one woven layer. It should have 12 holes and 20 intersections and an overall circumference ranging from 0.41m to 0.43m for men and 0.42m to 0.44m for women.
Men should aim for a maximum weight of 170 to 180 grams, while women should aim for 150-160 grams. Most balls are composed of synthetic polymeric fibers to provide good bounce for speed impact and performance.
Studies on the effect of sepak takraw balls on the brain are yet to be done, but it’s believed they help enhance mental focus and coordination in players. Furthermore, their smaller diameter may contribute to better agility as they generate negative lift.
The game is an engaging and challenging activity for kids of all ages. It promotes physical education classes, summer camps, or just having some fun with family and friends is great!
Rules
Sepak Takraw, also known as Kick Volleyball, is a team sport widely played throughout Southeast Asia. It’s fast-paced and athletic, making it suitable for players of all ages.
Goal of the game: Kick a rattan ball over a net to score points. Similar to volleyball, but without hands; players only touch the ball with their feet or other parts of their body (head, chest, knees).
At the start of each game, one player serves a ball over the net to their opponent. The server stands in the center of the court with one foot inside the service circle.
When serving, the Tekong (server) must attempt to hit the ball as far over the net without it touching ground. If they fail, then the other player is awarded a point.
A match consists of three sets, with each set played to 21 points. If a set is level after two sets are played, a tiebreaker must be played to decide the victor.
The rules of the game are similar to volleyball’s, but it moves much quicker and faster. This makes it ideal for those looking to get in shape or boost their physical fitness level.
To play, two teams of three players are needed. Each team consists of a ‘Teukgong’ (the player furthest away from the net) and an ‘Inside Left Inside’ and ‘Inside Right Inside’ on each side.
Players wear protective gear and shoes, and the ball must meet certain specifications. Originally made of rattan, but now it is composed of synthetic fiber.
The game of Sepak Takraw is played on a court that’s similar to double-sized badminton with dimensions of 13.4 meters by 6.1 meters and an in-centre net. All boundary lines must adhere to official regulations set out for Sepak Takraw.
The ball used in this game should be slightly smaller than a volleyball but larger than table tennis ball. For men it should have an outer diameter of 42 to 44 cm and 43 to 45 cm for women; additionally it should weigh between 170 and 180 grams.