Sepak takraw, an athletic game played across Southeast Asia, involves using the feet, knees, chest, and head to kick a ball around – similar to volleyball!
Sepak Takraw is governed by the International Sepak Takraw Federation (ISTAF), and major tournaments include its World Cup, Super Series and King’s Cup events.
Origins
Sepak takraw has its origins in Southeast Asia during the 15th century. First practiced in Malaysia and Thailand, later introduced to America.
Volleyball-like game, where players use their feet, head, and knees to kick the ball over a net. Two teams (known as regu) compete against one another to see who will kick their ball across it first and win.
Sepak takraw is an immensely popular sport in Malaysia and Thailand, and is slowly spreading throughout other nations around the globe. The International Sepak Takraw Federation presently comprises 30 member associations and oversees major international tournaments.
Since 1990, beach volleyball has been featured as a medal sport at both the Asian Games and World Games as a demonstration sport, making a strong case for inclusion as an Olympic event.
Sepak takraw has quickly become one of the most popular school and sports club activities across America since being introduced by an Asian immigration group in Saskatchewan teacher Rick Engel was one of its early advocates, having written three instructional books on it and hosted sessions at physical education conferences across the US.
Equipment required for playing badminton includes two main elements: a net and rattan ball. Nets typically feature fine cord or nylon mesh measuring six to eight centimeters wide for optimal play, and each game begins by tossing out three balls from their respective sets into an open court area.
Rattan balls are soft spheres made of synthetic fibre or hand woven layers of material that can be covered in synthetic rubber to cushion impact on player bodies.
Rules
Sepak takraw is an extremely physical sport similar to volleyball; players use their heads, chest, and feet rather than hands as they compete against one another for dominance on the court. It requires high levels of fitness as players combine ball skills with bicycle kicks and foot kicks in this exciting yet fast-paced competition.
Played on a court measuring 13.4×6.1 metres with an overhanging net that measures 1.5m for men and 1.42m for women, Sepaktakraw has been included as an official event at Asian Games since 1990 and is administered by the International Sepaktakraw Federation (ISTAF).
Players have three attempts per set to hit a ball over the net and score points, and if no team reaches 21 before another team does then a tiebreaker will be used to decide the outcome of that set.
Rick Engel introduced and helped establish Sepak Takraw in Canada through the Sepak Takraw Association of Canada (STAC). He has written three instructional books and produced five DVDs about this sport.
David led sessions for Canadian physical education teachers as well as at International Association for Health Promotion Education conferences worldwide. Additionally, he contributed to the development of sport in Asia through various government education projects including one in Indonesia.
He conducted another study to establish the anthropometric and physiological profiles of national sepak takraw players. Their height, body weight, percent body fat, maximum oxygen consumption (Vo2max), range of motion, back and leg strength and heart rate were recorded; results revealed a mean height for men of 173 cm (6 feet 5 inches), with women measuring in at 158 cm (4 feet 10 inches), which falls within Malaysian population norms.
Equipment
Sepak takraw, or rattan ball, is an international sport played with a spherical rattan ball and governed by the International Sepaktakraw Federation (“ISTAF”). Major tournaments exist around the world and Sepak takraw is particularly popular in Asian nations like Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, Singapore India Philippines and Korea.
Equipment used in sepak takraw includes a rattan ball, net and shoes made of synthetic materials with flat soles for maximum grip and light weight – these may be worn by players while moving about the playing area – both indoors and outdoors.
Instead of touching the ball with their hands as in volleyball, sepak takraw requires players to only touch it using their feet, knees and chest. As such, this low-impact sport doesn’t require as much strength or agility from players but may still present challenges for those with limited fitness levels.
Players looking to prevent injury should wear ankle supportive bands and forehead bandanas while on the court in order to safeguard their joints and avoid sweat from entering their eyes. In doing so, these items provide both joint protection as well as stopping sweat from getting in your eyes.
These devices can help cushion the impact of rattan balls on players’ bodies, and must be approved by ISTAF before being used during competitions. They can be made of rubber or soft durable material.
Sepak takraw is an ideal physical exercise for people of all ages. To maximize performance, players should receive proper cardiorespiratory and strength training to hone their craft. Physical fitness and flexibility are also key for success when playing sepak takraw.
Laos
Sepak takraw is a highly popular sport played in Malaysia, Thailand and Cambodia and has been included as a medal event at every Asian Games since 1990. International Sepak Takraw Federation (istaf) oversees this international sport.
Southeast Asians take great joy in playing sepak takraw as an engaging, fast-paced sport that requires exceptional dexterity. But sepak takraw does not provide an avenue to Olympic glory: most players are amateurs who must balance training with day jobs.
Sepak takraw is more than just a sport for many Asian cultures; it’s an enduring cultural tradition. Malaysia, for example, counts sepak takraw among its oldest sports; indeed it even appears in their historical Malay Annals document!
In the Philippines, where volleyball once served as the national sport, it remains a popular pastime among children and adults alike. Furthermore, its use as part of national high school curriculum makes this pastime even more favored by residents of this island nation.
Traditional sepak takraw employs hand-woven rattan balls; today it is usually played using synthetic plastic balls. Sepak takraw is both regional and international sport, with major tournaments like the King’s Cup world championships held regularly.
Sepak takraw is an exciting high-speed game characterized by violent kicks. Players use their feet, knees, chest and head when engaging in sepak takraw – similar to volleyball but more intense! As it involves both feet and head movements simultaneously, sepak takraw provides athletes with a great way to develop reflexes while strengthening them physically.
Sepak takraw is an immensely popular sport across Southeast Asia, but often neglected beyond that region. That is changing, thanks to a partnership with Olympic Channel that promotes coverage through news channels and social media platforms.
Sepak takraw is one of the fastest games in Asia and puts its players’ reflexes through rigorous trials on court. But this sport’s rise as an international sport is being led by grassroots enthusiasts who support it alongside usa Takraw Association.
Competitions
Sepak takraw is one of the world’s most beloved sports, with major international tournaments held annually in Malaysia and Thailand as well as Australia, New Zealand, Japan China Canada. Furthermore, this demonstration sport can also be found at Asian Games.
In the Philippines, “sipa” (known as “sipa salama” among Muslims) is widely recognized as a national sport and included as part of elementary and secondary school curricula.
Played using a ball that is spherical in shape and made from synthetic fibre woven together into one layer or covered with rubber or soft durable material, the International Sepaktakraw Federation (ISTAF) must approve all materials and construction methods used prior to being allowed in any competitions.
Tournament nets must be constructed of material no less than 6.10 metres long and 0.7 metres wide, taped double along both the top and sidelines for safety purposes.
Another rule states that the ball must be spherical with 12 holes and 20 intersections; its circumference must range between 0.41m to 0.43m for men and 0.42m to 0.44m for women, and must weigh at least 170-180 grams (170-180 for men; 150-160-180 grams for women).
Covered in various colours, it must not hinder player performance. Used both indoors and outdoors for volleyball-style court play or between other pole types such as trees.
Sepak Takraw in Canada is administered by the Sepak Takraw Association of Canada, established in 1998. Based out of Regina Saskatchewan and featuring teams from across Canada, its office now features teams from every corner. Partnered with Asian Sport, Education and Culture International to introduce Sepak Takraw into schools throughout Canada while hosting training sessions at physical education teachers’ conferences;