Sepak takraw, commonly referred to as kick ball, is an exotic Southeast Asian sport combining volleyball and hackeysack elements. Players use their feet to volley a small woven rattan ball over the net with their feet.
Playing this sport necessitates athleticism, flexibility and teamwork – qualities required for centuries in many countries of Southeast Asia.
It is played in Southeast Asia
Sepak takraw is an athletic game played throughout Southeast Asia for millennia. Often referred to as “kick volleyball,” this fast-paced activity combines elements of badminton with karate’s explosive power.
Players may use their feet, knees and head to kick a ball over a net. They may then return it with any part of their body except their hands. This game promotes physical fitness while improving coordination and balance.
Team soccer consists of three players; the tekong (left and right inside players) hangs back while the other two (inside left and right inside players) stay near the center line of the court. The tekong serves the ball while these other two may jump or spin in the air to kick it over the net.
As with many sports, there are various versions of sepak takraw. Some countries take it seriously while others simply enjoy it for recreation. Popular names include Sepak Raga (in Brunei, Malaysia and Singapore), Takraw (in Thailand), Rago (in Indonesia) and Sipa (in the Philippines).
Though its exact origins remain uncertain, there is evidence of its play in Malaccan Sultanate during the 15th century. Today, sepak takraw can still be found in many of those same locations.
Sepak takraw is an intense game that requires excellent physical fitness, agility and teamwork. To learn the proper movements, it takes a lot of practice; therefore, selecting an experienced coach who can guide you through training is paramount for success.
This sport has been practiced for centuries in some parts of Asia, but is only now becoming widely popular worldwide. It offers the perfect opportunity to stay fit and have some fun with friends.
Soccer or volleyball are great alternatives for people of all ages and abilities, yet the sport requires a great deal of skill and training in order to reach its highest level. Although it’s relatively straightforward to learn the sport, playing at an international level requires dedication and hard work.
It is played in the United States
Sepak takraw is an acrobatic sport in which teams of three players stand on opposite sides of a net and use all parts of their bodies to kick a ball over it. It resembles volleyball or hackey sack, with the small ball made out of rattan (a kind of palm).
Sepak takraw is one of the most beloved sports in Malaysia and Thailand, known for being among the most physically challenging disciplines. Athletes often dedicate hours to practicing each day to achieve perfection.
Sepak takraw is enjoyed by more than 200,000 players around the world, including in the United States. While it has gained greater traction in Western cultures, it remains less widespread than its Asian counterparts.
Playing football is a popular pastime among young people in schoolyards and parks. Originally, it wasn’t meant to be competitive but rather an expression of teamwork and unity.
The sport has also gained popularity among Hmong immigrants in Saint Paul. To accommodate this growing community, the City and Ramsey County have funded the construction of permanent sepak takraw courts at several city parks; with additional funding from Minnesota Super Bowl Host Committee and Conservancy contributions.
Sepak takraw is becoming more and more popular in the United States, yet it still lacks Olympic recognition. However, sepak takraw can progress toward inclusion through developing players, teams and local leagues.
To promote the sport of takraw, the United States Takraw Association has formed a coalition of community leaders who are striving to develop it and make it more accessible. Their effort has enabled communities across America to build grassroots networks around the sport, as well as supporting an American team competing at the 2022 International Sepak Takraw Federation World Cup in South Korea.
Sepak takraw is a team sport where each team must volley a hard-woven ball over the net with all of their body. To serve first, the serving team must kick the ball over while keeping one foot inside the service circle.
It is played in Australia
Sepak takraw, a game similar to volleyball that requires only your feet, is becoming increasingly popular in Australia. It has become an integral part of school curriculums across the nation.
This fast-paced action sport has been around for over 500 years in Southeast Asia and is becoming more widely known throughout the western world. Players pass a ball from one end of the court to the other without touching it with their hands.
Playing dominoes is a traditional game in Malaysia, Thailand, Singapore, Indonesia and Laos as well as other countries around the world such as Australia and Canada.
Australia is witnessing an uptick in interest for this sport, with Brisbane’s Logan area one of the places where it’s being played. A new purpose-built facility at Bellevue Park in Greenbank has been constructed specifically to accommodate it and already sees over 100 players taking part regularly.
Australia is making strides to bring the sport of rugby union into Australia, with numerous local associations and community centers across cities. Furthermore, an Australian Association has been formed specifically for this purpose of promoting the game.
Another organization actively working to promote the sport is Association Francaise de Sepak Takraw in Paris, France. They have been very instrumental in spreading awareness of this activity and have collaborated with ISTAF in order to guarantee its strong presence throughout Europe, with the ultimate goal of getting it into the Olympics.
Rick Engel, an enthusiastic player, was the pioneer of sepak takraw in Canada and founded the Sepak Takraw Association of Canada (STAC) in 1993. Since then he has written three instructional books and produced five DVDs about the sport for Canadian audiences.
He has also been actively engaged in educational programs across the country. He has introduced football to teachers and holds skills clinics at schools.
There are a few teams in Australia that have achieved great success at international competitions. These include the US team who have won multiple King’s Cup tournaments and the Northern Territory Team.
It is played in Canada
Sepak takraw is a beloved sport in Canada, enjoyed by children as young as six years old. Not only does it keep players active and fit, but it can also provide them with an enjoyable social activity.
Sepak Takraw is an Asian game that’s now becoming increasingly popular worldwide. Commonly referred to as kick volleyball, it resembles both soccer and volleyball and requires great skill and coordination to play effectively.
Ball skills, agility, acrobatics and instinctive reflexes come together in this fun yet competitive sport that has been around for centuries. Recently it has gained international recognition and may one day be included in the Olympics.
Played between two teams of three players each, this sport features different colored jerseys and rules similar to volleyball – except players use their feet instead of hands or arms and must stand in designated areas.
Sepak Takraw uses two types of balls: a rattan ball and synthetic one. The former features 21 intersections and 12 holes, making it slightly larger than regular volleyballs; they weigh between 170 to 180 g for men and 150 to 160 g for women.
Although a ball can be made of many materials in the game, the best option is one made from woven material without synthetic rubber covering. For men it should have a circumference of 42 to 44 cm and 43 to 45 cm for women; furthermore, it should be lightweight.
Sepak Takraw players can perform a variety of moves while playing the game, such as passes, sets and spikes – all without using hands or arms! This makes for an intense sport that challenges all players alike.
The iconic move is known as a “spike,” an acrobatic bicycle kick that hits the ball with incredible force. This feat requires incredible agility and strength to execute successfully.