If you have ever seen a sepak takraw highlight, you remember the move: a player throws himself backwards into the air, swings a leg over his own head and smashes a rattan-style ball down over the net, then lands on his back or his hands. It looks like a stunt. In a good match, it happens every few rallies.
Sepak takraw is often described as volleyball with feet. That is close enough to get you started, but it undersells it. Here is what to watch for.
The basics
Two teams face each other across a net on a court about the size of a badminton doubles court. The aim is to get the ball over the net and onto the floor on the other side.
The rule that makes it what it is: no hands or arms. Players can use their feet, knees, chest and head. Each team gets up to three touches to return the ball, and a single player may make all three.
The ball is light and hollow, traditionally woven from rattan and now usually made of synthetic material with the same woven pattern.
The three positions
A team, called a regu, has three players on court.
- Tekong (the server). Stands in a circle at the back and serves the ball over the net with a kick. A powerful tekong can win points outright from the serve.
- Feeder (the setter). Usually one of the two players at the front. Their job is to take the first touch and set the ball up high and close to the net.
- Striker (the killer or attacker). The other front player, who leaps to spike the ball down into the opponent's court.
The point usually goes like this: the serve comes in, the receiving team's first touch goes to the feeder, the feeder sets, and the striker attacks. When it works, it takes about three seconds.
The moves to watch
- The roll spike (or sunback spike): the overhead scissor kick described above. The striker jumps, rotates backwards and hits the ball with the sole or top of the foot at the peak of the jump. It is the signature move of the sport.
- The heading attack: some strikers attack with the head instead, aiming for precision rather than power.
- The block: front players jump at the net with their backs or legs to block a spike, the way volleyball players block with their hands.
- The serve: watch the tekong's footwork. A good serve dips sharply and is very hard to control on the first touch.
How scoring works
- Every rally wins a point, no matter who served.
- A set goes to 21 points, and you usually need to win by two. Rules on how far a tied set can extend have varied between competitions.
- A match is usually the best of three sets.
Points are lost for the usual reasons: the ball lands in your court, goes out, hits the net, takes more than three touches, or touches a player's arm or hand.
Matches are quick, which makes them good to watch live. Men's and women's competitions use slightly different net heights; for men, the net is about 1.52m at the centre.
Malaysia, Thailand and the name
People in this region have been kicking a woven ball to keep it in the air for centuries. In Malaysia, the traditional game was known as sepak raga, a circle game where players kept the ball up without a net. Similar games were played in Thailand (takraw), the Philippines, Indonesia, Myanmar and elsewhere.
The modern net game took shape in the mid-20th century, and the name sepak takraw combines the Malay word sepak (kick) with the Thai word takraw (the woven ball). It is often described as a compromise between the two countries that most strongly claim the sport, which tells you how seriously both take it.
Today, sepak takraw is a regular sport at the SEA Games and the Asian Games. Thailand has been the dominant international force for years, with Malaysia among its main rivals.
How to start watching
- Watch a regional final. SEA Games and Asian Games matches are where you see the best players and the loudest crowds.
- Focus on the striker first. Once you can predict when the roll spike is coming, the rest of the game makes sense.
- Go to a local match. Sepak takraw is still played in kampung courts, schools and community halls across the country. Our guide to what it costs to play pickleball in the Klang Valley covers a newer craze; sepak takraw is the old one that never left.
FAQ
How many players are on a sepak takraw team?
Three players on court: the tekong, who serves; the feeder, who sets; and the striker, who attacks.
Can you use your hands in sepak takraw?
No. Players can use their feet, knees, chest and head, but not their hands or arms.
How many points are in a sepak takraw set?
A set is played to 21 points, usually with a two-point margin, and a match is typically the best of three sets.
Is sepak takraw Malaysian or Thai?
Both countries have long traditions of woven-ball kicking games. The name combines the Malay word sepak (kick) and the Thai word takraw (ball).
