MDO Team Bloggista

Well try this new sport I just discovered,  it is called Sepak Takraw or Kick Voleyball. It is a sport native to Southeast Asia, resembling volleyball, except that it uses a rattanball  which weighs 250 grams and is made of rattan stems and only allows players to use their feet and head to touch the ball. A cross between soccer and volleyball, it is a popular sport in Thailand, Malaysia, Laos and Indonesia. This sport is played on badminton doubles-sized courts and is really entertaining to watch.  The game evolved from a hacky sack-type practice, into the aiming of a kick into a high, suspended net. Eventually, competitive takraw developed, pitting teams of players versus each other across a volleyball-type net.

In Thailand, the game is simply called Takraw (Thai: µÐ¡ÃéÍ, meaning "ball" or "basket"). It is also thuck thay (Lao: "twine" and "kick"), or sepak takraw (Malay: "kick" and "takraw" from Thai).

 Another version of the sport involves the use of bamboo scoops to both toss and catch a ball in a simple game of "catch."

                                                    this is the rattan ball

 MECHANICS OF THE GAME:

    A sepak takraw game is played between three regus, or teams, each regu consisting of three players and one substitute. Each game is composed of three sets in the same manner as badminton. Only three players from each side are allowed inside the court while competing but a substitution can be called anytime during the game. However, once a substitution is made, no further substitutions are allowed for the duration of the game.

   In a formal competition, there are two kinds of matches: the regu competition and the team competition.

SCORING:

   The match is composed of three sets. The team winning two out of three is declared the winner. All three sets are played in a rally manner. The first two sets are played to 21 points. The team reaching 21 points wins the set. If both teams reach 20 points, the match is extended until a team wins by two points, up to 25. The third set is played for 15 points in rally manner. If both team reach 14 points, it is extended until a teams wins by two points, up to 17. Hmm maybe you'd like to try and give yourself a shot at this sport, but first you'll have to find that Sepak takraw ball!

                                                                                    By:Marissa Balatero