Hidden Desires: SEPAK TAKRAW - the combination of volleyball, soccer and hint of martial arts

Ang larong ito ay hindi masyadong kilala sa mundo but this sport was performed in different countries including the Philippines. Hindi man sya kasing popular like basketball, volleyball, soccer, boxing, etc but this sport is really interesting. For me, this sport is the combination of soccer, volleyball and a hint of martial arts because sepak takraw use feet, head, knee and chest just like in soccer but soccer players can hit the ball as much as they want and the sepak players can hit the ball trice just like in volley ball but volley ball used hands although they can allow to use their feet but they prefer to use their hands instead of feet. Martial arts because some spikes in this sport is just like the player have some background in martial arts. In this blog I will discuss the history, etymology, rules and regulations, and scoring system.

ETHYMOLOGY

"Sepak" is the Malay word for kick and "takraw" is the Thai word for a woven ball, therefore sepak takraw quite literally means to kick ball. The choosing of this name for the sport was essentially a compromise between Malaysia and Thailand, the two powerhouse countries of the sport.

HISTORY

Earliest historical evidence shows that the game was played in the 15th century's Malacca Sultanate, for it is mentioned in the Malay historical text, "Sejarah Melayu" (Malay Annals). The Malay Annals described in details the incident of Raja Muhammad, a son of Sultan Mansur Shah who was accidentally hit with a rattan ball by Tun Besar , a son of Tun Perak, in a Sepak Raga game. The ball hit Raja Muhammad's headgear and knocked it down to the ground. In anger, Raja Muhammad immediately stabbed and killed Tun Besar, whereupon some of Tun Besar's kinsmen retaliated and wanted to kill Raja Muhammad. However, Tun Perak managed to restrain them from such an act of treason by saying that he would no longer accept Raja Muhammad as the Sultan's heir. As a result of this incident, Sultan Mansur Shah ordered his son out of Malacca and had him installed as the ruler of Pahang.

In Indonesia, sepak takraw was spread from nearby Malacca across the strait to Riau islands and Riau area in Sumatra as early as 16th century, where it is also called as Sepak Raga in local Malay tongue, at that time some of Sumatran areas were part of Malacca sultanate. From there the Malay people spread across archipelago and introduced the game to Buginese people in Sulawesi. Then the game is developed as Buginese traditional game which is called "Raga" (the players are called "Pa'Raga"). The "Raga" can trace its origin from Malacca Sultanate, and was popular in South Sulawesi since 19th century. Some men playing "Raga" encircling within a group, the ball is passed from one to another and the man who kicked the ball highest is the winner. "Raga" is also played for fun by demonstrating some tricks, such as kicking the ball and putting it on top of player's head holds by tengkolok bugis (Bugis cloth headgear similar to Malaytanjak).

In Bangkok, murals at Wat Pra Kaeo which was built in 1785, depict the Hindu god Hanuman playing sepak takraw in a ring with a troop of monkeys. Other historical accounts mention the game earlier during the reign of King Naresuan (1590–1605) of Ayutthaya. The game remained in its circle form for hundreds of years, and the modern version of sepak takraw began taking shape in Thailand sometime during early 1740s. In 1866 the Siam Sports Association drafted the first rules for takraw competition. Four years later, the association introduced the volleyball-style net and held the first public contest. Within just a few years, takraw was introduced to the curriculum in Siamese schools. The game became such a cherished local custom that another exhibition of volleyball-style takraw was staged to celebrate the kingdom’s first constitution in 1933, the year after Thailand abolished absolute monarchy.

In Myanmmar, or Burma, it was dubbed "Chinlone", in Laos "Kator", "cầu mây" in Vietnam and in Indonesia "Raga" or "Sepak Takraw".

In the Philippines the sport was called "sipa" and along with traditional martial arts survived the three century Spanish colonization. It is a popular sport played by children in Philippines, this is their national sport. Sepak Takraw is included in Philippine's elementary and high school curriculum.

RULES AND REGULATIONS:

A. Numbers of Players - each team must compose of 12 players and must play a maximum of 4 players in every regu. 4 players because they can use the substitution but only once

B. Court - The sepak takraw sport is played on a similar to badminton double sized court. Area of 13.4 by 6.1 metres (44 × 20 ft) free from all obstacles up to the height of 8 metres (26 ft) measured from the floor surface (sand and grass court not advisable). The width of the lines bounding the court should not be more than 4cm (1.6 in) measured and drawn inwards from the edge of the court measurements. All the boundary lines should be drawn at least 3.0 metres (9.8 ft) away from all obstacles. The center line of 2 cm (0.79 in) should be drawn equally dividing the right and left court. At the corner of each at the center line, the quarter circle shall be drawn from the sideline to the center line with a radius of 0.9 metres (2 ft 11 in) measured and drawn outwards from the edge of the 0.9 m radius. The service circle of 0.3 m radius shall be drawn on the left and on the right court, the center of which is 2.45 m from the back line of the court and 3.05 m from the sidelines, the 0.04 m line shall be measured and drawn outward from the edge of the 0.3 m radius.

C. Net - The net shall be made of fine ordinary cord or nylon with 6 cm to 8 cm mesh. Similar to a volley ball net. The net shall be 0.7 m in width and not shorter than 6.10 m in length and taped at 0.05 m from tape double at the top and sideline, called boundary tape. The net shall be edged with 0.05 m tape double at the top and the bottom of the net supported by a fine ordinary cord or nylon cord that runs through the tape and strain over and flush with the top of the posts. The top of the net shall be 1.52 m (1.42 m for women) in height from the center and 1.55 m (1.45 m for women's) at the posts.

D. Ball - The sepak takraw ball shall be spherical in shape, made of synthetic fiber or one woven layer.

E. Start of Play and Service - The side that must serve first shall start the first set. The side that wins the first set shall have the options of “Choosing Service”. The throw must be executed as soon as the referee calls the score. If either of the "Inside" players throws the ball before the referee calls the score, it must be re-thrown and a warning will be given to the thrower.

F. Faults

1. Service during service –

a. The "Inside" player who is making service throws, plays about with the ball (throwing up the ball, bumping, giving to other "Inside" player, etc.) after the call of score has been made by the referee.

b. The "Inside" player lifts his feet or steps on the line or crosses over or touches the net while throwing the ball.

c. The Tekong jumps off the ground to execute the service.

d. The Tekong does not kick the ball on the service throw.

e. The ball touches his own player before crossing over the opponent court.

f. The ball goes over the net but falls outside the court.

g. The ball does not cross to the opponent side.

h. A player uses his hand or hands, or any other part of his arms to facilitate the execution of a kick even if the hand or arm does not directly touch the ball, but it touches other objects or surfaces instead when doing so.

2. For both side during the game –

a. Any player who touches the ball on the opponent side.

b. Any part of player's body crosses over into opponent's court whether above or under the net except during the follow-through of the ball.

c. Playing the ball more than 3 times in succession.

d. The ball touches the arm

e. Stopping or holding the ball under the arm, between the legs or body.

f. Any part of the body or player's outfits e.g. shoes, jersey, head band etc., touches the net or the post or the referee's chairs or falls into the opponent's side.

g. The ball touches the ceiling, roof or the wall (any objects).

SCORING SYSTEM:

When either serving side or receiving side commits a fault, a point is awarded to the opponent side including making next service. The winning point for a set is 21 points, unless the point is tied at 20–20, the set shall be decided on a difference of two points, up to a ceiling of 25 points. When the score is tied at 20–20, the referee announces “Setting up to 25 points”. The game is played in 2 sets with 2-minute rest in between. If each "Regu" wins one set, the game shall be decided in the third set called "Tiebreak" with 15 points unless the point is tied at 14-14, then the set shall be decided on a difference of two points, up to a ceiling of 17 points. When the score is tied at 14-14, the referee announces “Setting up to 17 points”. Before the tiebreak set takes place, the referee shall toss a disc or coin, and the side winning the toss shall have the option of “Choosing Service”. The change of sides takes place when one “Regu” reaches 8 points.