New to Sepak Takraw? No worries. You don't need to memorize the rulebook before you step onto the court.

Here’s the simple version of how the game works.

1. THE OBJECTIVE

Two sides compete across a net. The goal is simple:

Keep the ball from touching your side of the court while sending it over the net into your opponent's court.

You can use your feet, legs, head, and other permitted parts of the body to control and return the ball.

Think volleyball — but instead of using your hands, you use your body and your kicking skills.

2. HOW MANY PLAYERS?

In the traditional Regu format, each side has 3 players:

Tekong — the server, positioned at the back
Left Inside
Right Inside

There are also official Double and Quad formats with different numbers of players.

For our community games, the format may be adjusted depending on how many people are available. The important thing is to get everyone playing and learning.

3. THREE CONTACTS

A side can make up to 3 contacts before the ball must cross the net.

For example:

Receive → Set → Spike

You don't have to hit the ball hard. Good control and teamwork are more important, especially when you're learning.

4. THE BALL CANNOT TOUCH THE GROUND

If the ball lands inside your court, the other side gets the point.

If your team sends the ball outside the opponent's court, that is also a fault.

The same goes if the ball fails to cross the net.

5. NO HANDS

This is one of the biggest differences from volleyball.

You cannot intentionally use your hands or arms to play the ball.

Instead, you'll learn techniques such as:

Inside-foot kicks
Instep kicks
Thigh control
Knee control
Headers
Serves
Spikes and attacks

And don't worry if you can't do these yet. That's exactly what practice is for.

6. SERVING

The player who serves is called the Tekong.

The serve starts the rally, and the ball must cross the net and land within the opponent's court boundaries.

Once the serve has been kicked, players are free to move around their side of the court.

7. SCORING

Under the current ISTAF rules, a set is played to 15 points.

If the score reaches 14–14, play continues until a side reaches 17 points.

The official rules also use alternating service between the two sides.

For casual community games, we may use a simplified scoring format depending on the number of players and the type of game we're playing.

8. WHAT COUNTS AS A FAULT?

Some common beginner-level faults include:

The ball touches the ground on your side.
The ball goes outside the opponent's court.
The ball does not cross the net.
A player intentionally uses the hand or arm.
A team makes more than the allowed number of contacts.
A player touches the net during play.
A player commits a service fault.

Don't worry about remembering every technical fault immediately. We'll learn them naturally as we play.

9. MOST IMPORTANT RULE

Respect the players, respect the game, and help each other learn.

Someone who has never played before is going to make mistakes.

That's normal.

Someone who used to play years ago might need a few sessions to get their timing back.

That's normal too.

We're here to build the game in Malitbog — not to make beginners afraid to step onto the court.
WANT TO GO DEEPER?

The basic explanation above is just the starting point.

For those who want to learn the official ISTAF Laws of the Game, including court specifications, service procedures, faults, scoring, player positions, substitutions, equipment, and competition rules:

Official ISTAF Law of the Game:
https://sepaktakraw.one/istaf-law-of-the-game

OFFICIAL 2024 RULEBOOKS

Regu — 3 players per side
https://img1.wsimg.com/blobby/go/b28abe2b-c8e0-4c25-b6ac-d2655417c6c3/Law%20of%20the%20Game%202024%20-%20Regu%20-.pdf

Double — 2 players per side
https://img1.wsimg.com/blobby/go/b28abe2b-c8e0-4c25-b6ac-d2655417c6c3/Law%20of%20the%20Game%202024%20%20-%20Double%20-cd0e741.pdf

Quad — 4 players per side
https://img1.wsimg.com/blobby/go/b28abe2b-c8e0-4c25-b6ac-d2655417c6c3/Law%20of%20the%20Game%202024%20-%20Quad%20-d3603ee.pdf

New to Sepak Takraw? Come learn with us.

You don't need to be an expert.

You just need to bring yourself, a willingness to learn, and a little courage to kick the ball.

Malitbog Sepak Takraw Community (MSTC)
Building the game, one kick at a time.