Pro Kabaddi League: All the PKL rules explained ahead of season 10

Pro Kabaddi League: Here’s a recap of the updated rules and scoring system of PKL ahead of the 10th season.

FILE PHOTO: Players during the PKL match. | Photo Credit: RANJEET KUMAR/The Hindu

The Pro Kabaddi League, heading into its tenth season, will return to the 12-city caravan format. The 10th season will get underway at the Arena by Transstadia Stadium in Ahmedabad on December 2.

PKL has several technical terms associated with the playing conditions. If you’re confused about what terms like raid, technical point, bonus etc mean, here’s a guide:

Bonus Point

If the opposition has six or more players on the mat, the bonus line (the second black colour line in the opponent’s half) becomes active. In such a case, if the foot of the raider lands over the bonus line without cutting it, then the raiding team will receive a bonus (+1) point even if the raider is successfully tackled during the raid. Bonus points will not revive a player.

Technical Point

A technical point is credited to the team and not to any raider or defender, and it is awarded due to the following reason:

• If a player goes out of bounds before being in contact with an opponent during a raid.

Super Raid

If a raider gets three or more points (can be touch or bonus or technical points) for his team from a single raid then that raid is called a Super Raid. 

Do-Or-Die Raid

If a team goes on two successive empty raids (raids fetching no points for either team), then the next raid is called a Do-Or-Die Raid. The raiding team must get the point during this raid, or else the raider will be out even if he is not tackled.

Super 10

If a raider gets ten raid points (touch and bonus points) in a single game, then it is called a Super 10. 

Super Tackle

If the defending team has three or lesser players on the mat, then with the successful tackle of a raider the team gets two points instead of one. 

High Five

If a defender gets five tackle points (inclusive of super tackle points) in a single game, then it is called a High Five. 

Double

If a player (in most cases an all-rounder) gets both a Super 10 and a High Five in the same game, then the feat is called a Double.

Scoring System

Teams get five points for a win and three points for a draw.

If a team loses by less than a seven-point margin, then it gets one point.

Review System

During the league phase, usually, teams are allowed one review each in a game. For the knockouts, teams get one review per half (two in total).

Besides all the usual rules and scoring systems, a few additional rules have been enforced in the league before the ninth season.

NEW RULES

1: Lobby rule amended

Under the previous regulations, both the defender who follows the raider into the lobby and the raider who enters the lobby without touching any defenders were deemed to be out. 

However, the defender who follows the raider into the lobby before being touched by the raider will no longer be regarded as out under the new regulations, in contrast to previous seasons.

2: Larger squad is allowed for matchday:

A team can have a maximum of 14 players in its match-day squad after the enforcement of the new rule. Previously, 12 player squad was allowed.

3: Permitted substitutions increase

Unlike the five substitution changes during the match and one during half-time, this season, teams can substitute up to a total of eight changes, including one in the strategic time-out.

4. Coaches can mentor during games.

From now on, coaches can talk to the remaining players when a raider is raiding. While, in previous seasons, coaches were only allowed to speak to the players during the half-time break and strategic time-outs.