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Takraw
has been played in Thailand and Malaysia for over 500 years. The oldest
form of kicking the woven "Buka" balls was for players to stand
in a circle and try to keep the ball in the air as long as possible without
using their hands or arms. The game was a lot of fun and helped increase
the foot skills and agility of the players. About 50 years ago, some players decided to add a net and a set of rules to make the game more competitive. This move would make takraw truely one of the most amazing foot sports in the world. With rules similar to volleybali, players may contact the Buka bali up to 3 times on each side of the net (you do not have to alternate hits) using everything but their hands or arms - usually their head and feet. The net height and dimensions of the court are the same as badminton - net height of 5 feet and a court 44 feet long and 20 feet wide. The most dramatic action in the sport happens at the net. Players often kill the ball by thrusting their bodies into inverted positions and spike the ball into the opponents court at speeds of over 80 mph. |
Often
called "Foot Volleyball" in English, this sport was made a medal
event in the 1990 Asian Games. Every year Thailand also hosts the Takraw World
Championships held in April. In 1996, more than 20 countries from around the
world, including the United States, sent teams to compete in the World Takraw
Championships.
With soccer exploding in popularity in this country and the exhilarating foot
fun of takraw, we expect a whole new tribe of takraw enthusiasts to spread
across the U.S. The future of the sport in the U.S. is with new players. With
practice, you too could be playing for the U.S. National Team and ready to
take on the world!