Kho Kho is one of the most traditional and fighting type competitive events.

This game is very much popular in India,

especially in the state of Maharashtra. As per the views of some people, Kho-Kho originated in akharas and vyayamshalas
situated in Maharashtra state, while others say that its origin is related to ancient India. References to a game Kho-Kho are
generally found in Hindu Epics. Kho-Kho game was firstly formulated with efforts of Shree Hanuman Vyayam Prasarak
Mandal, Baroda in 1929 and this mandal was instrumental in popularising this game even out of the geographical boundaries
of Maharashtra state.
Some of the people think that this game of Kho-Kho was popularised by Akhil Maharashtra Sharirik Shiksha Mandal in
1928, and it is also understood that thistime, the first tournament was conducted. The Kho-Kho Federation was formed in 1958
and its affiliation and recognition by the Indian Olympic Association gave a national status to this game after sometime. This
surface.
game is mostly played on clay surface but at present it is played on tartan The first National Kho-Kho Championship
was conducted in 1960.
 1. Shape of the playfield Rectangular
2. Dimensions of the playfield 27 mx 16 m(for Seniors)
24 mx 16 m (for Juniors)
3. Height of the Poles/Posts 1-20 m to 1-25 m
4. Circumference of the Post 30-40 cms.
5. Distance from Pole to Pole 24 m (for Seniors)
20 m (for Juniors)
6. Free Zone area 1-50 mx 16 m (beyond Post Line on both sides)
7. Lobby 1-5 m
8. Sitting block area/Square 30 cm x 30 cm (for Juniors)
35 cmx 30 cm (forSeniors)
9. Distance from Pole to End Line 1-50 m
10. Distance from square to square 2:30 m
11. Cross Lane 35 cmx 16 m (for Seniors)
30 cm x 14 m (for Juniors)
12. Centre Lane 30 cmx 24 m (for Seniors)
30 cm x 20 m (for Juniors)
13. Distance from Pole to first square 2:55 m
14. Duration of time in Inning 9 minutes (for Seniors)
7 minutes (for Juniors)
15. Number of Players 12 (9 Playing +3 Substitutes)
16. Interval 6 minutes between two innings and 3 minutes
between the turns.
17. No. of squares 8 squares of area 30 cm each
18. Tie break Rule Time noted and compared if one player is running
an additional inning
19 Number of officials 6 (1 referee, 2 umpires, 2 scorers, 1 time keeper).
20. Each court divided by the Central lane 7-85 m.
 GENERAL RULES AND REGULATIONS OF KHO-KHO
. The dimensions of the play field are 27 m in length and 16 m in width/breadth for seniors and 24 m in length and
16 m in width for juniors.
2. The team consists of 12 players in which 9 players are playing members while three players are considered as
substitutes.
3. The duration of the game is 36 minutes of four quarters of 9 minutes each with an interval time of
9 minutes (6 minutes between an inning and 3 minutes between turns Running and Chasing).
27
 direction. Eight plavere
4. The Chaser' team takes sitting position in the squares of cross lanes facing in an alternating The chasers should not
of chasing team shall be in sitting position while the 9th player shall act as an active chaser.
cut the lines while sitting.
5. The runner/defender tries to avoid being touched by the chaser for maximum time within the play field.
of sitting members
6. In order to catch the runner/defender, the chasing team member continues to tap on the back
with hand by saying "Kho' loudly. The chasing team attempts to catch the running players while passing on "Kho'
from one player to another.
7. A chaser can move only in one direction without crossing the centre lane, change of direction can only be done by
an active chaser (whosoever may be) or by the touch of the pole by crossing the base line or in the free zone area.
8. Runners/defenders defend themselves from the chasers. They mostly move in zig-zag, dodging and running behind
the chaser. Runners are permitted to cross the centre line and also permitted to change the direction towards any side
as well as any time within in the playfield.
9. As soon as the first group of three runners/players get out, other new group of three players enters the playing field
before 'two kho'. Afterwards they are chased.
10. If any runner ofa group enters late, he shall be sent out of the playfield by considering late entry by the refree and a
point is awarded to the chasing team.
1. If the points of chasing team exceed the points of opponent team by six or more, the chasing team may called again
for 'follow on'.
12. The points are awarded by a legal touch of chaser to the running player.
13. Fouls shall be considered as early kho, without touch Kho, changing direction,
line-cut, early get up, not spoken
kho, turning of shoulder, late kho etc. A player/chaser has to give mius kho to continue further to clear the foul.
14. In case of equal points, an additional
innings shall be played where the time is compared to make one player oul.
The time with less timing will be declared as winner.
 TERMINOL0GY
Kho. The word "Kho' is spoken loudly by one chaser to another by tapping on the back to make a sequence of the
game (chase).
Runner. The runner/defender moves in different ways in the playfield to avoid being touched by the chaser.
Chaser. The chaser tries to catch/touch the runner to send him out of the playfield and without changing any
direction and without making any foul to win a point.
Inning. An inning is considered of running and chasing
turns of 9 minutes duration for both the teams.
Late Kho. When an active chaser delays in giving Kho
or in touching the next chaser, i.e. the touch and the kho are
simultaneously responded together.
Early Kho/Get up. When the sitting chaser gets up
before getting proper kho, i.e. before the contact of the 10
active/previous chaser.
Direction Change/Changing direction. When an active
chaser changes the direction of his shoulders at the time of
chasing the runner.
Cross-Lane. The proper lanes cutting centre lanes/lines
the middle of the
playing field. Its dimension is 30 cm by
16 m.
Centre Lane. Two parallel lines from one
another. It has the dimensions of post/pole to
23.50 m by 30 cm.
Lobby. It is the free space area around the
Free
play field.
Zone, It is an area by the sides of pole lines where the direction rule
any direction. is not imposed and the runner can move im
 29
ollow o . After completing the first inning, if the points
shall have the option for the latter side to 'follow on'.
of chasing team exceeds by six or more, the former side
Pole. It is made of wood, having a
cylindrical structure,
firmly errcted up at both the sides of playing field. Its
height is 120 cm above the ground and having a thickness of
10 cm.
Minus Kho. A violation of directional fault in which
the chaser cannot send the runner out unless kho is THRSSR
passed
back to two teammates touch the
or to post/pole.
Diving. When the active chaser takes a horizontal flight
or jump to catch/touch a runner at his
closest proximity.
Square. It is a square shaped area by the cutting of
centre lane and crossed lane used for
sitting of chaser. There
are8 squares of 30 cm each in the
playfield. In these squares the chasers sit in corsecutive
boxes, facing opposite
directions.
 FUNDAMENTAL SKILLS
1. Chasing Skill. This skill is way of
giving 'kho' to other player/teammate sitting in the block with a loud and clear
voice. It includes Chain Kho, Dive touch/Diving, Pole Dive, Pivot
Taping, Sudden change of speed, Fake Kho,
Trapping and Pole turning etc.o
2. Runnng Skill. It requires speed, endurance and agility to remain maximum time in the playfield. It includes Zig-
Zag running, Long step running, Fake running, Side dodge, Back dodge, Parallel toe sitting, Bullet toe sitting,
Three sixrunning etc.
Kho-Kho game is the fastest game and it requires physical fitness from all aspects.
KHO KHO REEERESAIRARITD siruALS
 AWARD WINNERS
(1971),
Km. A.S. Devre Km. Bhavna Hasmukh Lal Parekh
Arjuna Award Winners Sudhir Parbhakar (1970),
R.J. Inamdar (1975), S.R. Dharwardkar
(1973), Km. N.C. Sarolkar (1974), Km. Usha Vasant Nagarkar (1975),
Parab (1983), Prakash (1984), Km.
(1976), Km. Sushma Solkar and H.M. Takalkar (1981), Km. Veena Narayan
Surekha and Km. S.B. Kulkarni (1985), Shobha Narayan (1999).
Parshotam.
Daronacharya Award Winner- Fadke Gopal
IMPORTANT TOURNAMENTS
National Championship, Federation Cup, Nehru Gold Cup, Shivaji Cup, All India Intervarsity Championship(Meni
&Women). Nation School Championship.