Officiating and Rules of Major Games
This section tests the qualities of an official and the core rules of football, basketball, volleyball, hockey, kabaddi and kho-kho. Learn the numbers and the restart rules, not just player names.
Core ideas
- Football: 11 players; 90 minutes (45+45); offside applies in the opponents' half; penalty mark 11 m from goal; opponents at least 9.15 m from a free kick.
- Basketball: 5 players; FIBA game 4 × 10 minutes; 24-second shot clock; 3-point line; five personal fouls disqualify a player.
- Volleyball: 6 players; rally scoring to 25 points (2-point lead), fifth set to 15; maximum three touches; libero is a defensive specialist.
- Hockey: 11 players; four quarters of 15 minutes; penalty corner and penalty stroke are key restarts.
- Kabaddi: 7 players; raider must cross the baulk line and cannot exceed 30 seconds; bonus line applies.
- Kho-kho: 9 players on court, 12 in squad; chasing and running turns; a kho is given from behind the seated chaser.
Worked example
A volleyball team wins a rally at 24–24. Reasoning: rally scoring means the winner scores, but the set needs a two-point lead, so 25–24 is not enough; play continues until one team leads by two (for example 27–25). The same principle applies in the deciding set, which is played to 15.
Traps
Do not say offside applies from a throw-in. Do not use 12 minutes for a FIBA quarter. Do not confuse the penalty corner with a penalty stroke in hockey. Do not let a libero take a normal front-row attacking role.