The game of Kho-Kho is played on a rectangular ground area between two teams which take turns to be chaser and defenders alternatively. It is generally played on surfaces suited for open field sports or artificial turfs. 
The objective of the game is to chase down all the defenders in the minimum possible time to win the game. The game overall is a great test of player’s physical fitness, speed, agility, strength, stamina & dodging ability.

The playing surface must be flat, horizontal & uniform which must be rectangular as well as symmetrical in shape. The standard playing court has dimensions of 29/27 metre X 16 metre (length by width).

Regulation lengths are:

• Central lane: It is the rectangular area between the two posts with dimensions of 29/27 metre X 0.3 metre (length by width) and it divides the court into two equal halves.
• Side line: The lines running parallel to the length of the Kho-Kho field are known as side lines and it measures from 23 to 27 metres (depending upon the type of play).
• End line: The lines running parallel to the width of the Kho-Kho field are known as end lines and it measures from 14 to 16 metres (depending upon the type of play).
• Post: It is a wooden or fibre material pole fixed perpendicular & firmly to the ground at each end of the central lane with a height of 120-125 cm above the ground and uniform diameter of 9-10 cm. The posts divide the Kho-Kho field into two equal halves along its width.
• Cross lane: It is a rectangular area measuring 16 m (length) X 30 cm (width) of the court that intercepts the central lane at right angles. Only runners are allowed to pass through this area while playing. 
• Square: It is an area of 30 cm X 30 cm formed by the intersection of the central lane and the cross lane. It is also known as the chaser block and the distance between the adjacent squares is 230 cm.
• Lobby: It is the area surrounding the field which measures 1.5 metre in width
• Entry zone: It is the area marked in the lobby away from the side line on both sides of the scorer’s table which measures 50 cm in width and runs from the post line to the third cross lane in length.
• Free zone: It is the remaining portion of the field from the end line to the post line on each end of the court.

Kho Kho is the game that genuinely needs no special equipment, clothing or accessories, ensuring that it is a game for everyone.

• Before the start of the play, a toss is conducted and the side winning the toss has the right to choose between chasing and defending first. 
• The toss winner generally raises his/her arm and indicates his/her decision by pointing index finger towards chasing lane or the side line.

• A total of 12 player’s form the team with 9 players from each team allowed being a part of the playing court which may be substituted. 
• Eight players of the chasing team sit in eight squares in the central lane (with alternating in the direction they face) while the ninth player is an active chaser (attacker) who can begin his/her pursuit at either of the posts. 
• The runners enter the chasing area in batches of three and after the third runner has been chased the next batch of three is allowed to enter the chasing arena. 
• Any number of substitutions can be allowed for the chasing team by the referee on request at any time during the match. For runners, the substitution is allowed only before they enter the field for defense. The substitution has to be made through the substitution box only which is to the right of the scoring table.

• To initiate a Kho, an attacker should touch the chaser by hand from behind (between imaginary shoulder line & waist line) and then utter the word “KHO” loudly. 
• The feet of the attacker shall not go beyond the cross lane while giving a Kho and no chaser is allowed to leave the square without getting a Kho.

• The standard game of Kho-Kho is played in two innings wherein, each inning consists of chasing & defending turns of 9 minutes each. There is an interval of 6/9 minutes after every inning and a break of 3/5 minutes between the two turns. 
• In case, the scores are equal after two innings then an additional inning is played to decide the winner of the match.

• The side that chases scores one point each for getting the runner out. At the end of both the innings, the total score of the two teams is counted and the winner is decided on basis of the team scoring more points. 
• In case the points of a team starting the match as chasers exceeds the points of the other team by 9 or more after the first innings then they have the option of requiring the other team to follow on its turn as chasers, without forfeiting their rights to take their innings as chasers afterwards in case the other team exceeds their score.

If an attacker/chaser violates any rule during the game, the referee declares it as a foul by blowing a short whistle continuously and shall ask the attacker to go in the opposite direction to which he/she was going earlier. The player’s commit a foul during the game under the following circumstances,

• If while giving a Kho, the action of uttering the word “KHO” precedes the action of touching by hand. Also, if the attacker utters the word “KHO” and does not touch the chaser by hand, it is deemed as a foul.
• If a chaser leaves the square (chaser box) without getting a Kho.
• If the attacker utters any other word resembling “KHO”. If any of the chasers’ utter the word “KHO” or any other resembling word then also it is deemed as a foul.
• If an attacker touches/crosses the central lane while making an attempt to get the defender out.
• If an attacker rests or takes support on a chaser while making an attempt to put out the defender
• In case the attacker while becoming a chaser (sitting in the square/chaser box) obstructs the defender in any manner.
• If an attacker while going in a particular direction turns his/her shoulder line through more than a right angle to the direction which he/she has already taken.
• If an attacker changes his direction by simply kicking the post by his/her leg

• Warning: For a minor offense such as an argument with the opponents, spectators/officials, shouting etc. a verbal warning is given by the referee.
• Yellow card: In case of repetition of an offense, the referee warns the player by showing him/her a yellow card. If a yellow card is shown to the player twice in the same match then he/she is not allowed to participate in the remaining duration of the match and also in the next match of that particular competition. Also, in case the player is shown yellow card in two consecutive matches then he/she is not allowed to participate in the next match of that particular competition.
• Red card: If a player is shown red card, the player is permanently excluded from rest of the game and it is shown generally for serious offenses. If a red card is shown to the player then he/she is not allowed to participate in the remaining duration of the match and also in the next match of that particular competition.

The designated match officials for the game are as follows:

• Referee
• Two Umpires
• Scorer
• Assistant Scorer
• Time Keeper

Multi Directional Lunges

Frog Jumps

T-Sprints

Dot Drills

Lateral Box Shuffles

Stair Drill

Flying 20 Drill

1-2-3 Back Drill

Four Corner Drill

Catch Me Drill

Faking Defense Drill

Single Chain Defense Drill

Double Chain Defense Drill

Ring Defense Drill

Sitting Stance Drill 

Giving Kho to Chaser 

Air Dive Drill 

Pole Dive Drill 

Chain Kho Drill 

Faking Kho Drill