Sepak Tarak : Let’s get started !
Taking the first steps to become a player
The game can be a solo activity, group or team sport ; can be played outdoor or inddor ; develops flexibility, coordination and strength. Can't wait to get started?
How to get started ? By joining a team, a club and an association
Individual and school memberships to the Sepak Tarak Association of Canada (STAC) are free of charge. Members receive bulletins and updates about the association. As schools' role is crucial are central to the expension of the game in Canada, schools are given a special types of memberships. STAC encourages Sepak Takraw school programs by connecting schools with other schools, clubs and teams in the same area.
Individuals who are not part of any clubs can also registrer as a team for a small fee. A team is a group of 2 to 5 people who simply enjoy playing sepak tapak in their community.
Club is the principal type of membership in STAC. A club is usually a group of 15 people or more. There is no upper limit on the participant numbers. Large clubs have more than one team.
Clubs receive free takraw balls, official STAC medals and a discount on all equipment purchased from the association. Most importantly, clubs can send teams to official STAC tournaments and events.
You can find a list of clubs, contact information and meeting times and dates on the STAC website .
Purchasing the equipment
Players are required to wear shorts and sleeved t-shirts. The t-shirts are numbered with a number ranging from 1 to 15.
The ideal shoes are athletic and designed for kicking and jumping sports. They have flat sides and sole, as players need control when kicking the ball.
Some players wear an ankle support or firm sports socks for extra support when jumping and kicking the ball. This can also prevent injuries when the Takraw ball hits the ankle instead of the athlete's foot. Knee and wrist tensors are also commonly used for injury prevention.
Some players also like to wear a sweat band on the head or some type of head band or bandanna tied around the head to keep sweat from running in the eyes while playing and to soften the impact of the ball on the forehead.
Purchasing a Takraw ball
For 500 years, Sepak Takraw balls are made of hand-woven strips of rattan in Southest Asian countries. In the last decades, the stricter regulations regarding the extraction of rattan from the jungle led to the making of synthetic balls. Even though the material is different, balls are still hand-woven and the design is the same. The synthetic material makes the balls more resistant to hard spike kicks.
Related article- Sepak Takraw: Asian Sport .
