A match is contested between two teams of seven players. The match is
refereed by an umpire, who also signals change of sides (
pun onba) and the end of the match. Each team has a leader, referred to as a
panjenba, and play commences when the umpire throws a ball between them at the centre line. A team attempts to
score goals against the opponent, and the team first to attain a predetermined number of
goals is declared the winner. Each player has one piece of equipment, a slightly curved bamboo stick about in length similar to a
hockey stick. It is used to strike a ball made of bamboo root of approximately in diameter. Each player is associated with an opposing player, and the two never leave each other during a match. Players may pick up the ball and run with it, a play often terminated by the player tossing the ball in the air and striking it. A player may also kick the ball, but must strike the ball with the stick to score a goal. A player may obstruct an opponent; tripping opponents is permitted, and is known as a
collar. A player carrying a ball may be physically challenged by an opponent, which requires the two players to wrestle (
mukna), after which play resumes. ==Notes==