Raid types, bonus rules, and defender formations explained with easy visuals
The court is small, the bursts are short, and the scoring flips fast. That mix is what makes this sport so bingeable. Understanding three pillars – how raids score, when the bonus line matters, and how defenders arrange for traps – turns a frantic broadcast into a readable story in minutes.
The guide below keeps terms simple and pairs each idea with a quick visual cue. No jargon wall. Just what the eyes need to follow the next touch, tag, or tackle.
Raid types without jargon
Every raid is a sprint across the midline to tag defenders, then a dash back home before being tackled. Styles change by speed, reach, and deception. Think of the raider as a chess piece with two jobs – force a mistake or land a clean tag and retreat.
A compact rules primer and live basics sit read more for viewers who like a neutral reference open during matches. After that quick skim, the patterns below will really stand out.
Touch raids are the fundamentals – fast steps in, a sudden reach to the thigh or shoulder, then a turn for home. Toe touches add distance by stabbing the lead foot forward to tag. Running hand touches extend range using upper body lean plus a palm tag. Kicks reach around the line when defenders hang back; a side kick clips a knee or shin without committing the body. Bonus attempts are different – no tag is needed – and deserve their own section, as small details determine whether the point counts.
Bonus rules made easy
A bonus point rewards footwork, not brute force. It is available only when six or more defenders are on court. The raider must cross the bonus line with one foot while the trailing foot stays in the air. Any floor contact behind the line cancels the try. No defender touch is required, but escape still matters – the raider only keeps the bonus by returning safely across the midline.
Two visuals help spot legal versus risky tries:
- Legal look: Picture a split stance. The front foot lands past the thin bonus stripe. The rear foot hovers with toes clear of the mat. Hips stay low, torso angled for a quick pivot out.
- Risky look: The trailing heel drifts down or brushes the mat. Even a light graze turns the attempt into nothing, which is why defenders crowd the space to force a wobble.
Captains adjust formations around the bonus line. With seven defenders, expect one player to be posted directly over the stripe to cut the angle. When a teammate is off the mat and only five remain, the bonus disappears; defenders can sit deeper and bait a rushed touch raid instead.
Quick visual cues for each raid
- Touch raid: Sudden shoulder drop, palm shoots to the thigh, instant turn.
- Toe touch: Hopping entry, stabbing lead foot, quick recoil like a fencer.
- Running hand touch: Leaning sprint, arm fully extended, tag at full reach.
- Kick: Side-on stance, hip turns, foot flicks to shin or knee.
- Bonus try: Split stance over the thin stripe, trailing foot floating, eyes on exit lane.
These shapes repeat across matches. Spot the setup in the first half, and late-game reads become easier.
Defender formations that create traps
Defenders work in roles. Corners anchor the outer edges. Covers stand a step inside the corners. Ins fill the center. The shape shifts based on the raider style and the score.
A high line pushes defenders toward midcourt to deny easy touches and to smother bonus space. It looks aggressive – a flat wall that forces the raider to commit early. A deep line drops toward the back to tempt a long reach for a hand or toe touch, then closes from both sides. Chains add glue. Two defenders link hands or wrists to widen the net; this keeps spacing tight and turns single grabs into group stops.
Tackle types make the plan visible. An ankle hold pins the lead leg as support arrives. A thigh hold clamps above the knee for balance control. A block and lift stand in the lane to halt momentum while the pack wraps. Watch the corner on the raiders’ blind side – that entry angle often triggers the trap.
How coaches toggle risk across a match
Risk tuning is easy to read when eyes look for three toggles – field count, time, and score.
With seven defenders on court, bonus denial becomes a priority because the reward exists. Expect a high line and quick swarms around the stripe. When cards or exits reduce the count to five, the bonus vanishes; defenders sit deeper for tackles near the midline, where the return path is short. In the final minutes with a narrow lead, formations get conservative – deeper line, safer tackles, and fewer chain breaks. When trailing late, captains gamble with advanced positions near midcourt to chase multi-point stops.
On offense, low-risk raids dominate just before halftime or near the end of a tight game – shallow touches, quick retreats, and empty raids to run the clock if the math favors the raiding side.
Watch smarter in two minutes
A tiny routine sharpens the next broadcast. Note defender count as the raid starts – six or more means bonus is live. Glance at the stripe – crowded equals denial mode, open space equals invitation. Finally, watch the nearest corner. If that player shades inward, the trap plans to close the exit lane; if the corner waits deep, the team wants a long reach and a late wrap.
These cues turn noise into a pattern. Raids stop looking random, bonus calls make sense at a glance, and defensive traps appear before the whistle. With a few visuals on repeat, the small court becomes a clear map – one where feet, hands, and angles write the story one sprint at a time.