ARC Polo - Basics

ARC POLO

THE GAME OF POLO

1. The ground is 300 yards long, 200 yards wide. The goal posts are 8 yards apart.

2. A Polo Team consist of four players: - 1-Forward, 2- forward, 3-Pivot and 4-Back.

3. Each chukkar (or period of play) consists of 7 minutes.

4. Teams change ends after each goal is scored.

5. There is no limit to the height of ponies.

6. Corners are not taken as in Association football. Instead a free hit is given 60 yards from the goal line from a spot opposite where the ball was hit behind the line, none of the defending side to be nearer than 30 yards.

7. There is NO "offside" in Polo

8. A team's handicap is the sum of the handicaps of its four members. For each match in a tournament, the handicaps of the two teams are compared and the lower total subtracted from the higher. This difference is the" start" in goals awarded to the weaker team in a 6 chukkar match.

9. As 4 chukkars only are played in each match in some tournaments only two third of the difference is counted. Any fraction counts as half a goal. The second (and final) chukkar ends on the bell. If, however, match ends in a draw, the second chukkar continues and is ended by the umpire as soon after the bell as possible; the goals are then widened and play continues till the deciding goal is scored.

10. Right-of-Way: During play there is an imaginary "line of the ball" which is generally the direction in which the ball is traveling at any moment. When a player has established his right-of way along that line, it may not be crossed by an opposing player if there is the slightest risk of collision.

11. The rules of polo are designed to prevent injury to ponies and players such as would be most likely to occur by ponies "crossing" and colliding. The term "on line of the ball" therefore figures largely in these rules.

12. "On the line of the Ball". This expression means a line from the point at which the ball was last struck, to the point at which it is at any given moment. Any player "on the line of the ball" has right of way over any other player approaching at an angle to that line.

13. Any two players following (e.g. when riding each other off) "on the line of the ball" have right of way over any single player approaching at an angle or who may also be "on the line of the ball" but coming in the opposite direction.

14. If the player not on the line of the ball does not give way and causes the player on the line to check his pony, or rides dangerously close in front of him, a foul has been committed by "crossing" .

15. A player "on the line of the ball" intending to strike the ball on his off (right hand) side has right of way over a player who, while on the line (but coming in the opposite direction), is intending to strike on his near left hand side.

16. It is a foul for any body to stand stationary on the ball or "on the line of the ball".

17. A player may "ride off" an opponent whether he has the ball or not.

18. A player may hook his opponent's Strike with his own provided that in doing so he does not allow his own stick to cross over his opponent's pony's back, neck, fore or hind legs.

19. A player, in striking at the ball, may not lean over an opponent's pony or allow his stick to pass dangerously close to an opposing players' pony's legs.

20. A player also may not deliberately strike his own pony.

21. There are other rules which involve dangerous riding, dangerous swinging of sticks in scrimmages, coming in at too great an angle when intending to ride off an opponent, intimidation (making a player "on the ball" check his pony by threatening to cross but not actually doing so) etc.

22. Penalties for infringement depend upon the gravity of the offence. Generally speaking, they are, in order of severity as follows:

Penalty - No 1 - A free goal and throw in 10 yards from fouler's goal.
Penalty - No 2 - A free hit from the 30 yards mark. (Open goal).
Penalty - No 3 - A free hit from 40 yards. (Open goal).
Penalty - No 4 - A free hit from the 60 yards mark opposite the goal. (Goal not open).
Penalty - No 5a - A free hit from the spot where foul took place (Goal not open).
Penalty - No 5b - A free hit from centre.
Penalty - No 6 - A free hit from the 60 yards mark where the ball crossed the back line (compare with no. 4).