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For the Newcomer to Polo
The Rules of the Game
The Teams
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On a full sized grass field, each
team has four people
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In an enclosed arena usually played
in winter, each team has
three people
The Ground
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The ground is 300 yards long, 160
yards wide if boarded. Being boarded means the field has a 12 inch
upright board bounding the perimeter which stops the ball rolling
out of play easily.
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If the ground is unboarded, it is 200
yards wide and marked with a white line.
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The goal posts, positioned at each
end, are 8 yards apart.
Duration of the Play
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The full game is 8 chukkas, but often
in club matches 4 or 6 chukkas are played.
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Each chukka is timed to last 7 mins,
then a bell is rung, but the game goes on until the ball goes out of
play, or for another 30 secs when the bell is rung again, the chukka
ends where the ball is.
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The clock is stopped between the
umpire's whistle to stop the play and the whistle to start play (eg.ball
out of play, foul etc.)
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There are intervals of 3 mins between
chukkas and 5 mins at half time. Ends are changed at every goal
scored - this has been found fairest when there is a wind.
Handicaps
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Each player is handicapped (on a 4-6 chukka basis)
from -2 up to 10 goals (the top professional players).
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The aggregate handicap of the four players in a team
is the team handicap. e.g. if all players have a handicap of 2 goals
each, the team handicap is 8 goals and is referred to as an '8 goal
team'.
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In handicap tournaments, if both teams do not have an
equal aggregate handicap, one team is given a number of goals start
which is calculated as follows: the number of goals start is
obtained by multiplying the difference between the two teams'
handicaps by the number of chukkas and dividing by 6, any fraction
counting a half a goal.
Ponies
Fouls
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A player following the ball on its exact line has the
Right of Way over all other players. Any other player who crosses
the player on the right of way close enough to be dangerous commits
a foul.
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Penalties vary according to the degree of danger and
closeness of the cross.
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No player may hook an opponent's stick unless he is
on the same side of the opponent's pony as the ball.
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Dangerous play or rough handling is not allowed - a
player may ride an opponent off, but must not charge in at an angle.
Penalties
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The
following penalties may be given.
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A goal is
given if the cross is dangerous or deliberate in the vicinity of the
goal. The ball is then thrown in 10 yds in front of the goal without
ends being changed.
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Free hit
from 30 yds opposite the centre of the goal - defenders to be behind
the back line and outside th6 goal posts but must not ride through
when the ball is hit.
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Free hit
from 40 yds, same conditions as b).
Free hit from 60 yds. Defenders to be 30 yds from ball.
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Free hit
from the centre of the ground, none of the defending side to be
nearer than 30 yds when the ball is hit.
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Free hit
from spot where the foul took place, no defender to be nearer than
30 yds
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Corners
are not taken as in Association Football - instead, a free hit is
given 60 yds from the goal from a spot opposite where the ball was
hit behind the line, none of the defending side to be nearer than 30
yds.
Captains of teams are the only players
who can discuss questions arising during a game. No player shall appeal
in any manner to the Umpire for fouls, but me Captain can discuss any
matter with the Umpire.
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