Polo is a dynamic and exciting team game. One of the oldest known sports in the world, it is thought to have originated in Persia over 2000 years ago. The game as we know it today was codified and developed in India in the 1800s, where British soldiers who were stationed there saw the game being played locally and adapted it for their own uses, often using it as training for cavalry riders.
The object of Polo is for a team to score more goals than its opposition to win the game. Each team of four is made up of attackers and defenders, but all members of a polo team are expected to be flexible and make any play whether offensive or defensive and change position as necessary to benefit the team.
There are 2 mounted umpires on the pitch following the game and a third man (or referee) in the stands who acts as the arbitrator if the umpires cannot agree. There is a goal judge behind each goal and they will wave a flag when a goal is scored. The scorer and the timekeeper record the goals and track the timing and sound the bell at the end of each chukka.
Polo pitches are 300 yards long by 160 yards wide. ‘kickboards’ are situated along either side of the pitch to help keep the ball in play. Goalposts, open at the top, are 8 yards apart.
The ball is made of plastic and is 3.5 inches in diameter and weighs 4.5 ounces, still remarkably hard if it hits you.
Right of Way – During play there is an imaginary “line of the ball”, which is generally the direction
in which the ball is travelling at any one moment. When a player has established the right of way along that line, it may not be crossed by an opposing player if there is the slightest risk of collision.
Crossing – Any player who crosses the player holding the right of way close enough to be dangerous or cause a player to slow up, commits a foul.
Riding Off – pushing another player and his horse out of the way using your horse is permitted, whether the other man is playing the ball or not. But it must not be done by charging in at a dangerous angle, nor must the man in possession of the ball be crossed.
Hooking sticks – A player may hook an opponent’s stick provided he is on the same side of the opponent as the ball, or directly behind him, and provided the stick is below the level of the opponent’s shoulder. Players must not attempt to hook an opponent in front of the pony’s legs.
Different types of penalties are awarded depending of the nature of the foul:
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