Rough Guide to Polo

The following will give you an idea of the basic rules of polo to help with your enjoyment of a match.

  • A tournament consists of a number of matches and is usually played over a Saturday and Sunday at RLS
  • A match is 4 or 6 chukkas RLS play 4 chukkas
  • A chukka lasts 7 minutes
  • A bell or hooter sounds at the end of 7 minutes up to 30 seconds of play will follow
  • Play starts with a throw in the teams line up facing each other and the umpire throws the ball in
  • Teams change ends after a goal is scored returning to the centre for another throw-in
  • The ground is called a pitch it can be up to 8 times the size of a football pitch up to 300 by 200 Yards
  • Each tournament has a handicap the higher the handicap the faster the polo. RLS has from 0 to 12 goal
  • Each team has 4 players
  • Each player has a handicap from -2 goal (beginner) to 10 goal (the best in the world). Handicaps are added together to make the team handicap
  • Teams are made up of professionals and amateurs.
  • Lower handicapped teams get a head start if you see a half goal on the scoreboard this is because of a handicap difference
  • There is a scoreboard in the centre/end of the pitch this also shows the chukka number being played
  • Equipment brown boots, knee pads, white jeans, a polo shirt, polo helmet and a mallet
  • Each player will have between 2 and 6 ponies per match ponies can only be used twice and must be rested between chukkas.
  • 2 mounted umpires on the pitch there is also a referee watching from the side.
  • The mallet (stick) must be held in the right hand
  • The line of the ball and right of way the rules of polo are mainly concerned with the safety of the ponies and players. If you see someone leave a ball and can’t understand why, now you know.
  • Riding off players ride into each other shoulder to shoulder to push each other away from the ball.
  • Hooking players try to stop a successful shot by using their mallet to ‘hook’ and opponents stick to stop them hitting the ball.

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