| Polo has been termed the "sport of kings", or sometimes
the "king of sports". However, one does not have to be a king to play this game.
The enjoyment of playing can be achieved by owning only one horse or by having
a string of polo ponies. The challenge of the game is to combine highly skilled
athletic ability and horsemanship with the efforts of super trained mounts. Game
tactics have many similarities to those of soccer, hockey and football. Yet, it
is the terrific speed combined with body contact and the darting turns of the
horses which gives polo its appeal to spectators and players alike. |
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THE MOUNT
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PONY GLOSSARY | | A | = | Neck |
| B | =
| Chest |
| C | =
| Shoulder |
| D | =
| Withers |
| E | =
| Good, long sloping
shoulders | | F
| = | Back |
| G | =
| Ribs |
| H | =
| Hindquarters |
| I | =
| Depth through
the girth | | | The mounts
are called polo ponies, although they are horses ranging from 14.5 to 16
hands high at the wither (one hand equals four inches), and weighing 900-1000
lbs. The polo pony is selected carefully for great speed and stamina, similar
to the thoroughbreds at race tracks, as well as agility and maneuverability, similar
to the cow pony used on ranches. When one can combine these traits and train the
horse to carry the rider smoothly and swiftly to the ball, the horse can account
for anywhere from 70-80% of a player's ability and net worth to his team. |
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THE PLAYER
| | Each team consists of four mounted players, which
can be mixed teams of both men and women. The Number 1 is expected to score the
goals and carry out an offensive position. The Number 2 is also an offensive player
but has to be more aggressive since his objective is also to break up the defensive
plays of the opposition. The Number 3 is the pivot man, similar to a quarterback
in football, and he is usually the long ball hitter and playmaker for the team.
He usually hits the penalty shots and knock-ins. The Number 4, or back, is the
defensive player. He is usually the most conservative player and his job is to
guard the goal and keep the opposition from scoring. | |
THE FIELD
| | The playing field is 300 yards long by 150 yards
wide, the approximate area of nine football fields. The playing field is carefully
maintained with closely mowed turf providing a safe, fast playing surface. Goals
are posts which are set eight yards apart at each end of the field. |
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THE EQUIPMENT | |
Mallets are made of bamboo canes, or poly resins, which provide flexibility, and
the mallet heads of willow or maple. The mallets come in lengths of 49 to 53 inches
and selection is made according to the height of the pony being played. The ball
is struck with the side of the mallet, not with the end. The ball is made of bamboo,
willow root, poly resins, or leather (for indoor arena polo). It's diameter is
3.5 inches and weighs about 4.5 ounces. All players must wear a protective helmet
with a chinstrap and preferably a faceguard. Knees are protected with leather
knee guards. The ponies are provided with protective bandages or wraps on all
four legs. Tails are braided, taped or tied to minimize interference in making
the various shots. | |
THE GAME | |
Play commences when the mounted umpire bowls the ball between the players who
line up opposite each other in the centre field. The game consists of six 7 minute
periods called Chukkers, during which players may change mounts. There
is a four minute interval between chukkers and a ten minute halftime. Play is
continuous and is only stopped for penalties, broken tack (equipment) or injury
to horse or player. The object is to score goals by hitting the ball between the
goal posts, no matter how high in the air. If the ball goes wide of the goal,
the defending team is allowed a free 'knock-in' from the place where the ball
crossed the goal line, thus getting the ball back into play. Teams change goals
on ends of the field after each score to minimize any wind advantage which may
exist. There are two mounted umpires who officiate the game while a referee on
the sidelines makes all the final decisions concerning penalties or infractions
of the rules. Penalties and fouls are described and explained in literature available
through the UPSA (United
States Polo Association). | |
THE HANDICAPS | |
Each player is rated on a scale of minus 2 to 10, by regional and national handicap
committees of the US Polo Association. A player's handicap is based on his net
worth to his/her team with factors considered such as horsemanship, team play,
hitting skills, anticipation and overall understanding of the game and its rules.
The rating given to players is termed in goals. For example, if four three
goal players formed a team, it would be a 12 goal rated team. If the opposing
teams' handicap totaled 10 goals, there would be a two goal advantage to the first
team at the start of the game. The term "goals", is not a player's rating and
is not to be confused with how many times he/she will score in a match, it is
just a system of rating. |
| DUTIES OF
THE SPECTATOR | During our playing season,
we welcome all specators and enthusiasts who enjoy spending an afternoon outside.
Entry to all games is free unless an organized tournament is taking place. We
encourage you to bring along your garden chairs, picnic basket, and sporting spirit.
Unlike most sports, polo requires active spectator participation. Before leaving
for a game, you will want to prepare a picnic, pack your camera and bring your
binoculars, remembering of course that you'll be spending time outdoors, therefore
appropriate outdoor dress is necessary for your comfort. If you don't have time
to pack your picnic, several restaurants (offering take-out service), are located
nearby the polo fields. Once you arrive at the game, be sure to park at least
ten yards back from the side of the field and not at the end of the field. The
objective is to park by the game, not in it. Now you are ready to participate
in the game. First open your picnic and remember the following points: - Keep
your eye on the ball and the horses. Action frequently extends ten yards beyond
the edge of the field. Many unwary spectators have narrowly escaped from a changing
horse.
- Pets MUST be on a leash or rein and children CLOSE at hand.
- Now
for the fun part - you get to walk on the turf. To golfers this is known as replacing
the divots. After the third and sixth chukkers you will be ready to walk off your
picnic. So take a stroll and help maintain the field.
- Please return all
polo balls hit out of bounds to the umpires, goal judges or other club officials.
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POLO GLOSSARY
| - BUMP
- A player is permitted
to ride into another player so as to spoil his/her shot. The angle of collision
must be slight causing no more than a jar. The faster the horse travels the smaller
the angle must be. A good bump can shake your dentures loose!
- CHUKKER
- Also called a period.
There are four or six chukkers in a polo game each lasting 7 minutes. A player
returns each chukker on a different horse, although a player may rest one for
a chukker or two and play the horse again during the game.
- GOAL
- Any time a ball crosses
the line between the goal posts, it is considered a goal regardless of whether
a horse or a mallet caused the ball to go through. In order to equalize wind and
turf conditions, the teams change sides after every goal scored.
- HANDICAPS
- All players are rated
on a scale of 1 to 10 (the higher the better). The handicap of the team is the
sum total rating of its players and in handicap matches the team with the higher
handicap gives the difference in ratings to the other team. For example a 6-goal
team will give two goals to a 4-goal team.
- HOOK
- A player may spoil
another's shot by putting his mallet in the way of the striking player. A cross
hook occurs when the player reaches over his opponent's mount in an attempt to
hook; this is considered a foul.
- KNOCK-IN
- Should a team, in
an offensive drive, hit the ball across the opponent's backline, the defending
team resumes the game with a free hit from their backline. No time-out is allowed
for knock-ins.
- NEAR
SIDE
- The left-hand
side of a horse.
- NECKSHOT
- A ball which is hit
under the horse's neck from either side.
- OFFSIDE
- The right hand side
of the horse.
- OUT
OF BOUNDS
- When
a ball crosses the sideline or goes over the side boards it is considered out
of bounds and the umpire throws in another ball between the two teams at that
point. No time-out is allowed for an out-of-bounds ball.
- POSITIONS
- Each of the 4 team
members plays a distinctly different position. Since polo is such a fluid game,
the players may momentarily change positions but will try and return to their
initial assignment. No. 1 is the most forward offensive player. No. 2 is just
as offensive but plays deeper and works harder. No. 3 is the pivot player between
offense and defense and tries to turn all plays to the offense. No 4 or the Back,
is the defensive player whose role is principally to protect the goal.
- SAFETY
- Penalty No. 6. When a defending
player hits the ball across his own backline, the other team is awarded a free
hit 60 yards from the backline with the ball placed at the same distance from
the sideline as when it went out.
- TAIL
SHOT
- Hitting
the ball behind and across the horse's rump.
- THIRD
MAN
- The referee
sitting at the sidelines. If and when the two umpires on the field are in disagreement,
the third man makes the final decision.
- THROW
IN
- A chukker
begins and many plays resume with the umpires bowling the ball between the two
ready teams.
- TIME
OUT
- An umpire
calls time-out when a foul is committed, and accident occurs or at his own discretion.
A player may only call time-out if he has broken tack or is injured. No time-out
is allowed for changing horses or replacing a broken mallet, although a player
may do so at any time.
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Take a look at the Sunday Polo
Game Schedule
Content graciously provided
by and used with permission from Polonews.com
© 2003
sbpolo.com All Rights Reserved
Send Questions and Comments to dsomogyi@sbpolo.com
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