Being familiar with the polo rules and structure will make it much easier to better appreciate and enjoy the true elegance of this sport of kings.
To begin the game, the four players from each team line up parallel to each other in the middle of the field, facing the sidelines. The play commences when a ball is thrown by either a referee (there are two mounted referees and one on the sidelines) or a visiting dignitary.
Each team strives to drive the ball down the field toward the opponent's goal. Action during each period is continuous until a goal is scored, a foul detected or until the ball is driven from the field of play.
The game is divided into four periods called chukkers. Each of these lasts 7 minutes.
Any time a ball crosses the line between the goal posts, it is considered a goal regardless of whether a horse or a mallet was responsible. After every goal is scored, the teams change sides. This practice compensates for factors such as wind and turf conditions.
Good polo is graceful to watch, but in reality it is a rough fast game which is riddled with dangers. Thus, the principle governing the polo rules is safety. There are many rules designed to protect the rider and horse from injury, but the basic polo rule is: Do not cross the "line of the ball" referring to the imaginary line created by the ball if there is any chance of endangering players who are in their correct lanes.
The player who last hit the ball on his/her right side (also known as the offside) has the right of way over the other players, provided s/he stays in his/her lane. An opponent may try for this line, provided that s/he does not cross in front of the player that has the right of way, or attempt to check his/her opponent's mallet (however, it is not permitted to reach across, in front of, or over or behind the opponent's horse to complete the hook or check).
You may be surprised to know that in polo rules, it is legal to "run the other player off the road," as long as it is done by making contact with the horses traveling at approximately the same speed, shoulder to shoulder, at an angle of less than 45 degrees.
When a foul has been committed, the umpire signals with a blow of the whistle and a free hit is awarded to the fouled team.
Each team is composed of four players and each player performs a specific function according to the number s/he wears. Unlike other sports, the players are known by their position number rather than their position name. Familiarizing yourself with the key responsibilities will aid in both understanding and enjoying the game and the polo rules.
Number 1 - The Forward: The 1's primary responsibility is offensive. As a rule, it is this player who will attempt the most shots at the goal. Relying on passes from teammates, for this player accuracy is essential as opposed to distance. In addition, s/he is responsible for taking the opposing Number 4 out of the game.
Number 2 - The Hustler: This player also concentrates on offensive, but at the same time must cover Number 3 defensively. S/he should remain constantly moving in pursuit of the play. It is said that "a good Number 2 has his/her nose in every play."
Number 3 - The Pivot: Also referred to as the Pivot Man or Quarterback, this spot is usually reserved for the best and most experienced player on the team. This position presents a real challenge: not only must s/he feed balls to players Number 1 and 2, but s/he must also uphold a strong defense. The ability to hit long accurate shots while anticipating an opponent's next maneuver are crucial skills.
Number 4 - The Back: This player's chief concern is defense. S/he must have an excellent backshot and be a powerful hitter on throw-ins, as s/he is the last line of defense between the opponents and the goal. However, often times a good Number 3 will "bring his/her back through" on offense and will then cover the 4 position him/herself until the play changes.
Shortly after polo was introduced in the United States, The Handicap (or skill rating) was established. This system was designed to assure both players and spectators of the best match possible between two teams.
The United States Polo Association bestows each registered player with a rating on a scale from 1 (the lowest) to 10 (the highest). The vast majority of players in the United States are 2 goals or less. Players with a handicap of 4 or more are, for the most part, considered professionals. Throughout the whole world of polo, only a handful of players will ever earn the distinction of being a 10 goal player. Although the word "goal" is frequently used after the digit, it relates to a player's ability, not the number of goals s/he might score.
The team's handicap is the sum total of its players' ratings. In handicap matches, the team with the higher handicap will compensate the lower rated team by awarding them the difference in ratings.
The National Handicap Committee reevaluates individual ratings on an annual basis. They base their distinctions on the following factors:
Horsemanship: Coordination between horse and rider is essential. A poor rider on a good mount won't be contributing much to the team. To put it another way - it doesn't matter how well you hit the ball if you can't get to it first!
General Value to the Team: A player must keep in mind that polo is not an individual sport, but a tight-knit team game that requires a great deal of interchange and flexibility between positions. It is this factor that makes polo so different from other team sports.
Game Sense: What makes polo a thinking man's game. A player's ability to anticipate the actions of the opponent intelligently and strategically. A player with good anticipation is able to save his/her horses by not having to constantly "chase" the ball.
Hitting: At a high speed, this is not as easy as it might appear. It's important that a player learn to control the direction, flight and force of the ball.
Team Play: This pertains to a player's understanding of his/her position and the responsible attitude s/he maintains towards his/her performance as it relates to the overall cohesion of the teams.
Quality of Horses: A good pony will definitely contribute towards better play.
Now that you've got the polo rules down, let's go watch polo!
