POLO 101

THE GAME

If you’re just starting out in the sport, we’ve gathered some essential information to help guide you. 

The match kicks off with a “bowl-in” by the umpire. Players from both teams line up at midfield on their designated sides, and the umpire rolls the ball down the lane created by the players. This bowl-in is also performed after every goal and at the beginning of each chukka, unless the ball is positioned behind the end line. To score, a player must hit the ball between two goal posts, which stand 7.3 meters apart. Following each goal, the teams alternate directions to prevent any team from being disadvantaged by factors such as wind or field irregularities. If the score is tied after six chukkas, there will be a 10-minute intermission. Following this break, the teams will return for a sudden-death overtime chukka, where the first team to score will emerge victorious.

In polo, a bowl-in is the method by which the umpire initiates or resumes the game. This is done by rolling the ball down the centre of a line of players, akin to a throw-in in other sports. When a foul occurs, the team that did not commit the infraction is typically awarded a penalty shot. The umpire has the discretion to choose the location for this shot based on the nature of the foul. Depending on the severity of the foul, an opposing player may be allowed to defend the goal.

A high hook takes place when a player hooks an opponent’s mallet above shoulder level. For this manoeuvre to be performed legally, the player must position themselves either directly behind the opponent’s horse or alongside them on the side from which the shot is being executed. It is important that the player does not reach over or under any part of the other rider’s pony when executing the hook.

This cherished tradition is common in the polo community and is particularly honoured at Val de Vie Estate.

The term “riding to meet” describes the scenario where two players, approaching the ball from opposite directions, must navigate around each other. Both must yield to the left while positioning themselves to take the ball on their right side. This requirement is one of the reasons that left-handed players are no longer permitted in polo; a confrontation between a left-handed and a right-handed player on their offside could lead to a dangerous collision.

Players must approach parallel, maintain the same speed, and contact shoulder to shoulder before performing a ride-off. An illegal bump occurs when a ride-off poses a risk to the horse or rider. If a horse stumbles during a ride-off, it is deemed illegal, and a foul will be called. Additionally, a “sandwich” is also considered an illegal ride-off.

According to the turning rule, once a player establishes the ball’s line, they cannot turn the ball if another player is closely following on that same line, as it creates a hazardous situation. In the example below, the player in blue is on the original line while the player in white has turned the ball.

The game is overseen by two mounted officials known as umpires, who ensure fairness and safety. There is also a third umpire, referred to as the third man, positioned near midfield to settle any disputes between the two mounted officials regarding a call. Additionally, two goal judges assist the umpires in determining whether a goal has been scored or if the ball has gone out of bounds.

Understanding the line of the ball is crucial in polo. The game revolves around an imaginary line that is established when a player hits the ball. This line represents the direction the ball is traveling and functions similarly to a highway dividing line. It establishes right of way for players and helps maintain safety on the field, which is the ultimate goal of the game. When a player follows the path of the ball after hitting it, they establish their right of way and their right to play the ball. Other players must respect this right of way and should not cross in front of the rider while attempting to make a play on the ball. However, players can legally “steal” the right of way in two main ways. One method is “riding the player off” the line, which involves riding alongside the player and using the power of one’s horse to bump them off their line. This manoeuvre is common in polo and is acceptable when executed properly. similar to “checking” in hockey. In polo, you must be travelling at the same speed and meet shoulder to shoulder in order to make it as safe as possible.

There are various ways to hit a polo ball. A skilled player can direct the ball in any direction and can strike it from a distance of up to 137 metres. In total, there are 12 different strokes used in polo. Players can hit the ball on both sides of the horse, but they must keep the mallet in their right hand; playing left-handed is not permitted. Having both left and right-handed players on the field simultaneously is considered unsafe due to the significance of the line of the ball. The strokes are mainly categorized into two types: nearside strokes (on the left side) and offside strokes (on the right side).

PLAYER POSITIONS

THE FOUR PLAYERS ON EACH TEAM

THE POLO LANGUAGE

We’ve compiled the Polo Lingo to help you understand the game play

Players are ranked based on their skill level. A player’s rating, or handicap, considers their riding ability, hitting skills, quality of horses, and strategic prowess. The handicap system operates on a scale ranging from -2 goals (for complete beginners) to 10 goals (for those who play perfectly). A player’s handicap does not directly correspond to the number of goals they score in a game; instead, it more accurately reflects their overall proficiency as a player. During a polo match, the handicaps of each player on a team are summed to determine the team’s total handicap. Teams compete against others of similar or the same handicap. If one team’s total handicap is higher than that of their opponent, they are awarded a number of goals to balance the score. For example, if a 6-goal team competes against a 7-goal team, the 6-goal team will start the match with one goal already on the scoreboard to equalize the difference.

Offside shots are the most common type of shot in polo. This occurs when a player strikes the ball from the right side of the horse. From the offside position, there are six variations of the stroke: a player can hit the ball forward, backward, under the horse’s neck, under the horse’s tail, or execute an open shot both forward and backward.

Near side shots are taken from the left side of the horse and are considered more challenging than offside shots. To execute this shot, the player must reach across their body. There are also six variations of this shot.

Open shots are variations of the straight forward and straight backward shots. An offside open forehand or backhand shot is intentionally directed to the right, while a nearside open forehand or backhand shot is directed more toward the left. This shot is difficult due to the ball’s placement at the bottom of the swing. To allow the ball to open up, the player must strike the ball later and slightly farther from the horse while also opening the angle of the mallet.

Tail shots are angled back shots taken from under the horse’s tail. This shot is challenging because it requires the player to hit the ball far back to achieve the proper angle. Tail shots can be made from both the offside and the nearside, though the nearside shot is significantly more difficult and requires greater flexibility.

In polo, a player can gain the right of way by “hooking” an opponent’s mallet, which can also help in stealing the ball. Hooking mallets is a legal manoeuvre where one player uses their mallet to block the swing of another player’s mallet. However, there are specific rules regarding this action. To hook an opponent’s mallet, a player must be positioned behind the opponent’s horse or on the side where the mallet is being swung. Additionally, they must wait until the opponent’s mallet is in a downward motion toward the ball. It is important to only hook another mallet when it is below shoulder height to prevent injury. A “high hook,” which occurs when the mallet is above shoulder height, is very dangerous for both the rider and their shoulder and is therefore considered a foul.

Neck shots occur when a player strikes the ball beneath the horse’s neck at a 90-degree angle from both the offside and the nearside. This shot is challenging due to the precise timing required to avoid hitting the horse’s front legs.

POLO PLAYER & PONY

If you’re new to the sport of polo, we have a downloadable visual that illustrates all the gear and equipment used by polo players and their ponies.

Download Here