Rules of the Game of Polo

Polo is a team sport, typically played by two teams consisting of four players each. Each player is mounted on horseback. The objective of the game is to knock a plastic or wooden ball into the opposing team's goal to score points. The team with the most completed goals is considered the winner. The goal posts are placed 8 yards apart, at opposing ends of the field. Teams switch goals after each scored goal to ensure fair play.

History

The origins of Polo are murky, at best. Early forms of the game date back to the fifth century BCE in Iran. The modern game of Polo originated in Manipur, India. The first documented polo club, located in Manipur, dates to 1834. Despite the similarities, the game play was quite different from the game commonly accepted as polo today.

Game Play

Polo is almost always played right handed, meaning the polo sticks or mallets are held in the player's right hand. Each game is divided into four to eight seven-minute periods, called chukkas. Players switch horses between rounds. Two mounted umpires tend goals and a referee ensures fair game play. The game focuses on strategy and defense. Defensive moves must meet a number of criteria in order to qualify. In certain situations, a player may block an opponent's attempt to shoot a goal with his own polo mallet. Other times players can block the player's shot by using their mounts for interference.

Player Roles

Polo players line up at the start of the game based upon their numbered positions. Each player has specific duties associated with his position. The number one player acts as an offensive player and covers the opposing team's number four player. The number two player backs up the number one player and opposes the other team's number three player. The number three player ensures a clear path for the number one and two players and acts as a defensive player. Number four players typically mount strong defensive tactics.

Types

The typical Polo field is 300 by 160 yards in length. A variation called arena polo may be played indoors or out on a smaller field, typically 100 by 50 yards or less in length. Arena polo utilizes three players on each team and a soft, inflatable ball. Arena polo periods consist of four seven-minute periods. A variant called cowboy polo utilizes the rules of arena polo but each team consists of five players mounted on horseback using Western gear and tack. Beach polo is a variant of arena polo played exclusively on sandy beaches. Snow polo is played on snow or frozen waterways with teams of three players. Other variants exist where players are mounted on various horse substitutes including canoes, golf carts, or in the case of water polo, the backs of other players.

Considerations

Different leagues, tournaments and amateur and professional organizations have different rules for playing polo. These variants are not uncommon. While the rules are generally similar throughout, it is important to check with the governing body of the game about its individual variations. Polo game play can also differ from country to country.