Polo is a team sport in which participants on horses attempt to score goals by driving a small ball through their opponents' goalposts. To hit the ball, polo players use long-handled polo mallets. The goalposts are often collapsible and covered with foam to prevent injury to the fast-moving horses and riders.
Function
Typically, each player on the team has a special role, ranging from mostly defensive to mostly offensive. Each player must keep an eye on one particular opponent and try to keep that opponent from performing well. The horses, called "polo ponies," are key elements of a team's performance. A good polo pony is fast and able to stop short and change directions quickly. A high-stamina polo pony can last a long time, but even the best mounts get tired. For this reason, each player requires several polo ponies throughout a match.
Types
Many variants of polo exist. A typical game of field polo requires two teams of four players each. Arena polo only requires three players on each team, because the game takes place on a smaller field. Different geographical regions and polo leagues have different rules and regulations. More recent variants of the game, such as beach and snow polo, employ special rules to compensate for the different playing surfaces.
Rules
Depending on the variant of polo, each game consists of four to eight "chukkers," or periods. Each period typically lasts about seven minutes. After each goal, the direction of play reverses, and the two teams switch sides. This helps compensate for differences in wind speed and irregular playing surfaces. Some polo leagues use handicapping measures to even out the competition between teams. For example, officials might allow a team with a poor record of accomplishment to start off a game with several goals when playing a much better team.
Traditions
Watching polo is a social event in many cultures. One common tradition is "the divot stomp." During the course of a polo match, the horse hooves tear up the field. At halftime, spectators enter the field and replace the divots. Although the divot stomp has a functional role, it is also an occasion to socialize.
Fouls
Umpires monitor the players' activity according to the specific rules of a league. If they spot a foul, they blow a whistle. For severe infractions, such as dangerous play, umpires may award penalty shots. One typical foul is crossing the line of the ball. When a player hits a ball, other players are to act as if that moving ball creates an invisible line that they must follow. This right-of-way rule prevents players from using their horses to block a charging opponent, which could result in serious injuries.
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