Have you been able to join us for one of our Sunday polo matches or are you thinking about coming out for a polo lesson? Get ahead of the game by learning the rules of polo! Help us referee our games and teach your friends what they are looking for next time you join us for a match.
The Basic Rules
A game is played between two teams with four players on each team. Each team member will be assigned a position of ‘attack’ or ‘defense’ to help their team score goals, while preventing the other side from scoring. Teams line up, in numerical order, opposite each other. The match begin with a throw-in – the ball is rolled between the teams, and play begins.
Safety
Most of the additional rules were established to keep the riders and horses safe. The line of the ball establishes a “right of way.” Right of way occurs when a player has the line of the ball on his right and the play who struck the ball last has right of way. Riding alongside a player with the right of way is permitted, as long as his way is not hindered.
Scoring
A goal is scored every time the ball makes it into the net at the end of the area. The game is divided into 6 chukkars, and each chukkar is 7 minutes long. Each team should score as many goals as possible during each chukkar. Every time a team scores, their goal changes to the other end of the arena.
Come out an join us at our next Sunday polo match! Now that you have an idea of the rules of the game, you’ll be able to keep up with our players and umpires and love the game as much as we do!