Rules & know-how
Understand polo in five minutes.
Chukkas, handicaps, the line of the ball — everything you need to know before you watch a match or get in the saddle.
Chukkas, handicaps, the line of the ball — everything you need to know before you watch a match or get in the saddle.
No. 1 attacks, No. 4 defends. No. 3 is usually the strongest player and the playmaker.
A match runs over 4 to 8 chukkas — with breaks to change ponies.
A fresh pony after every chukka — no horse is ever pushed too far.
The rule that matters most: nobody may cross that line dangerously.
+10 is world class — a handful of players on the planet. Teams are matched on the total.
Every goal flips the direction of play. Yes, that throws everyone at first.
Riding an opponent off the line and hooking their mallet are legal — dangerous play is not.
At half-time the whole crowd walks the field and treads the turf back down — tradition, and the best chance to mingle.
Four riders, one line, full speed — this is exactly what you'll be learning here. The sound isn't worth turning on; the goosebumps come anyway.
Chukka — a period of play lasting 7½ minutes.
Stick & ball — free practice, every player's daily bread.
Offside / nearside — the right and left side of the pony. The mallet is always swung right-handed.
Throw-in — the umpire bowls the ball in between the two teams.
Patron — the amateur who funds a team and plays in it.