Polo | Oveds Polo Club

RULES & STRATEGY OF POLO
Polo is a dynamic and exciting team game that is played on horseback. One of the oldest known sports in the world, it is thought to have originated in Persia over 2000 years ago. The game, as we know it today, originated in India in the 1800s; British soldiers stationed there saw the game being played locally and adapted it to fit their own uses, often using as training for calvary riders.

PLAYERS
Four players, each position denoted by the number worn on their jersey.
Position 1. “Patron” - The most offensive player, hard and accurate “attackers” of the ball, and usual scorer. When in defence, they are responsible for the oppositions position 3 player.
Position 2. Offensive Assistant - Assist position 1 player in the attack or is set up for an attack by position 3. They also have a strong defensive role.
Position 3. Tactical Leader – Very similar to the quarterback, usually the best player on the team. They bridge the defence and the offense and thus must be accurately pass the ball up field to the position 1 and 2 players to set up a strategic attack.
Position 4. Main Defensive - Tasked with defending the team´s goal. After a successful defence., they are responsible for quickly transferring the ball to position 3 or the other offensive players.

STANDARDS OF PLAY
Traditional polo fields are 275 meter long and 145 meter wide. Goal are set to 7.3 meter apart and the cantered at each end of the field. Each match consists of 2 to 8 “chukkas” (periods), each lasting 7:30 minutes. The game starts when the umpire throws the ball in between the teams; this is also how play is resumed after a goal. Players may challenge opposing team members by “riding off,” where a player rides alongside their opponent and attempts to move them away from the ball or take them out of play. Players may ‘bump’ the opposition, a physical minovery akin to the body check in hockey.
Players may also hook an opponent´s stick when they are attempting to hit the ball. Polo is overseen by two mounted umpires, assisted by a referee known as the ‘third man.’ If a foul has occurred, a free hit may be awarded towards the fouling team’s goal.

SCORING
In polo, a point (known as a ‘goal’) is scored when the ball is hit into the goal. Each time a team scores, both change field direction to mitigate any ground or weather advantages.

WINNING THE GAME
The team who scores the most goals by the end of the regulation play wins. If there is a tie or draw, either the teams have shootout, or another chukker is played and the first to score wins. If nobody scores, another chukker is played and the first to score wins.