Polo’s beginnings
With roots in 600 BC, polo is the world’s oldest ball sport. The word “polo” comes from the Tibetan word “pulu,” which refers to the willow root used to make the polo balls more than 2,000 years ago.
With time, the game made its way across Asia to India, where tea planters and British soldiers brought it to England. The 9th Lancers and 10th Hussars played their inaugural game in the United Kingdom in 1871. The Beaufort Polo Club was founded in 1872, and Captain Frank Henry was one of the players in this match.
For the Spectator: Polo
You don’t need to know the rules to enjoy the thrills and excitement of one of the fastest team sports in the world. Which is what makes polo such a unique spectator sport. The purpose of the following material is to provide you with an understanding of the subtleties involved in playing polo.
The Match
To score more goals than the other team is the object of the game! The ball is tossed among the players in the center of the field by the umpire to begin play and after each goal. The most equitable method to ensure that teams are not at a disadvantage due to wind or slopes on the field is to switch ends after every goal! Teams align side by side five yards back, and the ball is thrown in when it is no longer in play over the sides of the ground.
The defensive team receives a free hit at the point where the ball crosses the line if it is the last point the attacking team touched before it crosses the back line. The attacking team is awarded a free hit from the 60-yard line across from where the ball exited the field if the opposing team hits the ball over the back line, drawing a penalty. Unlike in football, there is no “corner” or “offside.”
The Ground
The field is 200 yards (182 meters) in width and 300 yards (274 meters) in length. If there are boards along the side to help keep the ball in play, the field is 160 yards (182 meters) wide. The goal posts are eight yards (7.3 meters) apart and collapsible for safety on a severe impact. The field is marked with a line in the middle, and there are penalty lines 30, 40, and 60 yards away from each back line. Six football fields would roughly equal the size of a polo field!
Playtime Length
The game, known as “Chukka” in Indian, is played in four, five, or six seven-minute segments. Play continues until the ball is out of play or the second bell is rung after 30 seconds, marking the end of the Chukka.
Players and Referees
Each team consists of four players, and in the event that the two mounted umpires cannot agree. There is an arbiter in the form of the referee in the stand. Along with time keepers who record scores and indicate when the chukka is about to end. There are goal judges who indicate goals by waving a flag behind the goal.
Like any team sport, polo is very much a team game, with each of the four players having distinct roles that can be switched out:
Step 1: Proceed.
The number one should be quick to switch from defense to attack, slip the other team’s back, and score goals with accurate rather than forceful hitting.
No. 2 Basically, forward.
Well mounted, the number 2 should indicate the opposing number 3. in defense while aiding his top player in attack.
Third Notification.
comparable to a football center half. He directs the game’s pace and direction, and his passes to the forwards typically spark an offensive.
Fourth No.Returning.
The back should be able to hit hard backhanders to team members. When playing defense, and when playing attack, he should be able to stay behind the ball and seize any opportunities that present themselves to grab loose balls.
Withdrawals
Every player is assigned a handicap, ranging from minus two to ten, based on their respective abilities. Less than twelve players worldwide have ten goals at the moment, the majority of whom are Argentine. Right now, seven goals is the highest handicap for English players.
The difference between the two teams’ total handicaps is multiplied by the number of chukkas to be played in handicap tournaments to determine the number of goals start. Which is then divided by 6. Half of a goal is any fraction.
Tools
Hard wood heads and bamboo shafts make up the sticks. The stick’s length, which ranges from 48 to 53 inches, depends on how tall the pony being played is. Instead of hitting the ends as in croquet, the ball is struck with either face of the head! Traditionally, the ball is composed of plastic, either bamboo or willow.
Horses
Although there is no maximum height, most ponies range in height from 15 to 15.3 hands, with each hand being 4 inches high. A significant portion of their training is focused on teaching them how to stop, turn, accelerate, ride off another pony, and confront a swiftly approaching pony. Ponies typically play two chukkas in the afternoon, interspersed with at least one chukka rest. It is required to wear boots or bandages for support. And a pony that is unruly, displays vice, or is blind cannot be played.
Penalties & Fouls
The most frequent foul happens when a player who has “the right of way” is crossed by another player. Which can be extremely risky.
When a player is closest to the ball or following it exactly, he has the “right of way.” He must not cross this line if doing so could force another horse to check in order to avoid colliding with him.
Players may ride off an opponent by pushing them off the ball with their body. (not their elbows) and a level pony. However, this cannot be done at an angle. To ruin a shot, a player may hook the stick of an opponent, but not higher than shoulder height. It is not permitted to ride dangerously, handle rough, or misuse the polo stick. The severity and location of the foul determine the penalty.
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