GLOSSARY

Appealing-

Claims by players for a foul, generally expressed by the raining of mallets above the head or by helicoptering motion. Over demonstration is considered bad form.

 

Backshot-

One of the basic strokes requiring a backhand swing, changing the flow of play by sending the ball in the opposite direction.

 

Ball-

Usually made of plastic and white in color. It weighs four-and-a-half ounces and is three-and-a-half inches in diameter.

 

Bump-

A player is permitted to ride into another player to spoil his opponent’s shot or remove him from play. The angle of the collision must be no more than 45 degrees. The faster the horse travels, the smaller the angle must be. A good bump can shake your dentures loose.

 

Chukker-

There are six chukkers (periods), in a polo match, each lasting seven minutes plus up to 30 seconds overtime. If, during the extra 30 seconds, the ball hits the sideboards or goes out of bounds, or if the umpire blows his whistle, the chukker is over. There is no overtime at the end of the sixth chukker unless the score is tied. If you’re really lucky, the score will remain tied after six chukkers and you get to see even more polo, as a sudden-death seventh chukker is played. Players usually return to the field each chukker with a fresh mount.

 

Field-

The polo field is 300 yards by 160 yards or the area of nine football fields 10 when you count the runoff area outside the sideboards).

 

Goal-

Any time the ball crosses the line between the goal post, it is considered a goal regardless of who knocks it through (including the horse). In order to equalize wind and turf conditions, teams change ends after each goal is scored.

 

Goal Post-

The posts are 10 feet tall and 8 yards apart and, for safety reasons, are collapsible upon severe impact.

 

Handicap-

All players are rated on a scale of -1 to 10 (the higher the better). Although the word goal is used often after the rating, it bears no relation to the number of goals a player scores in a match, but to their ability. A player’s horsemanship, hitting, quality of horse, team play, game sense and sportsmanship are the factors considered in determining his handicap. The team handicap is the sum of its players’ handicaps. In handicap matches, the team with the lower handicap is awarded the difference in goals a the start of the game. For example, a 26-goal team would give two goals to a 24-goal team.

 

Hook-

A player may spoil another’s shot by putting his mallet in the way of the striking player’s. This is a legal and, usually, effective play.

 

Knock-in-

Should a team hit the ball across their opponent’s backline during an offensive attack, the defending team resumes the game with a free hit from the backline.

 

Mallet-

This is the stick the player wields to propel the ball. The flexible shaft is made from bamboo cane and the head from either bamboo root or a hard wood, such as maple. The wide face of the mallet head is the part used to strike the ball. Polo mallets range in size from 48 to 54 inches.

 

Nearside-

The left-hand side of a horse.

 

Neckshot-

A ball which is hit under the horse’s neck.

 

Offside-

The right-hand side of the horse.

 

Out of Bounds-

When a ball goes over the sideboards, it is considered out of bounds and the umpire throws the ball in between the two teams at the point which it left the field of play.

 

Penalty-

A free hit toward the goal is awarded on an infraction from a set distance determined by the severity of the foul committed. Distances are as follows:

Penalty 1: An automatic goal

Penalty 2: 30 yards to an undefended goal

Penalty 3: 40 yards to an undefended goal

Penalty 4: 60 yards to an undefended goal

Penalty 5: From midfield, (150 yards)

Penalty 6: Safety (see definition)

 

Ponies-

The best polo ponies are not ponies, but thoroughbreds. Their main qualities are speed, stamina, heart, wind, the ability to accelerate, stop and turn quickly and whose temperament is amenable to the rigors of the game. There is no height limit for the horse, although most are between 15 and 15 � hands. Bandages or leg wraps are normally used for support and protection. Players admit that the horse accounts for as much as 80 percent of the game.

 

Positions-

Each of the four team members plays a distinctly different position. Since polo is such a fluid game, players may momentarily change positions, but will try to return to their initial assignment. No. 1 is the most forward offensive player. No. 2 is just as aggressive, but plays harder, especially on defensive. No. 3 is the pivotal player between the offensive and defensive and tries to turn all plays to offensive. He is usually the highest rated player whose primary responsibility is to protect the goal and turn away any fastbreak opportunities. No. 4 is primarily a defensive player, defending the goal by "bumping" and "ride-off".

 

Ride-off-

Two riders may make contact and attempt to push each other off the line of the ball to prevent the other from striking the ball. The horses are the ones intended to do the pushing, though a player may use his body as well - with the exclusion of his elbows.

 

Safety-

Also known as Penalty 6, a safety is awarded when a defending player hits the ball across his own backline. The shot is taken 60 yards out from the backline at the same point at which it crossed the backline.

 

Sideboards-

A nine to eleven inch board along the sidelines only. Sideboards are optional.

 

Sudden Death-

In the event of a tie score at the end of the final chukker, there will be a final chukker, there will be a five-minute break to allow the players to catch their breath and change to a fresh mount before beginning a sudden-death chukker. The first team to score wins.

 

Tailshot-

Hitting the ball behind and under the horse’s rump.

 

Third Man-

The referee sitting at the sidelines who arbitrates in the case of a disagreement between the two umpires on the field.

 

Throw-in-

A chukker begins and many plays resume with the umpire bowling the ball between the two teams.

 

Time-out-

Called by the umpire when a foul is committed, an accident occurs or at his own discretion. A player may call time-out only if he has a broken tack or is injured. Time-out is not permitted for changing horses or for replacing a broken mallet, although a player may do so at any time.

 

Umpires-

Two mounted umpires (one for each side of the field) consult each other after every infraction and impose a penalty only if they agree.

 

USPA-

United States Polo Association. The governing body of polo.