Welcome to the worlds oldest and fastest team game and the most exciting of all equestrian sports! You do not have to be familiar with all the rules to enjoy watching the game, however the following summary of terms and rules will give you a head start in understanding polo.

The Game
The object is to score the most goals by hitting the ball through the opposing side's goal posts. Play starts initially, and after each goal, with an umpire throwing the ball among the players in the middle of the ground. Ends are changed after each goal so that one team will not be disadvantaged by wind direction or lay of the ground. When the ball goes over the sidelines, it is thrown back among the players where it went out. If a player hits the ball over the backline, it is hit back in by a player of opposing team. A new chukka is started by a throw-in at the last position of the ball during the previous period.

Playing Area
Called the ground, it is 300 yards long and 160 yards wide, the size of 10 hockey pitches, with boards to prevent ground balls from going out of bounds. Goal posts at least 10 feet high and 8 yards apart are at each end, made of material light enough to collapse in case of a collision.

Teams and Officials
There are four players in each team (three in arena/winter polo); two mounted umpires on the ground; a referee ("Third man") in the stands to arbitrate if umpires disagree; a goal judge behind each goal who signals scores by flag; and a timekeeper.

Periods of Play
Called chukkas, they are of seven minutes duration plus half a minute overtime if the ball is still in play; three minutes between chukkas for changing ponies; and five minutes rest at half time. There are four to six chukkas in a match depending on level of play. If the score is nil or tied at the end of the last chukka, additional chukkas are played until one team scores or the tie is broken.

Handicaps
Players hold handicaps of from -2 to 10 goals depending on their ability. In any one year there are only half a dozen or so players in the world with the top rating of 10 goals. A team's rating is an aggregate of it's players handicaps. Except in open tournaments, if one team's handicap is lower than the other's the lower rated team starts the match with a score reflecting the difference.

Physical Contact
A player may use his body (but not his elbows) and pony to push his opponent off the ball providing his pony's shoulders are not ahead of the other's. He may use his stick to hook an opponent's stick to spoil his shot, but not above shoulder height or between the ponies legs.

Teamwork
Polo is very much a team game. Positions are No.1 and No.2 forwards; No.3 the pivot man (usually the best player on the team); and No.4 or back, the goal defender.

Right-of-Way
During play there is an imaginary "line of ball", which is generally the direction in which the ball is travelling at any one moment. When a player has established right-of-way along that line, it may not be crossed by opposing player if there is the slightest risk of collision.

Time Out
Play and the clock stop if an umpire blows his whistle, which he does if a foul is committed, a pony falls or has dangerous tack, or a player is injured.

Level of Play
High-goal tournaments and matches are between teams with handicaps of 17-22 goals; medium-goal upper limit of 15; intermediate upper limit of 12; and low goal limits of 0-4, 0-6 or 4-8. Open tournaments are played with no handicap limits.