LAHORE POLO CLUB

1- Field of Play :- A full size field of play shall be 300 yards (275 meters) in length by 200 yards (180 meters) in width if unboarded and 300 yards (275 meters) in length by 160 yards (140 meters) in width if boarded.
The goals shall be less than 250 yards (230 meters) apart each goal shall be 8 yards (7.3 meters) wide and centered at each end of the field.
The goal posts shall be at least 10 feet (3 meters) high and light enough to give way if collided with.
The boards shall not exceed 11 inches (28 centimeters) in height.

2- Size of ball :- The size of the ball shall be 3 to 3.5 inches (76 to 89 millimeters) in diameter the weight of the ball shall be within the limits of 4.25 to 4.75 ounces (120 to 135 grams).

3- Duration of Games :- Each chukker will be 7 minutes in length. At the end of 6 ½ minutes playing time the bell is sounded to indicate 30 seconds remaining in the chukker. At the end of 7 minutes of playing time a bell will sound to terminate the chukker.

4- Team and Players :- The number of player is limited to 4 aside in all games.
No 1 & 2 are forwards No 3 s usually the Captain and pivot of the team and No 4 is a defensive player.
Each player MUST play with his right hand, for reasons of safety.

5- Handicaps :- Handicaps reflect individual ability on a scale of -2 to 10. To make the game more competitive most tournaments have an upper and lower handicap limit. The weaker team is given an advantage before the match. In all games played under handicap conditions the higher handicapped team concedes to the lower handicap team the difference in team handicaps, divided by 6 and multiplied by the number of chukkers of play in the game. All fractions of goals will be counted as half a goal.

6- Umpires:- The rules are administered in a game by 2 umpires who are mounted to enable them to keep close to the game and the referee who shall remain off the field in a central position. Decisions of umpires are final. In the event that they disagree the referee shall decide.

7- Ponies :- Ponies of any height may be played. A pony which is not under control is dangerous to other ponies or players will not be allowed to play. A pony played by one team cannot be played by other team in the same tournament.

8- Main Fouls :- The purpose is to ensure safety. Basic road traffic rules apply. Infringing on an opponents right of way or crossing it an unsafe distance, constitutes a foul. Dangerous riding and rough handling are not permitted. Penalties vary according to the severity and place of foul committed.

10- Goals :- A goal is scored when the ball crosses the line between the goal posts at any height. After each goal the teams change sides to give both teams equal advantage of ground and atmospheric condition.

Appealing	claims by players for a foul, expressed by the raising of mallets above the head
Backshot	backhand swing, changing the flow of play by sending the ball in the opposite direction
Bowl In	when the umpire starts or resumes a polo match by rolling the ball down the center of a lineup of players, same as throw in
Bump	when a player directs his pony into the side of an opponent's pony
Check and turn	to slow the pony and turn safely
Chukker	term used for period of play in polo, seven and a half minutes long, there are six chukkers in a polo match
Flagman	an unofficial goal observer appointed to signal by waving a flag over the head if a goal is scored, or under the waist if no goal
Field	usually 300 yards long by 160 yards wide and outlined by sideboards
Goal	anytime the ball crosses the line between the goal posts, regardless of who (including ponies) knocks it through
Handicap	Team play is handicapped on the basis of ability. A team's handicap is the total of its players' goal ratings. Tournaments are held in handicap categories. High goal polo is considered to be for teams rated nineteen goals or over, and medium goal play is fifteen to eighteen goals. There are many ways to build a team that meets the tournament's goal limit. Quite often a strong team will want a ringer, a new or under rated player, to balance the team's higher ranked players. The team with the lower handicap is awarded the difference in goals at the start of the match
Hook	Catching an opponent's mallet in swing below the level of the horse's back, to leave or turn the ball for a teammate
Knock In	after the ball crosses the backline, the defending team knocks the ball back into play from their own backline
Leave	to ride past the ball so that the teammate behind can hit it
Line of the ball	the imaginary line produced by the ball when it is hit or deflected
Made pony	a polo pony that is well trained for polo and has been played for some time
Mallet head	the part of the mallet used to strike the ball, the wide face of the head is used to strike the ball
Nearside	the left hand side of the horse
Neck shot	hitting the ball under the horse's neck
Officials	two mounted umpires do most of the officiating, with a referee at midfield having the final say in any dispute between the umpires
Offside	the right hand side of the horse
Pass	to hit the ball forward or laterally to a teammate
Player rating	players are rated every year by their peers on a scale of -2 to 10 goals. Ratings are based on ability to ride, hit the ball, and perform effective team play
Penalty	numbered from 1 to 10, a free hit is awarded to the fouled, from a set distance determined by the severity of the foul committed
Pony goal	when a pony causes the ball to go through the goal posts
Positions	there are four players on a team, the forwards are numbered one and two, and are mainly concerned with scoring, number three, the center half, assists the scorers and aids in defense, often the most experienced member of the team, defense and fast break opportunities are the responsibilities of the back, number four
Ride off	two riders may make contact and attempt to push each other off the line to prevent an opponent from striking the ball
Safety	also known as Penalty 6, a defending player hits the ball over his own backline
Sideboards	short boards along the sidelines of the field to help keep the ball in play
Standings	polo players are ranked yearly by their peers and the USPA on a scale of -2 to 10 goals.
Stick	the polo mallet
Stick and ball	personal practice time
Sudden Death	overtime play when the score is tied at the end of the last regular chukker, the first team to score wins
Swing	hitting at the ball with the mallet using one of four basic shots: forehander, backhander, neckshot, tailshot
Tack	all the equipment used on a pony
Tail shot	hitting the ball behind and under the horse's rump
Third man	the referee sitting at the sidelines, if the two umpires on the field are in disagreement, the third man makes the final decision. Also known as Referee.
Throw in	when the umpire starts or resumes the match, he rolls the ball down the center of a lineup of players and mounts
Time out	an umpire may call a time out when a foul is committed, an accident occurs, or at his or her discretion, a player may only call a time out if he has broken tack or is injured
Turn	to backhand hit the ball away from the goal being defended
Umpires	two mounted officials, one for each side of the field
USPA	visit the U.S. governing body of polo at http://www.uspolo.org/
Wraps	the protective bandages the ponies wear on their legs