A Glossary of Polo Terms

Arena Polo A modified version of outdoor field polo. Arena polo is played in a contained arena, usually outdoors. The regulation arena is 50 yards by 100 yards with an angled solid "knee board" surface topped with an enclosed wire "cage." The surface is generally dirt. There are three rather than four players on an arena team. Many of the rules are the same with some exceptions: the ball can be played off of the wall with resulting line changes and there are four chukkers in arena games.  Arena polo is also played indoors, however there are very few indoor arenas that are regulation size so the game is adapted to suit the space. 

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

Ball A polo ball is about 31/2 inches in diameter and weighs about 41/2 ounces. The original ball was made of solid bamboo root. Today, however, most balls are solid light wood or most often plastic. Depending on the ability of the player, a struck ball can travel up to 150 yards.  Arena balls are softer and inflated, about 51/2 inches in diameter.

Basic Shots There are four basic polo shots from 4 sides of the polo pony; the forehand, the backhand, the neckshot and the tailshot. "Nearside" shots are executed from the left side of the mount, and "offside" shots from the right side. Thus, we have the off-side forhand and off-side backhand shots; the near-side forehand and near-side backhandshots. You will also see more experienced players shoot under the mount’s neck or across its tail. The off-side forehand is the most common because it is the easiest to make and the right-of-way rules favor this side.

Bump A player is permitted to ride into another to spoil his opponent’s shot or remove him from the play. The angle of collision must be no more than 45 degrees. The faster a horse travels, the smaller the angle must be.   Excessive force, speed or angle can be dangerous to horse and rider and always constitutes a penalty.

Chukker Also called a period. There are six chukkers per game. Each lasts seven and a half minutes. If the score remains tied at the end of regulation play a sudden death seventh period is played. Players return to the field each chukker with a fresh mount.

Field The playing field is 300 yards long by 160 yards wide and is often outlined by sideboards. The field condition must be dry yet springy and without holes or pockets. The field is constantly maintained like the putting green of a golf course. There are only eight players to follow on this large field. There is, therefore, a negligible amount of distraction for the viewer. For the player, there is ample space for the full deployment of fast ponies, which at full gallop streak like race horses.

Goal Any time the ball crosses the end line between the goal posts, 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.  There is no height restriction for scoring a goal and the posts are placed 24 feet apart.

Handicap All players are rated on a scale of -2 to 10 (the higher the better).  Zero to minus 2 are referred to alphabetically.    Although the word goal is used 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 horses, 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 at the start of the game. For example, a 20 goal team would give two goals to an 18 goal team. The following scale generally applies:

S, Non-rated Student Player
C or B (-2 to -1) Goal, Beginner
A - 1 (0 - 1) Goal, Average
2 to 3 Goal, Good
4 to 6 Goal, Very Good
6 to 8 Goal, Excellent
9 to 10 Goal, Only a handful of players are the Best in the World!

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

Indoor Polo A modified version of arena polo. The ideal size of 50 x 100 yards for an arena is not generally found in an indoor version. Therefore the game is modified to suit any available indoor arena size. 80 x 200 feet is ideal for indoor polo but the game can be played in as little as 60 x 120 feet.

Knock -In Should a team hit the ball across the opponents backline during an offensive drive, the defending team resumes the game with a free hit from their backline. No time-out is allowed for knock-ins.

Line of the Ball Crossing the line is the most frequent foul in polo. The imaginary path along which the ball travels, represents a right of way for the last player striking the ball.

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 the bamboo root or a hard wood such as maple. The wide face of the mallet head is the part used to strike the ball. Most polo mallets range in size from 50 to 53 inches and are very flexible in comparison to a golf club or a hockey stick. Some newer mallets have a fiberglass shaft

Near Side The left-hand side of the horse.

Neckshot A ball which is hit under the horses neck from either side.

Off Side The right-hand side of the horse.

Officials Two mounted umpires officiate on the field and follow the players. If a foul is committed a whistle is blown by either umpire. This stops the game. Both umpires must agree on the penalty to be assessed. Should they disagree, the referee, or third man, located on the sidelines, decides. A flagman, stationed behind each goal, assists the umpires by indicating whether or not the ball passes between the goal posts.

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 at which it left the field of play. No time-out is allowed for an out-of-bounds ball.

Penalty Numbered from 1 to 10, penalties are awarded to the team fouled, based on the severity of the foul. Penalties 1 to 5 are the most common, while penalties 6 to 10 deal with specific extreme cases.

1.  An automatic goal

2.  A free hit from 30 yards /undefended goal

3.  A free hit from 40 yards /undefended goal

4.  A free hit from 60 yards /undefended goal

5.  A free hit from the point of infraction

6.  Safety: The ball is placed 60 yards from goal

7.  The team designates a player from the fouling team to be removed

8.  Disqualification of a player’s mount for the match

9.  Forfeit of the game

10.  Disqualification of a player

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 horses, although most are between 14.2 and 16.2 hands. Bandages or leg wraps are normally used for support and protection. Their tails are tied up and their manes are clipped so there is no interference with the swing of the mallet.

Positions Each of the four team members plays a distinctly different position,. Since polo is such a fluid game, players briefly 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 offensively, but plays harder, especially on defense. NO. 3 is the pivotal player between offense and defense and tries to turn all plays to offensive. He is usually the highest rated player on the team. NO. 4, or back, is the defensive player whose primary responsibility is to protect the goal.

Ride-Off Two riders may make contact and attempt to push each other off the line to prevent the opponent from striking the ball. It is intended for the horses to do the pushing, but a player may use his body (but not his elbows).

Safety Also known as a Penalty 6, a safety is awarded to the offensive team 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 9 to 11 inch high vertical board along the sidelines only of a polo field. Sideboards are optional.

Sudden Death If a match is tied at the end of the sixth chukker, overtime periods will be played until one team scores, thus determining the winner.

Tailshot Hitting the ball behind and across the horse’s rump.

Third Man The referee sitting on the sidelines. If the two umpires on the field are in disagreement, the third man makes the final decision.

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 broken equipment 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.

USPA United States Polo Association.  The governing body for Polo.