How to play polo sport

Polo is a dynamic and exciting team game played on horseback and we will tell you How to play polo sport. One of the oldest sports in the world, it is believed to have originated in Persia over 2000 years ago. The game as we know it today originated in India in the 1800s, where British soldiers stationed there saw the game being played locally and adapted it for their own use, often as cavalry training. used to.

Brought to Great Britain soon after, the rules were established and the game has since spread, and is now played all over the world where it is particularly popular in Argentina and the United States as well as Great Britain. The sport is supervised by the Federation of International Polo.

Object of the Game

The object of polo is for one team to score more points than its opponent, thereby winning the game. Each team tries to move the ball into the opponent’s half of the pitch with the goal of eventually hitting it through the goal to score a goal. Each team of four consists of attackers and defenders, but in reality all members of a polo team are expected to be flexible and position themselves as necessary in any play, whether offensive or defensive, to benefit the team. change

Players & Equipment

Each team consists of four players, each assigned a position indicated by the number worn on their kit.

• Position 1 is known as an attacking offensive player, such as a striker in soccer or a forward in hockey. Hard and accurate hitters of the ball, their primary objective is to score but when defending, they are also responsible for looking after the opposing team’s position 3 player.
• Position 2 is primarily an offensive player, supporting the Position 1 player in attack. However, they also have defensive responsibilities, often interchanging with the position 3 player when they attack.
• Position 3 is very similar to the quarterback position and is usually a position filled by the best player on the team. This is an attacking position and players in this position must be able to hit the ball accurately to position 1 and 2 players.
• Position 4 is a defensive position, tasked with defending the team’s goal. However, they have offensive responsibilities and when successfully defending the goal, they are expected to pass the ball accurately to the team’s offensive players.

In terms of equipment, the most obvious piece of equipment is a horse bred specifically for the game of polo, known as a polo pony. Each player will need at least two to switch out between chucks and these may be the player’s own or provided by their club. These horses will require a special saddle that will enable the player to safely sit, control the horse and swing the mallet. Other essential items are a helmet, polo stick, knee guards and a ball.

Scoring

Scoring in polo is simple, and a point (called a goal) is scored when the ball hits the goal. Unlike many other sports that switch halves at set intervals such as halftime, in polo, teams switch sides of the field each time a goal is scored. It is not known exactly why this is but it is believed to have come from the past where pitches were traditionally on an east/west axis and teams did not want to spend too much time with the sun or wind in their face.

Winning the Game

The team that has scored the most goals and thus the most points at the end of the game is considered the winner. If the game is drawn, another four is played and the first to score wins. If no one scores in it, another four is played in which the goal post is widened and the first to score wins.

Rules of Polo

• Polo is played on a polo field that is 300 yards long and 200 yards wide, although it may only be 160 yards wide if it is a boarded pitch.
• The goal posts are 8 yards wide and open at the top.
• Each polo match will consist of 4 rounds, each lasting 7 minutes of actual play.
• The game will start when the umpire throws the ball between the two teams. Thus, after a goal is scored, the game is restarted.
• When a goal is scored, the changeover of teams ends, which helps to even out any terrain or weather advantages.
• Players can challenge members of the opposing team by ‘riding them’, this is where a player rides a pony with their opponent and tries to take them away from the ball or out of play. tries to The player can also ‘bump’ the opposition, a physical move similar to a body check in hockey. Players can also touch the opponent’s stick when trying to hit the ball.
• Polo is overseen by two installed umpires who consult each other on decisions. If they do not agree, they can seek the opinion of the match referee, also known as the ‘third man’.
• After a foul, a free hit may be awarded towards the goal.
• The team with the most goals at the end of the match is declared the winner.