Polo

Polo is a game played on horseback by two teams of three or four players. The players use long-handled mallets to drive a small ball downfield, trying to hit it through the opponent’s goal posts. Polo can be played both outdoors and indoors.

Outdoor polo

The field and equipment.

Outdoor polo is played on a 10-acre (4-hectare) grass field, 300 yards (274 meters) long and 160 yards (146 meters) wide. An additional 30 yards (27.4 meters) are added at each end as a safety zone. Two goal posts are set 8 yards (7 meters) apart at either end of the field.

The polo mallet is at least 4 feet (1.22 meters) long, depending on the height of the horse. The mallet is made of cane with a hardwood head. The ball, once made of wood, is now made of plastic. It is about 3 to 31/2 inches (7.6 to 8.9 centimeters) in diameter and weighs 31/2 to 41/2 ounces (99 to 128 grams).

Players wear high boots, knee guards, and a helmet of their own choice, sometimes with a face protector. Traditionally, teams are designated by the color of their jerseys. Players wear white breeches in tournaments.

The horses.

Polo horses, also called polo ponies, are normally Thoroughbreds. They must be extremely athletic animals, able to sprint, stop and turn, and accelerate. A player’s success is based on the agility and athletic ability of his or her horse. The horse’s lower legs are protected by leg wraps.

The game.

A polo match consists of six periods called chukkers, each seven minutes long, with a four-minute interval between chukkers. During the interval, the players change horses because of the demands the game places on the riders and animals. As a result, a team sometimes has a minimum of 24 horses available for a match.

For outdoor polo, a team is made up of four players, each wearing a jersey with one of the numbers 1 through 4. These numbers correspond to the players’ positions. Number 1 is the leading offensive player, who concentrates on opportunities to score. Number 4 is the defensive player primarily responsible for defending his or her team’s goal. Usually, the most experienced and highly rated players are at positions number 2 and 3, with the key player wearing number 3. The number 2 player serves as the playmaker. The number 3 player coordinates the offense, passing the ball upfield to teammates as they ride toward the opponent’s goal, or coordinates the defense. Each player is assigned an opponent to cover on defense and must be prepared to shift quickly between offense and defense.

Two mounted umpires, assisted by a referee on the sidelines, officiate the game. At the beginning of the first chukker and after a goal is scored, each team lines up in the center of the field in two parallel rows. An umpire throws the ball between the teams, who then compete for possession. Teams change ends of the field after a goal is scored.

Handicaps.

Most matches are played on the handicap level. Each polo player is assigned an individual handicap, from lowest to highest being C (–2), B (–1), and A (0), and 1 through 10. The handicap reflects the player’s ability and value to the team. The higher the handicap, the better the player. The team handicap is the combined handicap of the four players.

The team with the lesser handicap is granted the difference in goals before the match starts. For example, if team A has a combined handicap of 20 and team B has a handicap of 17, the game starts with the score 3-0 in favor of team B. Player handicaps are evaluated and revised annually by the governing bodies of the sport in each country. The handicap is based on the individual’s riding skill, game sense, hitting ability, and overall value to the team.

Indoor polo

Indoor polo, also called arena polo, is played on an enclosed field with special footing for the welfare of the horses. Each team consists of three players. There is no rule for the size of an indoor field, but the ideal playing area is 100 yards (91 meters) long and 50 yards (46 meters) wide. The playing area usually is enclosed by solid board walls and gates. Goal posts are 10 feet (3 meters) wide. The game consists of four chukkers, each 71/2 minutes in length. An indoor/outdoor version of arena polo has won increased popularity. It is played outdoors but uses arena rules. Arena polo can be played in almost any climate.

History

Polo is possibly the world’s oldest team sport. It may have originated in Persia (now Iran) about 4,000 years ago. The English word polo comes from the Tibetan word pulu, which means ball. The modern game originated at Punjab, India, in 1862, when a group of British officers copied the sport from some local horsemen. The game was introduced into England in 1869. The first polo match in the United States was played indoors in New York City in 1876. Polo remained an indoor sport in the United States until 1880, when it became equally popular outdoors. Teams from England and the United States played the first international polo series at Newport, Rhode Island, in 1886.

Today, polo is popular in many countries, especially Argentina, Australia, Canada, France, Mexico, New Zealand, Pakistan, South Africa, the United States, the United Kingdom, and Zimbabwe. The world’s finest players compete during the summer season in Hurlingham, England; the spring season in Buenos Aires, Argentina; and the winter season in Florida and California.