What Are the Basic Rules of Polo?

🐎 What Are the Basic Rules of Polo?

Polo is a fast-paced team sport played on horseback, where two teams of four players each compete to score goals by hitting a small ball with a long-handled mallet. Here are the essential rules you need to know:

📌 1. Objective of the Game

The aim is to score goals by driving the ball through the opposing team’s goalposts. The team with the most goals at the end of the match wins.

📌 2. Game Duration

A polo match is divided into periods called chukkers, each lasting 7 minutes. Most games consist of 4 to 6 chukkers, with short breaks to change horses.

📌 3. Changing Ends

Teams switch sides after each goal to compensate for field and wind conditions, ensuring a fair game.

📌 4. The Line of the Ball

The most important rule is the “line of the ball”—an imaginary path the ball takes after being hit. Players must respect this line to avoid dangerous collisions.

📌 5. Fouls and Penalties

Fouls are called for unsafe riding, improper use of the mallet, or violating the line of the ball. Penalties vary depending on the infraction and can involve free hits from different positions.

📌 6. Horses and Equipment

Each player rides several horses (called polo ponies) throughout a match. According to international rules, all players must hold the mallet in their right hand.

Want to experience polo firsthand?
Join us at Argentina Polo Day to learn how to play, ride trained horses, and feel the thrill of this royal sport.

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