GAME RULES

THE TEAMS

Each team has 4 members each with a distinct position, as shown by the number on their shirt.ﾠ

No 1
Is essentially a goal stricker.ﾠ

No 2
Also a forward but plays harder especially on defence.

No 3
Is the pivotal player between offence and defence who tries to turn all plays to offence.
He is usually the highest rated player on the team.ﾠ

No 4
Or back is the most defensive player whose primary responsibility is to protect the goal area.ﾠ



THE GAME & STOMPING THE DIVOTS

  • The game is divided into six chukkas with each lasting 7 minutes with a 3 minute interval in between, to allow the players to change horses.

  • The teams change ends whenever a goal is scored.

  • At half time, it is a long standing tradition that the spectators walk onto the field to "stomp the divots" made by the ponies hooves. Chukka comes from the Indian word for a circle or round.

HANDICAPS

  • All players are rated from -2 to 10 (10 being the highest rating).

  • The team handicap is the sum of its players handicaps.

  • The highest handicapped players in NSW are on 7 goals (Robert Archibald and Glen Gilmore).

SAFETY

  • Please stay behind barriers. Do not approach the field during a game. The field extends 10 metres beyond the red boards.

  • Do not approach the horses and do not pat them.

  • Please watch the game, a polo ball travels at 100km and can sometimes find its way into the spectators at speed.

  • Please keep dogs on leads.