Indian Polo Association
Polo Rules (contd.)

 

Updates / Changes to the Rules

In keeping in view the safety of ponies and players, penalty 2 and 3 ie, 30 and 40 yard penalties will henceforth be undefended with immediate effect.

The following rules would be applicable for penalty 2 and 3 :-

  1. The team taking the penalty would be allowed hit or hit at only once. The ball cannot be tapped in while taking the penalty 2 and 3.
  2. The fouling team must be behind the backline but not between the goal posts and they will not defend the penalty conversion attempt.
  3. If the ball fails to clear the backline, the defending team will be awarded a free hit from the spot where the ball stopped. Should the sport be within 4 yards of a goal post, the ball shall be placed 4 yards either side of the nearest goal post for a free by a defending player.

All 14 goal tournaments in India would be played over 5 chukkers only effective from Delhi Spring polo season 2006 and is valid for one year only.

 

PART C
PENALTIES

REPEATED FOULS

For undue repetition of careless or deliberate fouls by one or both teams, the umpire should exact a more severe penalty for each occurrence until conduct in the best interest of the game resumes.

SELECTION OF PENALTIES

  1. There are degree of dangerous play and unfair play which give the advantage to the team fouling. The penalty to be inflicted is left to the discretion of the umpires and shall only be referred to the referee in the event of the umpires disagreeing on the penalty.
  2. (i) Personal fouls involving unsportsman like conduct such as, but not limited to:-
    1. Disrespect towards the officials.
    2. Arguing with the umpires or other officials.
    3. Foul or abusive language to anybody on the field.
    4. Appealing for fouls verbally or with a stick.

    (ii) Must, at a minimum, be penalised progressively as follows:-

    1. Penalty for first offence.
    2. A more severe penalty if a penalty has been previously called.
    3. Penalty 10 (player excluded) will be awarded with a player being suspended from the reminder of the chukker.
    4. Penalty 10 (player excluded) will be awarded with a player being suspended from the game.
    5. This does not preclude the umpires imposing Penalty 10 (player excluded) at the first offence.
  3. If in the opinion of the umpire, a player commits a dangerous or deliberate foul in the vicinity of goal in order to save a goal Penalty 1 (goal) will be awarded.

TAKING OF PENALTIES

  1. Once the umpire has said “play” just touching of the ball with the mallet, even if only to tee up the ball, constitutes the ball being hit.
  2. When taking penalties 2,3,4,6 or 5(a) within the 60 yard line, the hitter and his team members, after the initial hit at the ball may not hit or hit at the ball with more than a half stroke, nor may they hit the ball in such a way that the umpire considers to be dangerous, until the ball has been hit or hit at by an opponent or the whistle blows.
  3. Teeing up building a tee is not allowed, one player only may reposition the ball.
  4. In all free hits, the ball shall be considered in play the moment it has been either hit or hit at and missed. The player shall hit the ball, or hit at it, in the first attempt, the striker is not allowed to go over the ball, or circle during the final approach, or do an excessively long preparation run.
  5. In all free hits, none of the players of the fouling side can place himself behind the ball. “Behind the ball” should be interpreted as being behind the line parallel to the back line and running through the point from which the penalty is being taken. Any attempt by a defender to approach the striker from behind that line shall be penalised.

The committee also recommends the following :-

  1. The new IPA Rule Book should be reframed in keeping with the format of the FIP Rule Book.
  2. IPA should play a greater supervisory role in the conduct of tournaments at all centers so as to more responsive to the needs and demands of the players and the teams.
  3. IPA should take concrete measures to improve the standard of umpiring.

(Maj. Gen B S Suhag) (Maj. Gen M S Sandhu) (Brig V P Singh) 
  
PENALTY NO 1 – PENALTY GOAL

1. (a) If in the opinion of the umpires, a player commits a deliberate or dangerous infraction to save a goal, in the vicinity of the goalmouth, the goal will be awarded to the team which has been fouled.

(b) Once the game resumes, the ends will not be changed and the ball will be thrown in from the point where the infraction was committed towards the nearest sideline.

PENALTY NO 2 - THIRTY YARD PENALTY

2. (a) A free hit at the ball from a point situated 27.45 meters (30 yards) from the center of goal line of the team which committed the infraction, or if preferred, from the point where the infraction was committed. (This is at the option of the captain of the team that was fouled). The entire team that committed the infraction to remain behind its backline and at least 30 yards from the ball but outside the goal until the ball is hit or hit at. Once the ball is put into play, no one from the defending team may come on the playing field from between the goalposts. The players from the team that executes the penalty shall be behind the 30 yards line, or where the ball is placed.

(b) If, in executing Penalty No. 2, in the opinion of the umpire, the free hit would have resulted in a goal, but was stopped by the team which committed the infraction, (by coming from between the goalposts or by crossing the backline before the ball had been hit), the shot shall be considered as a goal for the team that had been fouled.

PENALTY NO 3 - FORTY YARD PENALTY

3. (a) A free hit at the ball from a point situated 36.60 meters (40 yards) from the center of the goal line of the team committing the infraction. The whole team that committed the infraction shall remain behind its backline, but outside the goal until the ball is hit or hit at.

(b) If, in executing Penalty No. 3 in the opinion of the umpire, the free hit would have resulted in a goal but was stopped by the team which committed the infraction (by coming from between the goalposts or by crossing the backline before the ball had been hit) the shot shall be considered as a goal for the team which had been fouled.

PENALTY No. 4 - SIXTY YARD PENALTY

4. A free hit at the ball from a point situated 54.90 meters (60 yards) from the center of the goal line of the team which committed the infraction. No one from the team that committed the infraction can be less then 27.45 meters (30 yards) from the ball. The team that was fouled may place themselves wherever they wish.

PENALTY NO. 5 - FREE HIT

5. (a) A free hit at the ball from where it was when the infraction was committed but at least four meters from the boards or from the sidelines. No one from the team that committed the infraction can be at a point less than 27.45 meters (30 yards) from the ball. The team that was fouled may place themselves wherever they wish.

(b) A free hit at the ball from the center of the field. Players from the team that committed the infraction must be no less than 27.45 meters (30 yards) from the ball. The team that was fouled may place themselves wherever they wish.

PENALTY No. 6 - SIXTY YARD PENALTY

6. A free hit at the ball from a point situated 54.90 meters (60 yards) from the backline at the place where the ball went over the backline but at least four meters from the boards or the sidelines. No one from the team that committed the infraction can be closer than 27.45 meters (30 yards) from the ball; whereas the team that was fouled can place themselves wherever they wish.

PENALTY NO. 7 - ANOTHER HIT

7. (a) If the team that committed the infraction does not act correctly in executing Penalty No. 2, 3, 4, 5 or 6, another free shot at the ball will be given to the team that was fouled or against whom the infraction was committed, unless it has scored a goal or a goal is awarded.

PUTTING THE BALL BACK INTO PLAY BY THE DEFENDERS

7. (b) If the fouled team does not execute correctly Penalty No. 2 or 3, it will be conceded to the defenders by putting the ball into play from the middle of the goal in front of the goal line. No one from the attacking team can be closer than 27.45 meters (30 yards) from the ball until the ball has been hit or hit at, whereas the defenders can place themselves anywhere they wish.

PUTTING THE BALL INTO PLAY FROM THE 30 YARD LINE

7. (c) If the attacking team does not correctly execute the Field Rule No. 10, the defenders will be allowed to put the ball into play from the 30 yard line, in front of the place where the ball was first put into play (or should have been put into play). No one of the attacking team can be closer than 27.45 meters (30 yards) from the ball until it has been hit or hit at, whereas the defenders can place themselves anywhere they wish.

NOTE: If in executing Penalty No. 7 (b) or (c) a foul is committed by the attacking team, the defending team shall be awarded a Penalty No. 5 with the ball placed at the Umpire’s discretion. (d) When both teams simultaneously break the rules regarding the execution of Penalty No. 2 or 3, another shot at the ball will be allowed from. the same place and the same circumstances as before.

PUTTING THE BALL INTO PLAY BY THE UMPIRE

8. In case of an unjustified delay in putting the ball into play, the umpire will order the ball be put into play, immediately and if his instructions are not followed, he will blow the whistle and will throw the ball perpendicular to the backline from the point where it should have been put into play with both teams aligning themselves in the same position as if it had previously been put into play.

DISQUALIFIED HORSE

9. (a) For violation of Field Rule No. 3 the umpire shall rule that a horse must be removed from the field and will not be permitted to re-enter the game.

RETIRED HORSE

9. (b) For violation of Field Rule No. 4 the umpire shall rule that a horse be removed from the field and will not allow it to return to the game again until the reason for the infraction is eliminated.

RETIRED PLAYER

9. (c) For violation of Field Rule No. 5 the umpire shall order that the player in question leave the field and will not allow him to return to the game again until the cause for the infraction has been eliminated.

PLAYER ORDERED OFF

10. (a) If a player is disabled by a deliberate foul to the extent the umpire permits or orders his retirement from the game, the Captain of the team fouled shall designate the removal of a player from the fouling team whose handicap is nearest above that of the disabled player. If the disabled player's handicap is higher than that of any player on the fouling team, any member of that team may be designated. In the event of a handicap game, there shall be no change in the handicap from as it was at the commencement of the game. In the alternative the team fouled shall have the option of playing a qualified substitute.

PLAYER EXCLUDED

10. (b) The Umpire may exclude a player for all or any portion of the remaining periods of a game in case of a deliberate, dangerous foul or conduct prejudicial to the game, and he may, or may not, allow a substitution for the removed player during the exclusion. In the event substitution is allowed, that player shall be of even or less handicap and there shall be no change in the handicap from as it was at the commencement of the game.

Contd...