attacker

This is any player who is attacking the ball or another player.

attacking the ball

A polo player who swings their mallet at a ball is attacking the ball.

back

This is the rear defensive player.

back the ball

When a player hits the ball causing it to go behind them, they are backing the ball. This is one of the ways to turn the ball.

backline

The boundary line across the goal end of the polo field.

ball

The polo ball is made of a hard plastic. During play its surface becomes covered with dents with flat spots. When a polo ball is hit over the side lines, it is not tossed back onto the playing field. It is gently rolled into the area between spectators and the side boards (when side boards are being used) or it is returned to the announcer’s stand. An umpire could ask someone to hand them the ball. A polo ball is not a take home souvenir.

bump

A player is permitted to ride into another player to spoil the other player’s shot. The angle of collision must be slight, causing no more than a jar. The faster the horse travels, the smaller the angle must be. A good bump could shake a player’s dentures loose.

cross hook

A cross hook occurs when a player reaches over their opponent’s mount (horse) in an attempt to hook the opponent’s mallet. This is considered a foul.

Charlie Chukker

This is Tinicum Park Polo Club’s life-size steel horse, complete with saddle and reins. At half-time, Charlie Chukker is rolled to the edge of the playing field in front of the announcer’s stand. Then children and adults who would like to see what it is like to swing a mallet (stick) at a polo ball, while sitting on a horse, can do so while sitting on Charlie Chukker.

cover

An , offensive player who is attacking the ball while preventing other players from attacking the ball, is covering the ball. Ideally, an offensive player will cover a ball all the way to scoring a goal.

chukker

Also called a period. There are six chukkers in a normal polo match, lasting 7 minutes each. Arena polo has four chukkers. There is time between each chukker for players to get a different horse. A horse may be used again after it has rested for at least one chukker. The fastest and best horse is usually reserved for the last chukker.

deeper

This is ahead of the area (zone) that the opposing team is in.

far side

The right-hand side of a horse. This is also called the off side.

free hit

This is a penalty shot to an undefended goal.

goal

Any time a ball crosses the backline between the goal posts, it is considered a goal, regardless of whether a horse or a mallet caused the ball to go through. In order to equalize wind and turf conditions, the teams change sides after each goal. Like hockey and soccer, each team tries to get the ball through the opposing team’s goal posts.

handicaps

All players, who are registered with the United States Polo Association, are rated on a scale of -2 to 10. The higher the number, the better the player is. The handicap of a team is the sum total of its players. In handicap matches, the team with the higher handicap gives the difference to the other team. For example, at the beginning of the match, a 6 goal team would give a 4 goal team two goals. At the beginning of the match the scoreboard will show a score of 2 to 0.

hook

A player may spoil an opponent player’s shot by putting their mallet in the way of the striking player. However, a cross hook is a foul.

jersey numbers

Jerseys are numbered 1, 2, 3 and 4. The four players wear the jersey with the number corresponding to which of the four positions they are playing. For an explantion of the four positions, see positions definition below.

knock-in

Should a team, during an offensive drive, hit the ball across the opponent’s backline, the defending team resumes the game with a free hit from the backline. No time-out is allowed for knock-ins.

line-of-the-ball

This is the imaginary line along which the ball is moving. This is similar to the center line of a road, with lanes on either side of it for opposing players. The “line” exists to allow a horse and rider to gallop at high speeds after the ball, without meeting another player head-on or running into or crossing the path of another player. Crossing the line-of-the-ball is one of the most common penalties.

line-up

Anytime there is a throw-in, the two teams line-up. The number one player of each team line-up side by side, facing the umpire with the ball. The number two, three and four players line-up side by side in number order behind their number one player.

Mallet

Also known as a “stick”. The shaft is made from a bamboo root or a hard wood, such as maple. They vary in length from 49 to 53 inches. Compared to a golf or hockey club, they are very flexible. During play, a mallet can only be held in the player’s right hand.

near side

The left-hand side of the horse.

neck shot

A ball that is hit under the horse’s neck from either side.

off side

The right-hand side of a horse. This is also called far side.

out-of-bounds

When a ball crosses the sideline or goes over the sideboards, it is considered out-of-bounds. An umpire throws in another ball between the two teams, at the point where the ball went out-of-bounds. No time out is allowed.

penalty

These are identified by numbers from1 to 10 depending on their severity with 1 being the most severe. A penalty 1 is an automatic goal. Only the team’s captain can talk to an umpire. Any other player who tries to do so may incur a penalty for their team. Also, any player who disagrees with an umpires decision in a way the umpire views as offensive, the severity of a penalty can be increased, even to a level 1 with an automatic goal for the opposing team.

period

Each seven minute chukker. There are six chukkers in a normal polo match, lasting 7 minutes each. Arena polo has four chukkers. Between each chukker there is time for the players to get a different horse. A horse may be used again after it has rested for at least one chukker. The fastest and best horse is usually reserved for the last chukker.

pick it up

Positioning the ball so another teammate can get to it, is putting the ball where the other player can pick it up. When a player attacks the ball they have picked it up.

pick up stick

This is the special stick used by an umpire to pick up balls.

polo field

A polo field is 10 acres. At 160 yards wide and 300 yards long it is the size of 9 football fields.

polo horses

Polo horses can be almost any breed of horse that is large, fast and steady enough, provided it can be trained to play polo. A lot of the horses used are thoroughbreds. Polo horses have their manes cut very short. During a polo match they usually have their tails tied or braided and their ankles wrapped. As you travel, see if you can spot a polo horse out in a field.

polo pony

Originally, polo was played with ponies. Now, horses are being used.

pony

A horse that is shorter than 14 - 2 (14 hands 2 inches). 1 hand = 4 inches

positions

Each of the four players plays a distinctly different position. Since polo is such a fast rapidly changing game, the players may momentarily change positions. Then they will try to return to their original positions. Number 1 is the most offensive player. Number 2 is just as offensive, but plays deeper and works harder. Number 3 is the pivot player between offense and defense, trying to turn all plays to put their team on the offensive. Number 4 is also called the back. This is a defensive position with the primary responsibility of protecting the goal.

ride-off

This occurs when two riders make contact and attempt to push each other off the line of the ball, so as to prevent the other from striking the ball. The horses are usually used to do the pushing. A player may also use their body, but no elbowing is allowed.

safety

This is a penalty 6. It occurs when a player hits the ball across his own backline. The opposing team is not awarded a goal. They are given a free hit, undefended, 60 yards from the backline, with the ball placed at the same distance from the sideline as it was when it crossed the backline.

season

The 2000 season begins in mid-May and ends in mid-October. Polo matches are held at Tinicum Park every Saturday at 2:00 P.M., except on the weekend of July 4th or when there is heavy rain, extremely inclement weather or on days when the field is too wet. On exceptionally hot days, a match can be postponed until later in the afternoon or early evening. The status of each match is available via a recording on the Saturday Morning Polo Hot Line at (908) 966-3321.

sideboard

A nine to eleven inch high board that lines the sidelines of the field. They are not required.

tailshot

Hitting the ball from behind and across a horses’ rump (upper portion of the hindquarters).

third man

A referee sitting at the sidelines. When the two field umpires disagree, the third man makes the final decision.

throw-in

A chukker begins and resumes with the umpire bowling the ball between the two teams after they have lined up and are ready to play.

time out

An umpire calls time out when a foul is committed, an accident occurs or at their own discretion. A player may only call a time out if they have been injured or their horse has broken tack (reigns, saddle straps, etc.). There is no time out allowed during play for changing horses or replacing a broken mallet, although a player may do so at any time.

turning the ball

A defensive player changes the direction of the ball away from their goal (the goal they are defending)