Polo Game Basics

First off, before anything, you need someplace to play. This can be one of the most prohibitive aspects. Unlike many other sports, heading to your local park just won't do. While field sizes can vary, the traditional and official size is 300 yards by 160 yards… that's about the size of 9 football fields! That doesn't even count the additional yardage at the ends and sides.

Polo is played by two teams of four, each player on a team is numbered 1 - 4, which corresponds to their role, with number 1 being the most forward, offensive player, to number 4, also called the back, as the most defensive player.

Each player is assigned a handicap and a team's handicap is the total of its players, which helps to even out abilities.

During important tournaments, also on the field are two mounted umpires, and a referee on the sidelines.

A period of play in a match is called a chukker, which lasts 7 minutes, with a 30 second warning horn before end of play. The clock only stops for penalties, broken tack (equipment) of a serious nature, or injury of horse or player. There are 6 chukkers in a match, with short breaks in between, and a longer "half-time" break in the middle. Along with a break for players and horses, this break allows for the age old activity of divit stomping, where the spectators can come onto the field to stomp the divits torn up during play.

Not only a chance to stretch your legs, divit stomping greatly helps in maintaining the safety for horses and players. At Windsor Castle in England, you might find yourself stomping divits next to the Queen herself. Though we can't guarantee the same celebrity status in Madison, divit stomping provides a great opportunity to meet new people, assuming you haven't stomped something other than a divit!

Scoring in polo is done by knocking the ball between goal posts at the end of the field, set eight yards apart in the center. This is done through regular play or through penalty shots. A goal is counted whether the ball is on the ground or at any height in the air. After a goal, the teams switch directions, to neutralize the effects of wind, sun, uneven playing conditions, or other physical challenges.

Pretty simple. Okay, so there is a lot more to polo than this, however with just this basic knowledge, you can easily sit back and enjoy watching a game of polo. As your knowledge grows, so will your appreciation of this ancient and most incredible sport.