About Polo - The Game
A game of polo is divided into either four or six chukkas, depending upon the game standard (high, medium or low goal). Each chukka lasts seven and a half minutes. The polo authorities decide upon each player's handicap and the handicaps of the four team members are added together, thus reaching the total team handicap which in turn decides whether they are a high (17-22 in UK; 26 in the USA; 40 in Argentina) medium (12-16) or low (0-5) goal team. Handicaps range from S (starter), then -2 and the highest are 10. The majority of players reach -1 or 0. The four-member team comprises a forward, two mid-fielders and a back.
The aim of polo is to score more goals than the opposition. A player may change ponies as frequently as they choose during a chukka, though a single pony is not allowed to play more than two full chukkas back to back.
The most important polo rules have been introduced for the safety of both players and ponies. The most important rule in polo is "the line of the ball" this refers quite simply to the path in which the ball travels. For everybody's safety no player may cross this imaginary line. Players must play using their right hands.
