Here are definitions of many words that you will hear during a typical polo match.

BALL: The polo ball is made of solid, hard plastic and measures 3 to 3-1/2 inches in diameter weighs 3-1/2
to 4-1/2 ounces.

BUMP: A player is permitted to ride into another player so as to spoil his 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 can shake your dentures loose.

CHUKKER: Also called a period. There are six chukkers in a polo game (four in arena polo) each lasting
7 minutes (at the 6-1/2 minute mark, a single horn signifies thirty seconds left-at 7 minutes, a double
horn ends the chukker).

FIELD: What the match is played on. It measures 160 yards wide by 300 yards long and is so large that
10 football fields can fit within it.

GOAL: Any time a ball crosses the line between the goal posts, it is considered a goal regardless of
whether a horse or a mallet cause the ball to go through. In order to equalize wind and turf conditions,
the teams change sides after every goal scored.

HANDICAPS: All registered players are rated on a scale of -2 to 10 (the higher the better). The handicap
of the team is the sum total rating of its players and in handicap matches the teams with the higher
handicap gives the difference in ratings to the other team. For example, a 6-goal team will give two goals
to a 4-goal team. There are only a handful of 10-goal players in the entire world. Although the word "goal"
is used after the digit, it bears no relation tothe number of goals a player might score--only his ability.

HOOK: A player may spoil anotherís shot by putting his mallet in the way of the striking player. A cross
hook occurs when the player reaches over his opponentís mount in an attempt to hook; this is considered
a foul.

KNOCK-IN: Should a team, in an offensive drive, hit the ball across the opponentís backline, the defending
team resumes the game with a free hit from their backline. No time-out is allowed for knock-ins.

MALLET: Also known as a ìstick.î The shaft is made from a bamboo shoot, and the head from either the
bamboo root or a hard wood such as maple. These vary in length from 49 to 53 inches and are very flexible
in comparison to a golf club or hockey stick. Contrary to popular belief, the long edge of the mallet is used
to strike the ball, not the small ends, which would similar to croquet.

NEAR SIDE: The lefthand side of a horse.

NECKSHOT: A ball which is hit under the horseís neck from either side.

OFF SIDE: The righthand side of a horse.

OUT OF BOUNDS: When a ball crosses the sideline or goes over the sideboards, it is considered out
of bounds and the umpire throws in another ball between the two teams at that point. No time-out is
allowed for an out-of-bounds ball.

PENALTY: These are identified by numbers 1 to 10.
1-An automatic goal
2-A free hit from 30 yards to an undefended goal
3-A free hit from 40 yards to an undefended goal
4-A free hit from 60 yards to a defended goal
5-A free hit from the point of the infraction or from midfield
6, also known as a Safety-When a defending player hits the ball across his own backline,
the other team is awarded a free hit 60 yards fromthe backline with the ball placed at the
same distance from the sideline as when it went out.

PONY: What each player rides, although the title is somewhat deceiving. They are actually "normal" size
horses, usually thoroughbreds who used to race. They are typically trained at a very young age to play polo
and can continue playing into their teens. On average, a player uses 5-6 ponies per match.

POSITIONS: Each of the four players plays a distinctly different position. Since polo is such a fluid game,
the players may momentarily change positions, but will try and return to their initial assignment. No. 1 is
the most forward offensive player. no. 2 is just as offensive but plays deeper and works harder. No. 3 is the
pivot player between offense and defense and tries to turn all plays to offense. No. 4, or the back, is the
defensive player whose role is principally to protect the goal. Typically, the player positions add up 5 when
two opposing players defend each other (the No. 4 will defend the No. 1, and so on)

SPUR: Players wear them on the heels of their boots and use them to urge their horse forward. The rowels
(the piece at the end of the spur) must be smooth though, with no sharp corners.