A conversation arose fieldside the other day with a handful of semi-informed individuals regarding the assignation of the Penalty 1. According to the rules, when a Penalty 1 is awarded “a. The team fouled shall be awarded one goal, and ends shall not be changed. “b. The game shall be resumed by the ball being bowled-in parallel to the end lines from a point on the center of the 10 yard line nearest the fouling team’s goal, the Umpire positioned in front of and facing the players, with the fouling team’s end line to the Umpire’s right.”
So far this season I have witnessed a number of goals that were scored as a whistle was being blown. If the fouled team scored the goal, it was signaled as a goal and both teams would return to the center of the field for the ensuing throw-in.
There was no awarded goal and no throw-in at the 10-yard line, thus the fouled team was shorted, and lost 290 yards of field position as well as the opportunity of scoring another goal from the throw-in.
This consensus of brainpower assembled along the sideboards agreed on the rules of the Penalty 1 and also agreed that in their humble opinions, it was not being properly applied.
I am limited to my observations of the 20-goal competition at the International Polo Club this season, and must admit that because of the parity of teams and the number of one-goal or overtime games that the proper application of the Penalty 1 would most certainly have resounding impacts on a number of the matches already played.
I guess my questions are: “Is the Penalty 1 still in effect? and are the Umpires applying it properly? You go to the games, you make the call.