OFFICIAL CHANGES TO THE USPA RULES FOR 2010
(Umpire and Player Instuctions are located after the Rule Changes)
Source:  US-Polo.org

PLEASE NOTE: Each USPA member will be provided a USPA White Book that will include the 2010 USPA Rules and Rules Interpretations and is asked to review the USPA Rules and Rules Interpretations. Changes to the 2010 Rules and Rules Interpretation will be listed in bold black font. Any questions concerning the USPA Rules and Rules Interpretation, please contact the USPA Executive Director.


1) Rule 1. TEAMS
Effective January 1, 2010 each Team in a USPA event with an upper handicap limit of 22 goals or less shall, excluding the sponsor, have a minimum of one Registered Player Member as defined in the Association By-laws.

2) Rule 14. DURATION OF PERIOD
a. (1) The period shall terminate when, following the 7 minute horn, the ball is out of play, out of bounds or hits the sideboards, a goal is scored or the Umpire stops play for any reason other than a confirmed foul.

Interpretation of 14. DURATION OF PERIODS If a penalty hit is awarded after the 7 minute horn, the penalty will be executed in the time remaining before the 7-1/2 minute horn. If less than 5 seconds remain before the second horn, the clock will be reset to 5 seconds. In both cases, the remainder of the period will be played until ended as described.

EXAMPLES: After the 7 minute warning horn, Blue #3 scores and is simultaneously fouled by Red #2. Penalty No. 1 is awarded. Because the goal is “awarded” and not “scored” the chukker does not end. The ball is bowled in at the 10 yard line with a minimum of 5 seconds on the clock.

In the closing seconds of the chukker, Red hits a long ball to goal. The Timer sounds her horn but the can is empty. Several seconds are lost until the can is changed and the horn sounded during which time Red scores the goal. The Timer should advise the Umpire that the chukker was “intended to end” well before the goal scored. The goal does not count and play is resumed at the point where the horn was intended to sound.

The 7 minute horn sounds when the ball is in the Umpire’s hand for a bowl in. The chukker ends as the ball is out of play.

3) Rule 20. HOW PLAY COMMENCES
New Example added to the Interpretation:

Following Red’s goal, Blue #1 is slow returning to the lineup and is 20 yards from center when the ball is ready for play. Blue #3 wins the bowl in and hits to Blue #1. Delayed whistle and foul (spot hit) against Blue #1 for improper positioning. Had Blue not become involved in the play, the Umpire could elect not to call a foul. The ball may not be put in play with Blue on the wrong side of center.

4) Rule 22. HOW PLAY IS RESUMED
No substantive changes to the Rules (See below) and clarifications were made to the Interpretations and Examples (See Rules White Book)
a. After the ball goes across a team’s end line (other than from a Safety as provided in Rule 21.a., the team whose end line is crossed shall hit the ball in, or hit at it, from a point on the field which is within one foot of the point where the ball crossed the end line, except as provided in subsection e. (3). below. Should this point be closer than 12 feet to a side board or goal post, the ball shall be hit, or hit at, from a point on the field which is within one foot of the end line and which is 12 feet from that side board or goal post (but not between the goal posts). Each team shall be given a reasonable time to position itself for the resumption of play, and no member of the team defending against the hit-in shall be closer than 30 yards to the end line when the Umpire says “Play” and the ball is hit or hit at. Players should be expected to position themselves at a slow canter.

If play is stopped because a member of the defending team is closer than 30 yards to the end line after the Umpire says “Play” and the ball is hit, or hit at, the Umpire shall move the ball straight ahead (perpendicular to end line) 30 yards. Play shall then be resumed as before with no member of the defending team closer than 60 yards to the end line. The Umpires shall indicate to the defending team the location of the appropriate distance from the end line.

e. In all other cases, the Umpire puts the ball into play by bowling it in, in the same manner as provided in Rule 20 except as provided below after allowing the players a reasonable time in which to line up.
(1) After a goal has been scored, except goals awarded by handicap or Penalty No. 1, the Umpire shall bowl the ball in with the ends changed.
(2) After the ball is hit across the side boards or side line the Umpire shall bowl the ball in from a point 10 yards inside the boards or line where it went out and toward the opposite boards or line. Should a period end with the ball rebounding off the boards, play shall be resumed as though the ball went out of play.


5) Rule 34. SELECTION OF PENALTY
34. REPEATED FOULS
a. For undue repetition of careless or deliberate fouls by one or both teams, the Umpire should exact a more severe penalty for each occurrence until conduct in the best interest of the game resumes.
b. At the Host Club’s option, any player penalized four times during an event, or series of events, as defined by the Club Committee prior to the onset of that event or series of events, for violations of Rule 33. UNSPORTSMANLIKE CONDUCT will be suspended for a subsequent game in the designated event(s).

34. REPEATED FOULS…INTERPRETATION: It is the club’s responsibility to advise all players that this rule will be applied and to which events it will be applied. As a guide, the following should be observed:
a. The entry form should clearly identify the designated events.
b. A player should be given 24 hours notice of any suspension.
c. A player who feels he has been unfairly charged may appeal through the protest procedures of By-law 12.
d. Following a suspension, the player may return to the event with three charged violations. Each new violation will result in an additional suspension.
e. A player receiving a fourth violation in the last designated game, may be suspended for a subsequent game at the discretion of the Committee.
f. A player receiving a 4th Rule 33 violation under this rule in the final game in the event(s) or series, as defined in the Entry Form, may, at the discretion of the Club Committee, be suspended from a game of a subsequent event in which the player is entered even though that subsequent event was not defined on the entry form.


6) Rule 35. SELECTION OF PENALTY
Minor edits made to the penalty selection (See USPA White Book)


INSTRUCTIONS TO USPA CERTIFIED UMPIRES AND USPA PLAYERS

• The following is a list of USPA Rules and Rules Interpretations selected for presen-tation to umpires, players and club officials as the official USPA Rules and Inter-pretations and how all USPA Certified Umpires will call the plays.
• USPA Certified Umpires will enforce all official USPA Rules and Rules Interpreta-tions. Players are expected to abide by those same USPA Rules and Rules Interpre-tations.
• Umpires will be instructed to request adequate mounts to umpire matches.

1) Rule 20. HOW PLAY COMMENCES

Umpires will be instructed to throw the ball in when there is no contact between
players in the throw-in. A penalty will be called for consistent violations of the no contact in the throw-in procedure.

Rule 20. States:
HOW PLAY COMMENCES
a. The game begins by both teams taking their positions at the T in the center of the field at the starting time designated by the Host Club Tournament Committee, and the Umpire bowling the ball, parallel to the end line, underhand and hard, onto the ground in front of and between the opposing ranks of players, each team being on the same side of the center line as the goal which it is defending, no player to be within 5 yards of the Umpire. The teams shall decide by lot which goal each will defend initially.

Interpretation to Rule 20.a. HOW PLAY COMMENCES: The Umpire must enforce a consistent procedure to avoid any player gaining unfair advantage. The ball must be presented consistently–underhand, hard, and in front of the players. Players must be on their own side of the center line and not in contact. Players must be at least 5 yards from the Umpire. Players may not rush the Umpire. The ball is ready for play when the Umpire is positioned. If the players are not ready within 3-5 seconds the whistle should stop the clock. Players may be penalized for consistent violation.

2) Rule 21. HOW PLAY IS INTERRUPTED f. Fallen or Injured Mount:

The umpire will not allow time out to change a mount. The umpire will determine if a horse is lame or not and will decide to allow the player to change the horse or not. It is up to player to decide if he or she wants to change a horse for whatever reason and no timeout will be allowed. The umpire may decide to call a delay of game if a player asks to stop the game to change a horse that is not lame in the opinion of the umpires.
Rule 21.f. states:
Fallen or Injured Mount.
(1) If a mount falls or is injured, the Umpire shall stop the game immediately.
(2) A player whose mount has fallen may change to another mount within 5 minutes. The fallen mount may be returned to the game.
(3) A player whose mount has been injured shall change to another mount within 5 minutes. A mount removed due to injury may not return to the game.
(4) The game shall be resumed immediately if no change of mount is made.
(5) Except as provided in this rule and in the enforcement of Rule 5.b or 5.c , a player should never be allowed time out for the purpose of changing mounts.

Interpretation to Rule 5. MOUNTS: The mandate is that Umpires are to take positive action to protect players and the sport from the perception of animal abuse. The Umpires must award a Penalty, which not only penalizes the fouling side, but recognizes any advantage the fouled side lost when the play was stopped.

If, in the opinion of the Umpire(s), a mount is deemed physically unfit from exhaustion, distress, lameness, excessive sweating and/or laboring in breathing, the Umpires may remove the mount for the remainder of the chukker or the entire game.

If any player abuses a mount, play should be stopped immediately and the appropriate penalty awarded.

In the case of visible blood, time should be called when play is next stopped. The player may have up to 5 minutes to clean up the mount or change. If the wound continues to bleed, the mount shall be ordered off the field. The mount may return to the game later if its condition permits.
(Note: The Argentine Polo Association has instructed their umpires: A player who demands the play be stopped or dismounts arguing a non-evident problem with his mount can be penalized if the alleged problem cannot be verified. A tired horse is no reason to stop a game and the player shall change it without being waited for.)

3) Rule 24. RIGHT OF WAY
Umpires will call blocking or shading of the right of way.

Rule 24.c. states:
c. No player shall enter or cross this Right of Way except at such a distance that not the slightest risk of a collision or danger to any player is involved.

Interpretation to Rule 24.c. RIGHT OF WAY: At any time the act of an opponent requires the player on the Right of Way to adjust or maneuver to avoid a dangerous situation, a foul has occurred. If the player on the Right of Way can maintain pace and direction with no risk of collision or danger, no foul has occurred. If the opponent’s act creates a risk of collision or danger, a foul should be called.
Relative speed and distance between the player and opponent are the determining factors. A player checking may reduce the margins required for an opponent to enter or cross the ROW.


If a player makes an abrupt change to the line of the ball and turns in front of an opponent who is behind and on the line, umpires are instructed to call a foul on the player making the abrupt line change. A player who changes the line of the ball, must allow the opponent who is coming from behind and on the line to clear the new Right of Way created by the change to the Line of the Ball. The following opponent must be traveling at approximatly the same speed as the player and the relative speed and distance insufficient for the player to execute the play. The speed and distance of the player coming from behind must be considered – the closer the player coming from behind is to ball, the more dangerous the play will be by the player turning in front of the oncoming player who remains on the line of the ball.

Rule 24.d. states:
When the Line of the Ball changes and, as a result, the Right of Way changes, a player must be granted the necessary time to clear the new Right of Way. A player clearing the Right of Way may make no offensive or defensive play in doing so.


A player following the ball has the right of way over a player meeting the ball. For example, a player hits a cut away back shot and a player goes to follow the line of the ball, even crossing over the line to put the ball on his offside. This player has the right of way over his opponent who is riding to meet the ball, unless that opponent is dead-on the line when meeting the ball.

Rule 24.f. states:
As between two players, when one is following the ball and the other meeting the ball: Regardless of their respective angles, a player following the ball has the Right of Way over a player meeting the ball, other than a player meeting the ball with the line of the ball on the off side and on the exact line of the ball. A player meeting the ball in this fashion has the Right of Way over a player following the ball.


Unless the player with the Line of the Ball (LOB) on his left is clearly at a lesser angle, the player with the LOB on his right has the Right of Way (ROW).
Rule 24g. states:
As between two players, when both are following or both are meeting the ball:
1) The player riding parallel to or at the lesser angle to the line of the ball has the Right
of Way over the player riding at the greater angle to the line of the ball.
2) In the case of two players on opposite sides of the line of the ball riding at approximately equal angles to it, the Right of Way belongs to the player with the line of the ball on the off side.

Interpretation to Rule 24. RIGHT OF WAY g. (1) (2)…INTERPRETATION: The Umpire cannot apply a protractor to the angle of both players. Unless the player with the LOB on his left is clearly at a lesser angle, the player with the LOB on his right has the ROW.

EXAMPLES:
Red rides from the left of the LOB to take the ball on his offside. Blue rides from the right of the LOB at approximately the same angle. Both plan to take the ball on the offside and their extended paths will intersect at the ball. Red has the ROW unless Blue is clearly at a lesser angle to the LOB.
Red starts with the LOB well to his right. Blue starts with the LOB on a slight angle to his left. Red rides directly to the LOB then turns making his course parallel to the LOB. Blue continues his course and the two will intersect at the ball. Foul Blue. Although Blue started at a lesser angle to the LOB, Red’s adjustment put him at a lesser angle and Blue must now stay on the nearside and not cross Red’s ROW.
The Umpire bowls the ball through the line up. Blue #4, lined up wide of the throw in, turns to the left to take the ball on the off side. Red #3 turns to the right, crosses the LOB, and takes the ball on the off side. No foul on Red because he was clearly at a lesser angle to the LOB.


4) Rule 25. STOPPING ON THE BALL c. Walk Dribble:

The umpires are instructed to blow the whistle when they determine the play has been slowed due to a violation of the walking dribble rule (stopping or walking when con-trolled or marked by an opponent). The penalty is a throw-in. “Controlled or marked by an opponent” means a player within a horse-length of the player in possession.
(Note: The Argentine Polo Association has made this same instruction to their umpires)

Rule 25 states:
25. STOPPING ON BALL
a. Subject to Rule 24.h , a player who has safely entered the Right of Way of another player along the established path that the ball has already traveled and who is following the ball may slow down or stop in that Right of Way, provided that players approaching from behind have sufficient time to go around. A player is considered to have entered along the “established path that the ball has already traveled” as opposed to the “projected path that the ball has yet to travel” once the ball is ahead of the stirrup. This is true even if the player enters the projected path first, and the ball subsequently passes the stirrup. However, the player may not slow down or stop in another player’s Right of Way in order to allow the ball to pass his stirrup.
b. A player who has safely entered the Right of Way of another player along the projected path that the ball has yet to travel, whether meeting or following the ball, may not slow down or stop in that other player’s Right of Way.
c. A player on the Right of Way, defended by an opponent and in possession of the ball, shall continue to move the ball.
1) Should the player walk, stop, or otherwise slow the game, one tap is allowed following which the player must run with the ball or hit it away.
2) Should the player slow the game and leave the ball for a following team mate, the teammate must immediately run with the ball or hit away whether he is defended or not with no tap allowed.
3) Should the game be unduly slowed, the Umpire may stop play and restart with a bowl in.

Interpretation to Rule 25.c. STOPPING ON THE BALL: The purpose of this rule is to keep the play moving. If the game is brought to a standstill by the act of the offensive player and an opponent is in position to attempt a play, a violation has occurred. If the player stops or checks because an opponent has entered the right of way, a foul should be called against the opponent.

EXAMPLES:
Red # 3 knocks in and carries the ball toward the 60. Blue # 2 rides ahead and to the left, but clear of Red’s Right of Way. Red checks down to a canter in place, dribbling the ball, as Blue # 2 moves into position to attempt a defensive play. Red # 3 taps the ball forward to the right and then to the left, trying to dribble around the Blue player. Since Red was only allowed one tap when defended, the whistle should sound and the ball bowled in.
Blue #2 picks up the ball and checks to set up a play with Red #3 in position to defend. Blue #2 holds the ball until Blue #3 can come behind, then leaves the ball and takes Red #3 out of the play. Blue #3 must hit away or run with the ball. No tap is allowed.


5) Rule 33. UNSPORTSMANLIKE CONDUCT
Rule 21. HOW PLAY IS INTERRUPTED b. Red flag:

There will be “Zero Tolerance” for unsportsmanlike conduct and disrespectful behav-ior toward the umpires and the referee. Both umpires will confirm the use of a red flag and will agree if a player is to be removed from a game. Players may express emotion, but that expression must not be directed to or at the umpire and that expres-sion, must not be vulgar in any language, as per the Rules and Rules Interpretation.


6) Rule 22. HOW PLAY IS RESUMED e. Teeing the ball is prohibited:

When hitting penalties, it is not allowed to tee-up raising the turf with the mallet head or by the horses’ hooves. The umpire shall forbid the player to use that tee.
(Note: The Argentine Polo Association has made this same instruction to their umpires)

(Rev: 12-8-09)

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