What Is Polo ?
Polo is the sport playing by four players on each side. Polo is comprised of 6 periods. Each period is called a chukker which lasts 7 1/2 minutes. There are four minutes between each chukker. Half time break lasts for ten minutes, which gives the players time to change horses.
Polo teams then change direction after each goal in order to compensate for field and wind conditions.
Play begins with a throw-in of the ball by the umpire at the opening of each chukker and after each goal.
Players must change horses after each chukker due to the extreme demands placed on the polo pony.
During half time, spectators go onto the field to participate in a tradition called "divot stomping" to help replace the divots created by the horses.
Most of the rules of polo are for the safety of the polo players and their ponies. The basic concept is the line of the ball, a right-of-way established by the path of a traveling ball.
Two mounted Umpires do most of the officiating, with a Referee at midfield having the final say in any dispute between the umpires.
Penalty shots are given depending on the severity of the foul.