FIELD RULES

Definition of Foul: Any infringement of the field rules will constitute a foul, and the Umpire may stop the game.

Dead Ball: The Umpire shall carry a whistle, which he shall blow when he wishes to stop the game. when he does so the ball is dead until he says "PLAY", and the time, it is dead, is not counted in the playing time of the period, except as legislated for in General Rule 12.
Note: If a whistle is blown for a foul approximately at the same time when a goal is scored.
i) The goal will be disallowed if the foul will be against the attacking side and is confirmed.
ii) The goal will be allowed if the foul will be against the attacking side and the foul is overruled or if the foul will be against the defending side whether or not the foul is confirmed.

Disqualified Cycle: Cycle disqualified as mentioned in the General Rule 1 shall not be allowed in the game

Safety Zone: a) No person will be allowed to enter the ground during play for any purpose whatsoever, except the players and the umpires. A player requiring a stick, cycle, or other assistance from an outside person will ride to the side or back lines, to procure it. No person will come on the ground to assist a player.
b) No person will be allowed within the Safety Zone during play except players, umpires, referees, linemen, goal judges, manager or committee members.
Note: The Safety Zone is the area consisting of the field of play, 15 meters beyond the goal line and 5 to 8 meters parallel to side lines.

Starting of the Game: At the beginning of the game, the two teams shall line up in the middle of the ground, each team being on its own side of the halfway line. the Umpire shall bowl the ball underhand and hard between the opposing ranks of players, from a distance of not less then five meters the players remaining stationary until the ball has left his hand.

How Goal is Scored: A goal is scored when a ball will pass between the goal posts and clears the goal line. If a ball is hit above the top of the goal posts, and in the opinion of the Umpre is between these posts, it shall also count as a goal.

Changing of Ends: Ends shall be changed after every goal except where a goal is awarded under Penalty 1. Ends shall also be changed if no goals have been hit by half-time and the play shall re-start in position corresponding to the change of ends. After a goal has been hit, the game shall be re-started from the middle of the ground as prescribed in Field Rule 5. The players shall be allowed a reasonable time to reach the middle of the ground at a slow speed and take up their positions.

Attackers hit Behind:
a) The ball will go over and clear of the back line to be out.
b) When the ball is hit behind the back line by the attacking side, it shall be hit in by the defenders from the spot where it crossed the line, but at least four meters away from the goal posts when the Umpire says "PLAY". None of the attacking side shall be within 15 meters of the back line until the ball is hit or hit at, the defenders being free to place themselves where they choose.

Unnecessary Delay: The defenders shall give the attacking side reasonable time to get into position, but there shall be no delay in hitting in. In the event of unnecessary delay the Umpire call on the defending side to hit at once. If the Umpire's request is not complied with, he shall bowl the ball in underhand and hard at the spot where the ball crossed the back line and at right angles to it .

Defenders Hit Behind: If the ball be hit behind the back line by any of the defending side's players either directly or after glancing off his own cycle or stick penalty 6 shall be exacted. If the ball strikes any other player or his cycle before going behind, it shall be hit in in accordance with Field Rule 8.

Ball Hit Out: (Side Line) The ball will go over and clear the side lines to be out.
b) When the ball will [sic] hit over the side line, it will be bowled underhand and hard, be [sic] the Umpire into the ground from a point just inside the lines where it went out, or on the imaginary line parallel to the two goal lines, and between the opposing rank of player [sic], each side being on its own side of the imaginary line. No player will stand within 10 meters of the side lines. players [sic] will remain stationary until the ball has left the Umpire's hand. A reasonable time will be allowed to the players to line up.
When the ball will be hit or is deflected by cycle, stick or body of a player, over the side lines, a free hit only to be taken by backhand, from the spot from where it went out, will be awarded to the opposite team. No players will stand within 10 meters from the penalty spot.

Restarting After Interval: On the play being resumed after an interval, the ball shall be put in normal manner which would have been followed, had there been no interval, i.e. in accordance with Field Rules 7, 8, 11 or 25 as the case may be. The Umpire will not wait for the players who remain late.

Damaged Ball: If the ball be damaged the Umpire shall, at his discretion stop the game and re-start it with a new ball, in the manner prescribed in Field Rule 25.

Carrying the Ball: A Player will not catch, kick or hit the ball with anything but with his stick or right hand up to the elbow. He may block it with any part of his body but not wiith an open hand. he will not carry the ball intentionally. If the ball becomes lodged against a player, his cycle, or its spokes in such a way that it cannot be dropped immediately the Umpire shall blow his whistle and restart the game in accordance with Field Rule 25 at the point where it was first carried.

Crossing the Right of Way:
(a) (i) At each moment of the game there shall exist a Right of Way, which shall be considered to extend ahead of the player entitled to it, and in the direction in which he is riding.
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 either player is involved.
(a) (ii) The Right of Way which is defined in paras (c) to (e) below, is not to be confused with the line of the ball and does not depend on who last hit. The Line of the Ball:
(b) (i) The line of the ball will be the line of its course or the line produced at any moment.
(b) (ii) If the line of the ball changes unexpectedly, for example when a ball glances off a cycle and as a result the Right of Way changes, the player who had the Right of Way will be given room to continue a short distance on his original Right of Way.
(b) (iii) When a dead ball will be put into play through being hit at and missed, the line of he ball is considered to be the direction in which the player was riding when he hit at it.
(b) (iv) If the ball becomes stationary while remaining in play the line of the ball will be that line upon which it was travelling before stopping.
Player Riding in Direction the Ball is Travelling:
(c) (i) A player following the ball on its exact line and taking it on his off side, will be entitled to the Right of Way over all other players.
(c) (ii) Where no player will be riding on the exact line of the ball the Right of Way will belong to the player following it on the smallest angle, provided he does not contravene Clause (f).
(c) (iii) Two players when following the exact line of the ball will share the Right of Way over all other players.
(c) (iv) A player riding in the direction the ball will be travelling at an angle to its line, will have the Right of Way over a player riding to meet the ball at an angle to its line, irrespective of the width of the angle provided he does not contravene Clause (f).
(c) (v) No player shall be deemed to have the Right of Way by reason of his being the last striker of the ball if he shall deviate from pursuing the exact line of the ball.
Equal Angles:
(d) In the rare case of two players riding in the general direction of the ball at exactly equal angles to it on opposite sides of its line, the Right of Way will belong to that player who shall have the line of the ball on his off side. The same rule will apply to players meeting the ball at exactly equal angles from opposite sides of the line.
Player Meeting the Ball
(e) (i) A player who rides to meet the ball on its exact line shall have the Right of Way over all players riding at an angle from any direction.
(e) (ii) Among the players riding to meet the ball, the player whose course will be at the least angle to the line of the ball will have the Right of Way.
Player to Take Ball on off-side
(f) (i) The Right of Way will entitle a player to take the ball on the off side of his Cycle. If he places himself to hit on the near side and thereby in any way endangers another player who would otherwise have been clear, he will lose the Right of Way and will give way to the other player.
(f) (ii) When two players are riding from exactly opposite directions to hit the ball, each shall take it on the off side of his Cycle.
Checking
(g) (i) No player will check or pull-up or block either on or across the Right of Way if by so doing he runs the slightest risk of collision with the player entitled to it.
(g) (ii) If a player enters safely on the Right of Way by virtue of a safe distance from the other, the player following the ball shall not ride into him from behind but shall take the ball on the near side or off side of his own cycle as the case may be.


Riding Off: A player shall not ride-off any other player by cycle or any part of his body.
Note:
(i) If an attacker is taking the ball on the off side, the defender will only tackle or hit the ball or hook-stick from his near side only . Taking ball to off side and hitting the ball back by the defender will constitute ride off, though actual body or cycles have not touched.
(ii) If however, the attacker is taking the ball near side, the defender will only touch the ball or hook-stick from his off-side.
(iii) Similarly an attacker taking the ball on the off side, seeing the defender coming to tackle, will not suddenly cross the line of the ball and take the ball near side and vice versa thereby riding him off, though actual touch by cycle or body has not taken place, will constitute riding-off.

Dangerous Riding: A player will not ride dangerously, as for example:
(a) Coming at an angle dangerous to a player or his cycle.
(b) Zigzagging in front of another player riding at speed, in such a way as to cause the latter to check his pace or risk a fall.
(c) Pulling across or over a cycle front wheel in such a manner as to risk tripping the cycle.
(d) Riding an opponent across the Right of Way.
(e) Riding at an opponent in such a manner as to intimidate and cause him to pull out or miss his strike, although no foul or cross actually occurs.
(f) "Sandwiching" i.e. two players of the same team sandwiching an opponent by coming in from opposite sides at the same time.

Rough Handling: No player shall seize with the hand, strike or push with the head, hand, forearm, elbow, or leg another player or cycle.

Misuse of Stick: (a) No player will hook an opponent's stick unless he is on the same side of the opponent's cycle as the ball or in a direct line behind, and his stick is neither over or under the body or across the wheels of an opponent's cycle, nor will he hook or strike an opponent's stick above shoulder level. The stick will not be hooked or struck unless the opponent is in the act of striking at the ball.
(b) Any one hitting a jumping ball in the air across or over the height of wheels of the cycles while he is within the vicinity of any other players will be a foul. The umpire at his discretion will judge whether the other person is in the vicinity or not, his judgement will be final.
(c) Every Cycle Polo stick should have a wristband and the band must be put on the wrist of the player while playing the game.

Dismounted Player: No dismounted player or a player with one or both feet touching or having touched the ground shall interfere with the game. He may however, continue with the game as soon as he has removed the above disqualification i.e. vide rule 7(c).This rule applies to the area within the safety zone.

Accident or Injury:
(a) If a player falls off his cycle the Umpire shall not stop the game, unless he is of the opinion that the player is injured. What constitutes a fall will leave to the decision of the Umpire.
(b) When the game has been stopped in accordance with clause (a) above the Umpire shall restart the game in the manner laid down in Field Rule 25, as soon as the player concerned is ready to resume play. the Umpire shall not wait for any other player who may not be present.

Unable to Play Due to injury: If a player be injured, a period not exceeding 10 minutes shall be allowed for his recovery. If the injured player is unable to play after 10 minutes, the game shall restart with a substitute in place of the injured player provided Penalty 8 has not been exacted. If, however, the injured player subsequently recovers he may replace the player who substituted but the handicap of the higher handicapped player will be counted in accordance with General Rule 4 (c).

Disablement: If a player be disabled by a foul so that he is unable to continue, Penalty 8 will be exacted or the side which has been fouled shall have the option of providing a substitute. Penalty 1, 2 or 3 as the case may be, shall be exacted in any case. In the International matches the umpire may award Penalty No. 10.

When game is not stopped: It shall be within the discretion of the Umpire not to stop the game for the purpose of inflicting a penalty if the stopping of the game and the infliction of the Penalty would be disadvantageous to the fouled side.

Re-starting when Ball was not out: If for any reason the game is stopped without the ball going out of play it shall restart in the following manner. The Umpire shall stand at the spot, where the ball was when the incident occurred , facing the nearer side of the ground, but not less than 20 meters near the side lines. Both teams shall take up their positions each being on its own side of an imaginary line, parallel to the goal lines and extending through the Umpire to the sides of the ground. No player will stand within 5 meters of the Umpire. The Umpire shall bowl the ball, underhand and hard between the opposition ranks of players towards the nearer side of the ground, the players remaining stationary until the umpire says PLAY or indicates the players to come towards him.

Consecutive Three Time Touch: No player shall touch the ball with his stick or right hand up to the elbow more than 3 times consecutively. He can touch again for three times only after the ball touches another player's stick or cycle.
NOTE: A player by virtue of his having touched the ball three times consecutively will lose his Right of Way . He has to give way to other players coming from any direction to tackle the ball or establish the Right of Way (Provided sufficient time has been given to him to pull-up or pull away). He may, however, hook the stick of the opponent if he happens to be on the same side of the ball immediately after the third touch. But he will not follow the line of the ball to hook the stick of the opponent, thereby blocking or in any way coming in the way of other players to take the ball.

Blocking of way: No player will block the other players by riding along with him, thereby not permitting him to go towards the ball or enter in the game, whether the player has Right of Way or otherwise.

Discretion of Umpires:
(a) Should any incident or question not provided for in the rules of Cycle Polo arise in a match such incident or question shall be decided by the Umpire or Umpires. If the Umpires disagree, the Referee's decision shall be final.
(b) There are degrees of dangerous play and unfair play which give an advantage to the side fouling. The Penalty to be inflicted is left to the discretion of the Umpire or Umpires and shall only be referred to the Referee in the event of the Umpires disagreeing on the penalty.