3. Direction of Play • The initial direction of each team is chosen based on a coin toss at the beginning of the game. Teams move in the direction of their goal until the first goal is scored, after which teams switch goals. Direction is changed after each goal is scored. • In arena polo, the direction is only changed after each chukker. 4. The Line of the Ball • Players follow a “line of the ball,” an imaginary path along which the ball travels; it represents a right-of-way for the last player striking the ball and is the basis for most rules of the game. The player following the line and direction of the ball on his/her right has the right-of-way over all other players. No opposing player or horse may cross the line of the ball in an attempt to make a play. 5. Ride Off • This is one of the most common strategic moves in the game: when two players make contact and attempt to push each other off the line of the ball to prevent their opponent from hitting the ball. The horses must be traveling at the same speed, shoulder-to-shoulder at a 45-degree angle or less. 6. Hook • A defensive player may prevent an opponent from hitting the ball by hooking or striking his/ her mallet. The player attempting the hook must be on the same side of the offensive player’s mount as the ball, or in a direct line behind and may not hook when the mallet is higher than the horse’s back. 7. Right Handed Players • Players must carry the mallet in their right hand. Playing left-hand was banned from polo in the 1970’s for safety reasons. 8. Handicap • Players are rated on a scale of -2 to 10, which is determined by a player’s horsemanship, hitting ability, quality of horses, team play, and game sense. The team handicap is the sum of its players’ handicaps. 9. The Ball and Mallet • For outdoor polo, the ball is typically about the size of a baseball and made of hard plastic. It weighs between 3.5 and 4.5 ounces. For arena play, the ball is a larger inflated ball similar to a mini soccer ball. • T he mallet is 48 to 54 inches, depending on the height of the pony and the reach of the player. The shaft is made of Manu wood. The grip is similar to a tennis racquet with a cloth safety strap. The head is typically made of tipa wood.
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