POLOCROSSE
© 1998 Francis J. Wolfe
78 Little York Road
Warwick, NY 10990

Important Rules

Equipment:

• Players
  • Helmet
  • Shirt with number
  • Riding boots
  • White pants
• Horse
  • Breastplate
  • Saddle without a horn
  • Polo wraps or boots
  • Bell boots
• Never
  • Sharp spurs
  • Whips without a leather flap
  • Side bars on bits (eliminates full cheek snaffles, hackamores, most pelhams)

Stopping Play for Broken Equipment:

• Always
  • When it is dangerous (losing a helmet is always dangerous).
• Never
  • When you drop your racquet.

Player's Positions:

• Number One - Goal scoring area (with other team's #3) and Center field
• Number Two- Center field
• Number Three - Center field and Goal scoring area (with other team's #1)

Line up:

• Always
  • In order (1-2-3).
  • Facing the umpire.
  • Have the other team between you and your goal.
• Never
  • Make the umpire wait for you (they won't).

Goals:

• Always
  • Goals are made by the number one.
  • They must shot from outside 11 yard circle.
  • They must be inside the goal scoring area.
• Never
  • Cross the centerline of your horse with the ball.

Missed Goal:

• Always
  • Free throw for the other teams' number three.
  • Throw is from the penalty line at a direct line from where the missed shot went out of bounds.
  • Number one must follow the number three.
• Never
  • Touch the ball before it goes ten yards.
  • Be within ten yards from where the number three throws the ball (except for the number one who is following them).

Penalty Line:

• Always - Bounce or pass the ball over the line.
• Never - Carry the ball across the line in your racquet.

Out of Play:

• Always
  • If the ball is on the line it is out of play.
  • The horse's feet are how you tell if they are out of bounds.
  • Come back onto the field at the same spot you went out
• Never
  • Let the other team make you go out (they get the ball).

Crossing:

• Always
  • Keep moving if you miss a ball.
  • Pay attention to the other players.
• Never
  • Cut someone off.
  • Stop on the ball.
  • Cross the path of another player.

Dangerous Play:

• Always - Play safely.
• Never
  • Bump at dangerous angles or too hard.
  • Do anything that may trip a horse.
  • Sandwich someone between two other players.
  • Use your elbows.
  • Hit another player with your horse.
  • Swing your racquet wildly.
  • Hit any horse with your racquet.
  • Hit someone else's horse with your whip or spurs.
  • Do anything that seems dangerous.

Carrying the Ball:

• Always
  • Carry the ball on your racquet side.
  • Bring the ball immediately to your racquet side you pick it up or catch it on the other side.
  • Swing upwards to hit an opponent's racquet.
• Never
  • Reach across someone's horse to hit their racquet.
  • Hit someone's racquet if they don't have the ball or they aren't trying to get the ball.

Penalties:

• Always
  • Throw the ball ten yards on a free throw.
  • Throw the ball at the place the umpire tells you to (they say "there's your mark, play !").
  • Stay ten yards away from someone taking a free throw (unless you are the number one and it is a free throw for a missed goal).
  • Free throw from spot of infraction.
• Never
  • Argue with the umpire.
  • Get in the way of someone taking a free throw.
  • Take more than ten seconds for a free throw once the umpire tells you to play.