Schopnosti potřebné pro pólo
Poník vhodný pro pólo musí být schopen se v plném cvalu zastavit na místě, otočit se o 180 stupňů a ze zastavení v plné rychlosti vyrazit do jakéhokoliv směru. Zásadní je odvaha, dlouhý krk, dobrá ramena, krátká silná záda, silná záď a vypracovaná hlezna. Poník musí být také naučený na nákrční řemínek neboť je veden pouze jednou rukou.Hráč musí nutně ovládat základní jezdecké umění, musí mít dobrou rovnováhu a bezpečný sed. Ještě důležitější je mít dobré oko pro míč, odvahu a schopnost přesného načasování. Hráči se učí na figuríně koně, jak do míčku udeřit, a když údery zvládnou (zleva a zprava, forhandem a backhandem, zprava pod krkem, zadní údery pod ocasem, atd.), postoupí k tréningu na koni a pak k pomalým cvičným hrám.
Pravidla a bezpečnost
Hřiště na pólo by nemělo přesáhnout 274 m do délky a branky, které jsou 7,3m široké a nejméně 3 m vysoké, musí být nejméně 227 m od sebe. Míček je vyrobený z vrbového, nebo bambusového kořene a jeho průměr je maximálně 8cm. Hůl je vyrobena ze smokvoňového, jasanového nebo bambusového dřeva a je dlouhá asi 120-137 cm a má pravoúhlou hlavu.
Cílem póla je dávat góly soupeři. Hraje se v sedmiminutových úsecích - chukkas- hra se obvykle skládá ze čtyř nebo pěti chukkas. Poté, co padne gól, si týmy vždy vymění strany. Většina zápasu se hraje na základě handicapu, kdy všichni hráči obdrží handicapové hodnocení od -2 do +10 (čím vyšší číslo, tím lepší).
Pravidla póla jsou hlavně kvůli bezpečnosti a zaměřují se na ujasnění práva na držení míče. Hráči dostávají trestné body za porušení pravidel a za ohrožení bezpečnosti spoluhráče, například za překřížení dráhy míče před hráčem, který má přednost v jízdě. Hra je zastavena, pokud poník spadne, nebo začne kulhat nebo dojde-li k poničení jeho výstroje, pokud je jezdec raněný nebo ztratí svou přilbu nebo pokud se míček dostane ze hry.
Pólo je nákladným sportem, což má ale nepatrný vliv na to, že se stalo velice oblíbeným. Přání účastníků hrát ho po celý rok vedlo ke vzniku pola na hřišti, kde týmy nehrají na trávě, ale na povrchu, který je vhodný po celý rok.
The Playing Surface
Outdoor Polo is played on a grass field measuring 300 yards in length by 160 yards in width. This expansive field takes up 10 acres and is the approximate size of nine football fields. The goal posts are set eight yards apart on either end of the field.The polo field requires constant maintenance to stay in good playing condition. This is done by frequent mowing and watering. Divot maintenance is also a big part of maintaining a field. Spectators aid in Divot maintenance by the widely practice polo tradition "divot stomping". Divots are created by the horse's hooves while running and sliding on the field Indoor Polo is played in a 300' x 150' boarded arena. The ball is like a small soccer ball, as opposed to an outdoor ball which is solid plastic. The rules are basically the same for indoor with a small variance. The biggest difference between outdoor and indoor is that indoor is played for four chukkers with 3 players per team.
The Game
Modern day polo is played with 4 players per side, two mounted umpires and a referee on the side lines. There are six periods in the game of polo called chukkers. Each chukker lasts 7 minutes and begins with what is called the throw-in. This is where each team lines up facing the Umpire horizontal to the goals and on opposing sides. The umpire then throws the ball in-between the teams. The throw-in also happens after a goal is scored. Both teams come back to mid-field and lines up. The only time the clock stops is for injuries, penalties, or tack repair. There are no time-outs otherwise allowed. Each team is made up of four players. Each player is assigned a number from 1-4, which represents their position on the team. Both teams wear team jerseys. The positions are as follows:Number 1 player: This is the most offensive position and is the player that should be concentrating on scoring. Number 4 position : Most defensive player. This position is mainly used to defend its teams goal. Number 2 and 3 positions: Usually held by the best players on the team. The Number 3 player is viewed as the "captain" or "quarter back" of the team. This player feeds the ball to the other players and organizes the offense. All players are assigned to a player on the opposing team and must be ready to switch from offense to defense in a split second
Handicaps
Players are rated –2 thru 10, 10 being the best-rated player allowed. Players are evaluated and approved by a board as to their handicap. Each player’s handicap should reflect his ability and value as a player. Games are made up of all four players ratings added together to make the game a rated level. If one team ends up with a lower rating than the other team then that team is awarded points to make up the difference prior to the start of the game.
Swings in polo
There are four basic swings of the mallet in polo. They are named by which side of the horse and what direction the swing takes.
Off-side
This is when a player swings at the ball in a forward motion on the right side of the horse. Near-side backshot
This is when a player swings at the ball in a backward motion on the left side of the horse. |
Tail-shot
This also can occur from either side of the horse, swinging behind the horses rump. Neck-shot
This can occur on either side of the horse swinging under the horses neck |
Player's Equipment
Each player is usually outfitted in a helmet, jersey, knee-pads, white jeans, tall boots, and whip. They carry a mallet, which normally made of a bamboo shoot with a wooden head. Mallets are different lengths depending on the size of the pony.
The ball used in outdoor polo is made of solid plastic and approximately 3 inches in diameter and weighs roughly 4 ounces. The polo mallet: shafts are made of tapered cane with heads of bamboo tree root.
