Polo glossary
58 terms, from chukka to the Hancock Zone. Where a term is defined by a rule, the rule is quoted with it.
ChukkaA period of play. Grass chukkas run seven and a half minutes; arena chukkas six and a half. Most games are four to six o Throw-in
The neutral restart. Both teams line up along a line, shoulder to shoulder in number order, and the umpire bowls the bal Line of the ball
The extended track the ball is travelling on. Almost every foul in polo is defined in relation to it. Right of way
The entitlement to carry on down the line of the ball. The player following it most closely on their offside has it, and Crossing
Cutting across the player with right of way. The defining foul of the sport, and it does not need contact to be given. Offside
The right-hand side of the pony. An offside forehand is the standard shot in polo. Nearside
The left-hand side of the pony. Nearside shots are played across the body and are much harder. Forehand
A shot struck in the direction the pony is travelling. Backhand
A shot struck backwards. It reverses the line of the ball, which flips the right of way instantly. Neck shot
A shot played under the pony’s neck, from one side to the other. Tail shot
A shot played behind the pony, under or around its tail. Hook
Blocking an opponent’s swing with your own stick. Legal only from the ball side of their pony or directly behind. Ride off
Pushing an opponent off the line, shoulder to shoulder at the same speed and a safe angle. The main legal contact in pol Bump
A heavier ride off. Legal at a safe angle, dangerous riding if not. Mallet
The stick. Held in the right hand at all times, whichever hand you write with. Boards
Low wooden boards along the side of a grass field, no more than 11 inches high, that keep the ball in play. Safety zone
The prepared ground beyond the lines. Anything that happens in it is judged as though it happened on the field. Back line
The line at each end of the field. Which team put the ball over it decides whether the restart is a hit-in or a Corner 6 Hit-in
The restart when the attacking side puts the ball over the back line. Also called a knock-in. Corner 60
The penalty when a defender puts the ball over their own back line: a free hit from the 60 yard line where it crossed. Goal judge
An official behind each goal who waves a flag to signal a goal. They advise; the umpires decide. Umpire
One of two mounted officials who run the game. Their authority is absolute. Referee
The official off the field who rules when the two umpires cannot agree. Dead ball
The ball is dead the moment the whistle goes or the bell sounds, and the clock stops. Not the same as out of play. Out of play
The ball has crossed a line or a goal has been scored. The clock keeps running, unlike a dead ball. Neutral
A moment when neither side has an advantage. Umpires wait for it before stopping play for a lost helmet or a fall. Advantage
The umpires may hold the whistle if blowing it would penalise the team that was fouled. Handicap
A rating of a player’s ability, from -2 at the bottom to 10 at the top. It is not a measure of how many goals you score. Goals on handicap
In handicap matches the difference between the two team totals is put on the scoreboard before the throw-in, so games of High goal
Polo played at the top team handicaps, typically 15 goals and above in the UK. Low goal
Club-level polo, typically played at team handicaps of around 0 to 4 goals. Where most players spend their lives. Patron
The player who funds a team, usually an amateur playing alongside professionals. Number 1
The most forward player. Their job is to score, and to take the opposing Back out of the play. Number 2
The hardest working position: attacks with the 1 and falls back to support the 3. Number 3
The pivot, and usually the best player in the team. Turns defence into attack. Back
The number 4. The last line of defence, and the player who hits the long ball out of trouble. Primary
The opponent who is going for the player taking a hit. They raise their stick to identify themselves, and may not be rid Sin bin
A temporary send-off. In the arena, persistent or dangerous fouling can put a player in it. Yellow flag
A formal warning. Four of them and you begin your next four matches already carrying one. Red flag
The serious sanction. It counts as two yellow flags for accumulation. Penalty 1
A goal awarded outright, for a dangerous or deliberate foul that stopped a certain goal. Penalty 2
An undefended free hit from the spot of the foul or from 30 yards, at the fouled captain’s choice. Penalty 3
An undefended free hit from 40 yards, opposite the centre of the goal. Penalty 4
A free hit from the centre of the 60 yard line, with the goal defended. Penalty 5b
A free hit from the centre of the field, with the other side 30 yards away. Fair play dropped ball
A restart where the umpire drops the ball between the sides rather than awarding a penalty either way. Divot stomping
The half-time tradition of spectators walking the field to tread back the turf kicked up by the ponies. Pony
Always a pony, never a horse, regardless of height. Any height may be played. Pony lines
Where the ponies are kept and tacked up during a match. Tail up
The pony’s tail plaited and tied so it cannot catch a stick. Compulsory in matches. Boots and bandages
Leg protection for the pony. All four legs, every game, no exceptions. Standing martingale
Tack that stops a pony throwing its head up. Standard kit in polo. Arena polo
Polo played three a side in a walled arena, with a larger inflated ball. The winter game in the UK. Hancock Zone
The band five feet in from an arena’s walls. Take the ball in there with a defender on you and you must play it positive Two pointer
An arena goal struck from outside the defenders’ 25 yard line. It counts double. Blue Book
The HPA’s yearbook and rulebook for grass polo, published each spring. Green Book
The HPA’s supplementary rulebook for arena polo. Where it is silent, the Blue Book applies. HPA
The Hurlingham Polo Association, the governing body for polo in the UK and Ireland.
Test yourself
Test yourself on the rules behind the words.
Every rule here is stated in our own words, with short quoted extracts from the HPA Blue Book 2026 and Green Book 2025 and a link to the book itself. Polo Rules Test is an independent study aid and is not affiliated with the Hurlingham Polo Association. In any dispute the published rulebook governs.