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 positively.
The Hancock Zone is the band 5 feet in from the side and back walls, and 5 feet in from the curve of each corner. An attacker who takes the ball in there while a defender is in a defensive position must intend a positive play. Being marked or ridden off, they may tap the ball twice at most and must then hit it away. An attacker here means anybody in possession of the ball. It exists to stop player
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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.