The HPA rules, rule by rule
Every rule from the Blue Book 2026 and Green Book 2025, in plain English and as written, with the questions that test it.
Grass polo - Playing Rules
1Facilities and Access During Play300 x 200 yards, or 160 wide with boards. Goals 8 yards apart.15 Q 2Players
Four a side, stick in the right hand, captain wears the armband.6 Q 3Ponies, Equipment, and Tack
Any height of pony. Boots or bandages all round, tail up.17 Q 4Officials
Two umpires on the field, a referee off it, and their word is final.7 Q 5Spare
Not in use. 6Common Terms and Rules
The glossary: foul, ball in play, out of play, dead, neutral.15 Q 7Winning, Goals on Handicap and Scoring Goals
Most goals wins, counting handicap goals and any Penalty 1.9 Q 8Duration of the Game
Four to six chukkas. Three minutes between, five at half time.6 Q 9Unfinished Game
Once it starts it gets finished, short of something unavoidable.2 Q 10Duration of Chukkas
Seven and a half minutes maximum. First bell at seven.12 Q 11Start of Play
Both teams line up on the centre line, 20 yards off the boards.5 Q 12Spare
Not in use. 13Changing Ends
Ends change after every goal. Twenty-five seconds to get set.5 Q 14Attacker Hits Behind (hit or Knock In)
Attacker puts it over the back line: hit-in to the defence.5 Q 15Defender Hits Behind (corner 60)
Defender puts it over their own back line: Corner 60 to the attack.2 Q 16Ball Goes Out of Play Over the Boards or Sideline
Over the boards or sideline: hit against whoever touched it last.14 Q 17Restart After Interval Between Chukkas
Play restarts after an interval exactly as it would have done.1 Q 18Restart When the Ball Has Not Left the Field of Play
Stopped with the ball still in play: throw-in where it lay.5 Q 19Buried or Damaged Ball
Buried ball: whistle, throw-in. Damaged ball: just swapped.6 Q 20Lost Helmet or Broken Equipment
Lost helmet or dangerous broken tack stops the game.4 Q 21Dismounted Player
Do not get off. If you are off, you are out of the game.2 Q 22Injured or Fallen Player
A fall or an injury stops play - at once if anyone is in danger.5 Q 23Injured, Distressed, Fallen or Fatigued Pony or Lost Shoe
Pony welfare sits with you first, the umpires second.9 Q 24Spare
Not in use. 25Spare
Not in use. 26Crossing
Do not cut across the player with precedence.4 Q 27Line of the Ball
The line of the ball is the track it is travelling on, extended.10 Q 28Right of Way
Whoever is on the line with possession may carry on down it.14 Q 29Carrying the Ball
You may block the ball with your body once. You may not carry it.4 Q 30Improper Use of the Stick
Hook only from the ball side, or directly behind.5 Q 31Riding Off
Ride off shoulder to shoulder, same speed, safe angle.7 Q 32Impeding the Primary
After a restart, do not block the man going for the hitter.5 Q 33Rough Play
Dangerous riding off. Flag territory, not just a penalty.4 Q 34Dangerous Play
Nothing you do may endanger a pony, player or official.6 Q 35Unsportsmanlike Conduct
Behaviour that embarrasses the game.9 Q 36Foul, No Foul and Advantage Rule
Whistle for a foul. If the umpires decide there was none, throw-in.5 Q 37Positioning Ball and Calling Play
Thirty seconds to reposition and play a dropped ball.4 Q 38Penalty 1
Penalty 1: a goal, awarded outright.3 Q 39Penalty 2 - Spot or 30 Yard Hit
Penalty 2: undefended hit from the spot or from 30 yards.7 Q 40Penalty 3 - 40 Yard Hit
Penalty 3: undefended hit from 40 yards, opposite the goal.7 Q 41Penalty 4 - 60 Yard Hit
Penalty 4: hit from the centre of the 60. Goal is defended.6 Q 42Penalty 5a - Spot
Penalty 5a: free hit from where the foul happened.5 Q 43Penalty 5b - Centre
Penalty 5b: free hit from the centre of the field.4 Q 44Penalty 6 - Corner 60
Penalty 6, the Corner 60: hit from the 60, out where it crossed.7 Q 45Penalty 7a - Infringement - Penalty Re-taken
Penalty 7a: defence got the procedure wrong, so take it again.6 Q 46Penalty 7b - Infringement by Team Fouled
Penalty 7b: the hitting side got it wrong, so the other side gets a 5a.3 Q 47Penalty 8 - Throw-in
Penalty 8: throw-in towards the nearest boards.2 Q 48Penalty 9a - Pony Sent Off for Equipment
Penalty 9a: pony off until the equipment problem is fixed.2 Q 49Penalty 9b - Player Sent Off for Equipment
Penalty 9b: player off until the equipment problem is fixed.2 Q 50Awarding of Flags
Flags. Yellow is a warning that accumulates; red counts as two.39 Q
Grass polo - Supplementary Rules
2.1FacilitiesSockets for widened goals sit 4 yards outside each post.1 Q 2.2Players
You must be an HPA associate member to play at an affiliated club.3 Q 2.3Players' Equipment
Fastened helmet whenever mounted. Knee pads, boots, white breeches.7 Q 2.4Ponies and Pony Welfare
The pony's owner carries the welfare responsibility, always.3 Q 2.5Clubs
The HPA is an affiliation of clubs; duties are in Annex F.1 Q 2.6Officials and Coaches
Umpires, referees and coaches must be associate members too.2 Q 2.7Report Forms
When umpires have to file a report.1 Q 2.8Women's Polo Policy
Polo is an open, fully inclusive mixed category.1 Q
Arena polo - Green Book 2025
1Facilities300 x 150 feet is ideal. Walls at least five foot, solid at the bottom.11 Q 2aPony Welfare
Same pony exclusions as grass, boots or bandages all round.3 Q 2bPlayers' Equipment
Helmets to the HPA standard at all times in play.6 Q 3Teams, Players, and Substitutes
Three a side, numbered 1 to 3. Two a side is allowed.14 Q 4Officials
The tournament committee runs the event and appoints officials.7 Q 5Starting of the Game and Chukkas
Coin toss in front of both captains before the game.6 Q 6Length and Number of Chukkas
Four chukkas of six and a half minutes.6 Q 7Scoring Goals and Winning
A goal is one point. From outside the 25, it is two.16 Q 8Dead Ball
Whistle means dead - nobody plays it.27 Q 9Penalties
The arena penalties, 1 to 10.43 Q 10Calling of Fouls by the Umpires
Umpire blows and announces the foul.12 Q 11Precedence
Precedence still comes off the line of the ball.1 Q 12Right of Way
No nearside play that endangers someone who had the shot.11 Q 13The Hancock Zone
The Hancock Zone: five feet in from every wall and corner.5 Q 14Dangerous Riding or Play
Careless or dangerous riding, or spoiling a shot with your pony.3 Q 15Improper Play
For improper play, the Blue Book governs.1 Q 16Use of the Stick
A fall or injury stops the game at once, with time out.18 Q 17Handicaps
Arena handicaps, and how an outdoor change feeds in.15 Q 18Handicap Committee
Who sits on the handicap committee and what it decides.4 Q
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.