Arena Rule 13. The Hancock Zone
Green Book 2025, Rule 13 · Arena
In plain English
The Hancock Zone: five feet in from every wall and corner.
- 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 players parking the ball against the boards and killing the game. Breaching it is a penalty, graded by severity, location and effect.
The clause that governs
The Hancock Zone is an area that extends 5 feet in from the side and back walls of an arena. The area also extends 5 feet in from the curvatures of the corners in an arena.
Quoted extract · Green Book 2025, Rule 13
5 questions on this rule
What is the Hancock Zone in a polo arena?
- An area that extends 5 feet in from the side and back walls ✓
- The center of the arena
- An area that extends 10 feet in from the side and back walls
- The area around the goal posts
An attacker with a defensive player in position and/or being ridden off may only tap the ball twice before he must hit the ball away.
What must an attacking player entering the Hancock Zone intend to do if a defending player is in a defensive position?
- Stall the game
- Pass the ball to another player
- Make a positive play ✓
- Tap the ball aimlessly
An attacker with a defensive player in position and/or being ridden off may only tap the ball twice before he must hit the ball away.
How many times can an attacker tap the ball in the Hancock Zone before they must hit it away, given a defensive player is in position and/or riding them off?
- Once
- Twice ✓
- Three times
- No limit
An attacker with a defensive player in position and/or being ridden off may only tap the ball twice before he must hit the ball away.
How many times may an attacker tap the ball in the Hancock Zone with a defender in position before it must be hit away?
- Once
- Twice ✓
- Three times
- There is no limit
An attacker with a defensive player in position and/or being ridden off may only tap the ball twice before he must hit the ball away.
How far into the arena does the Hancock Zone extend from the walls?
- 3 feet
- 5 feet ✓
- 10 feet
- 5 yards
An attacker with a defensive player in position and/or being ridden off may only tap the ball twice before he must hit the ball away.
Test yourself
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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.