Arena Rule 17. Handicaps

In plain English

Arena handicaps, and how an outdoor change feeds in.

• An arena handicap is based on a game of four six-and-a-half minute chukkas, and the team handicap is the players' handicaps added up.
• Under handicap conditions the higher rated team concedes the difference multiplied by two. Mistakes in the handicaps or the goal allowance must be challenged before the match begins; afterwards is too late.
• A team's aggregate has to sit inside the limits for the event, the exception being a mid-season adjustment to a player.
• A new player without an arena handicap gets their outdoor handicap plus one. Anyone who has held one before, here or abroad, fills in a CV form and comes in at the highest of their old arena handicap, their conversion, or their best arena handicap anywhere.
• Outdoor changes count for arena immediately. An outdoor rise to the same as or above the arena handicap makes the arena handicap match it, shown in brackets; for a player who has never held an arena handicap it is the new outdoor figure plus one.
• Going to 6 goals or above needs to be seen in recognised tournaments, and nobody is recommended more than 2 goals above their outdoor handicap without being seen in major ones.
• A chukka player must pass the rules test before any handicap, after which the club may raise them to -1 once satisfied they are safe.

In all matches played under handicap conditions the higher handicapped team shall concede to the lower handicapped team the difference in the handicaps multiplied by two.

Quoted extract · Green Book 2025, Rule 17

Read arena rule 17 in the Green Book 2025

How many players in a team?

• 2
• 3
• 2 or 3 ✓
• 4

g. Chukka Players. Before a player can be awarded a handicap they are required to pass the Rules Test.

Players with an outdoor rating of -2 and rated 0 goals in arena are ineligible to play at what level?

• 3 goal plus
• 6 goal plus
• 8 goal plus ✓
• 12 goal plus

g. Chukka Players. Before a player can be awarded a handicap they are required to pass the Rules Test.

What constitutes a team's handicap in a game of polo?

• The highest individual handicap on the team
• The average of the individual handicaps on the team
• The aggregate handicaps of the players of each team ✓
• The lowest individual handicap on the team

The aggregate handicaps of the players of each team shall constitute the team handicap. b. Team Handicap Difference.

How is the goal allowance calculated in handicap matches?

• It's the difference between the highest individual handicaps of each team
• It's the difference in the team handicaps multiplied by two ✓
• It's the sum of the individual handicaps of the lower handicapped team
• It's the difference between the lowest individual handicaps of each team

g. Chukka Players. Before a player can be awarded a handicap they are required to pass the Rules Test.

What happens if a player's handicap is adjusted mid-season and it makes the team's aggregate handicap go out of the specified limits for an event?

• The team is automatically disqualified from the event
• The player with the adjusted handicap is not allowed to play for the rest of the season
• The team is still permitted to participate in the event ✓
• The team has to replace the player with another player whose handicap falls within the limits

The aggregate handicaps of the players of each team shall constitute the team handicap. b. Team Handicap Difference.

When must mistakes in handicaps or in computing goal allowances be challenged?

• Anytime during the match
• Within the first half of the match
• After the match ends
• Before the match begins ✓

The aggregate handicaps of the players of each team shall constitute the team handicap. b. Team Handicap Difference.

How is an arena handicap determined for a new player who does not hold a current arena handicap?

• It is determined by subtracting one from their current outdoor handicap
• It is determined by adding one to their current outdoor handicap ✓
• It is determined by dividing their current outdoor handicap by two
• It is determined by multiplying their current outdoor handicap by two

g. Chukka Players. Before a player can be awarded a handicap they are required to pass the Rules Test.

What procedure is followed to determine the arena handicap for a player who has previously held an arena handicap or holds an arena handicap in another country?

• They will have to complete a CV form and come in off the lower of their previous arena handicap, their handicap conversion from their current handicap, or their highest arena handicap in the rest of the world
• They will have to complete a CV form and come in off the average of their previous arena handicap, their handicap conversion from their current handicap, or their highest arena handicap in the rest of the world
• They will have to complete a CV form and come in off whichever is higher of either: their previous arena handicap, their handicap conversion from their current handicap or their highest arena handicap in the rest of the world ✓
• Their arena handicap will be the same as their outdoor handicap

g. Chukka Players. Before a player can be awarded a handicap they are required to pass the Rules Test.

When do outdoor handicap changes become effective for the purposes of arena handicapping?

• At the beginning of the outdoor season
• At the end of the outdoor season
• Only during the arena season
• Immediately ✓

g. Chukka Players. Before a player can be awarded a handicap they are required to pass the Rules Test.

What happens if a player's outdoor handicap is raised during or at the end of the outdoor season to be the same or higher than their current arena handicap?

• Their arena handicap will be decreased
• Their arena handicap will be the same as their outdoor handicap and placed in brackets ✓
• Their arena handicap will be increased by one goal
• Their arena handicap remains the same

g. Chukka Players. Before a player can be awarded a handicap they are required to pass the Rules Test.

If a player's outdoor handicap has been raised during or at the end of the outdoor season and they have never held an arena handicap anywhere in the world, how is their arena handicap determined?

• It will be the same as their new outdoor handicap
• It will be their new outdoor handicap plus 1 goal ✓
• It will be their new outdoor handicap minus 1 goal
• It will be twice their new outdoor handicap

g. Chukka Players. Before a player can be awarded a handicap they are required to pass the Rules Test.

What is required for a player to be recommended to have their handicap raised to 6 goals or above?

• They must have won a major tournament
• They must be seen playing in recognised tournaments ✓
• They must have been playing for a minimum number of years
• They must have an outdoor handicap of at least 4 goals

g. Chukka Players. Before a player can be awarded a handicap they are required to pass the Rules Test.

What is the maximum handicap a player can be recommended to go above their outdoor handicap, if they have not been seen playing in major recognised tournaments?

• 1 goal
• 2 goals ✓
• 3 goals
• 4 goals

g. Chukka Players. Before a player can be awarded a handicap they are required to pass the Rules Test.

What is required for a player to be awarded a handicap?

• They must pass the Rules Test and be deemed safe by their club ✓
• They must have played in a recognised tournament
• They must have an outdoor handicap of at least 1 goal
• They must have been playing for at least one year

Before a player can be awarded a handicap they are required to pass the Rules Test.

When can the handicap of a -1 goal player be changed?

• Only at the beginning of the season
• Only at the end of the season
• Only if they have won a tournament
• At any time ✓

g. Chukka Players. Before a player can be awarded a handicap they are required to pass the Rules Test.

Test yourself

Practise handicaps and the rest of the HPA rules, offline, on your phone.