Arena Rule 3. Teams, Players, and Substitutes

In plain English

Three a side, numbered 1 to 3. Two a side is allowed.

• Three players a side, numbered 1 to 3, though two a side is possible. A team may name one or more alternates, and nobody plays for two teams in the same tournament.
• Shirts are numbered 1 to 3, no duplicates, at least 9 inches high in a contrasting colour, and never black and white vertical stripes.
• Playing needs valid HPA membership, and the tournament level sets the handicap band: -1 to 3 at 3 goal, up to -1 to 10 at 10 goal, and 0 to 10 for 12 and 15 goal - where the 0 has to be an arena handicap recommended by an arena club, not a conversion of an outdoor one.
• Arena handicap goals are the difference between the team handicaps multiplied by two, and any error has to be challenged before the end of the match.
• Nobody plays under the influence of an illegal stimulant or drug, or while impaired by illness or injury in a way that endangers themselves or others.
• Concussion or suspected concussion means at least 21 days out, the day of the incident being day zero, shortened only for a defined high-goal player cleared by the ISEH.
• Substitutions are made before a chukka starts, not during one, unless the player is injured. The substitute must be qualified for the event, the higher of the two handicaps counts, and if no qualified alternative exists the umpire may take a player off the other team to even the sides.

There shall normally be three players in each team, designated as No 1, No 2, and No 3.

Quoted extract · Green Book 2025, Rule 3

Read arena rule 3 in the Green Book 2025

Can a player play for more than one team in a tournament?

• Yes
• No ✓
• It depends

Teams whose aggregate handicap is raised during the season may still play provided that the team is no more than 2 goals over the tournament handicap and that the team is entered within seven days of the handicaps becoming effective. v) Alcohol and Drugs.

Can you play in practice chukkas for a HPA affiliated club without a HPA arena membership>?

• Yes
• No ✓

Teams whose aggregate handicap is raised during the season may still play provided that the team is no more than 2 goals over the tournament handicap and that the team is entered within seven days of the handicaps becoming effective. v) Alcohol and Drugs.

Minimum and maximum handicaps for a 3 goal tournament?

• -2 to 2
• -2 to 3
• -1 to 3 ✓
• No limits

The minimum and maximum handicaps of any player in tournaments is shown as follows:

Minimum and maximum handicaps for a 6 goal tournament?

• -2 to 4
• -1 to 4
• -1 to 6 ✓
• 0 to 8

The minimum and maximum handicaps of any player in tournaments is shown as follows:

Minimum and maximum handicaps for a 8 goal tournament?

• -1 to 8 ✓
• -1 to 9
• 0 to 10
• 2 to 10

The minimum and maximum handicaps of any player in tournaments is shown as follows:

Minimum and maximum handicaps for a 10 goal tournament?

• -1 to 7
• -1 to 10 ✓
• 1 to 7
• 1 to 10

The minimum and maximum handicaps of any player in tournaments is shown as follows:

Minimum and maximum handicaps for a 12 goal tournament?

• 0 to 10 ✓
• 3 to 10
• 4 to 10
• No limits

The minimum and maximum handicaps of any player in tournaments is shown as follows:

Minimum and maximum handicaps for a 15 goal tournament?

• 0 to 10
• 1 to 10 ✓
• 2 to 10
• 4 to 10

The minimum and maximum handicaps of any player in tournaments is shown as follows:

Teams whose aggregate handicap is raised during the season may still play provided that the team is no more than how many goals over the tournament handicap?

• 1
• 2 ✓
• 3
• 4

Teams whose aggregate handicap is raised during the season may still play provided that the team is no more than 2 goals over the tournament handicap and that the team is entered within seven days of the handicaps becoming effective. v) Alcohol and Drugs.

A team who has had handicap changes must enter a tournament within how many days of the handicaps becoming effective to satisfy the 2 goal leeway rule?

• 1
• 3
• 7 ✓
• 14

Teams whose aggregate handicap is raised during the season may still play provided that the team is no more than 2 goals over the tournament handicap and that the team is entered within seven days of the handicaps becoming effective. v) Alcohol and Drugs.

If no doctor is present, can an umpire or senior player decide if a player is concussed?

• Yes ✓
• No

The minimum and maximum handicaps of any player in tournaments is shown as follows:

If a player is unable to finish an event, for reasons other than injury, when can they be substituted?

• Any time
• During a chukka
• Before a chukka ✓
• At the start of the event only

The minimum and maximum handicaps of any player in tournaments is shown as follows:

If no qualified substitute is available, can the umpire remove a player from th eopposing team at the umpires discretion?

• Yes ✓
• No

The minimum and maximum handicaps of any player in tournaments is shown as follows:

How many players are normally in an arena team?

• Two
• Three ✓
• Four
• Five

Teams whose aggregate handicap is raised during the season may still play provided that the team is no more than 2 goals over the tournament handicap and that the team is entered within seven days of the handicaps becoming effective. v) Alcohol and Drugs.

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