Rule 14. Attacker Hits Behind (hit or Knock In)

In plain English

Attacker puts it over the back line: hit-in to the defence.

• When the attacking side puts the ball over and clear of the back line, the defence gets a hit-in.
• It is taken from where the ball crossed, but never closer than 4 yards to a goal post and never more than 40 yards from the centre of the goal. A goal judge places the ball up to a foot inside the line.
• Nobody from the side facing the hit may be within 30 yards, except a player returning from an offside position who does not interfere. Infringe or delay and it is a Penalty 5b.
• The hitting side may stand where it likes. Once the ball is placed the umpire calls play and the striker has 10 seconds. Delay past that and the umpire whistles for a throw-in perpendicular to the back line at that spot, with the side that should have hit standing nearest the goal.
• There is no whistle to start it, so the ball is live and the game is on.

When the ball is hit over and clear of the back line by the attacking team it shall be a hit-in by the defending team from the spot where it crossed the back line, but at least 4 yards from the goal posts and no further than 40 yards from the centre of the goal.

Quoted extract · Blue Book 2026, Part 1, Rule 14

Read rule 14 in the Blue Book 2026

What happens when the ball is hit over and clear of the back line by the attacking team?

• It’s a hit-in by the attacking team
• It’s a hit-in by the defending team from the spot where it crossed the back line ✓
• It’s a corner hit
• The game is paused to retrieve the ball

The ball will be placed by a goal judge clear of the back line by up to one foot within the field of play.

Where is the ball placed by a goal judge for a hit-in after a goal attempt in polo?

• Exactly at the back line, close to the goal posts
• Clear of the back line by up to one foot within the field of play, but at least 4 yards from the goal posts or boards ✓
• Directly in front of the goal posts
• At the centre of the field

The ball will be placed by a goal judge clear of the back line by up to one foot within the field of play.

After the goal judge has placed the ball for a hit-in, what must the hitter do once the umpire calls “Play”?

• The hitter must play the ball within 5 seconds
• The hitter must play the ball within 10 seconds ✓
• The hitter has unlimited time to play the ball
• The hitter must wait for a second call from the umpire before playing the ball

The ball will be placed by a goal judge clear of the back line by up to one foot within the field of play.

What action will the umpire take if there is a delay in taking the hit-in?

• The umpire will award a penalty to the opposing team
• The umpire will throw in the ball perpendicular to the back line from the spot where the hit-in should have been taken, with the team due to take the hit-in nearest to the goal ✓
• The umpire will give a warning to the player causing the delay and then resume play
• The umpire will move the ball forward 10 yards for the hit-in

The ball will be placed by a goal judge clear of the back line by up to one foot within the field of play.

According to rule 14b, something different happens if the penalty 8 is due to a delay from the attacking team during a hit in. What is it?

• Throw in perpendicular to the back line, with the team that was taking the hit-in closest to the goal ✓
• Throw in perpendicular to the back line, with the team that was taking the hit-in furthest away from the goal
• Throw in parallel to the back line, with the team that was taking the hit-in closest to the goal
• Throw in parallel to the back line, with the team that was taking the hit-in furthest away from the goal

The ball will be placed by a goal judge clear of the back line by up to one foot within the field of play.

Test yourself

Practise attacker hits behind (hit or knock in) and the rest of the HPA rules, offline, on your phone.