Rule 18. Restart When the Ball Has Not Left the Field of Play
Blue Book 2026, Part 1, Rule 18 · Interruptions and Restarts After Break in Play
In plain English
Stopped with the ball still in play: throw-in where it lay.
- If the game has to stop for something that is not a foul, and the ball never left the field, it restarts with a throw-in where the ball was when the whistle went.
- The umpire faces the nearer side line, and stands at least 20 yards off the boards and 10 yards off the back line.
- The exception is a fair play dropped ball under rule 6f.
The published wording of this one runs to a couple of sentences, so rather than reprint it: read rule 18 in the Blue Book 2026.
5 questions on this rule
How is the game restarted if it has to be stopped for any reason other than a foul leading to a penalty, and the ball has not left the field of play?
- With a throw-in by the umpire from the spot where the ball was ✓
- With a free hit from the centre of the field
- With a penalty shot
- By placing the ball on the sideline where play was stopped
In what direction does the umpire face when throwing in the ball to restart the game when it has been stopped without the ball going out of play?
- Towards the goal
- Facing the nearer side-line ✓
- Facing the centre of the field
- Facing away from the boards or side-line
How far must the throw-in spot be from the boards or side-line and back line when the game is restarted with a throw-in by the umpire?
- At least 20 yards from the boards or side-line and 10 yards from the back line ✓
- At least 10 yards from the boards or side-line and 5 yards from the back line
- At least 15 yards from the boards or side-line and 10 yards from the back line
- At least 30 yards from the boards or side-line and 15 yards from the back line
Under certain circumstances, how else may the game be restarted if it has to be stopped without the ball going out of play?
- With a penalty shot
- With a free hit from the centre of the field
- With a fair play dropped ball ✓
- By placing the ball on the sideline where play was stopped
If the game has to be stopped for any reason other than a foul leading to a penalty and the ball has not left the field of play, how is it restarted?
- With a throw-in by the umpire from the spot where the ball was when the whistle was blown ✓
- With a free hit for the team that had possession before the game was stopped
- With a penalty shootout
- With a corner kick
Test yourself
Practise restart when the ball has not left the field of play and the rest of the HPA rules, offline, on your phone.
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.