Rule 27. Line of the Ball

In plain English

The line of the ball is the track it is travelling on, extended.

• The line of the ball is the extended path the ball has travelled or is travelling on. It counts just the same when the ball came off a pony, off a player, off the umpire's pony or off anything else on the field, so a deflection makes a new line at once.
• Miss the ball at a free hit and the line becomes the direction you were riding.
• The line is what decides precedence between players, and the rule then works down a ladder.
• Two opponents both exactly on the line and making a play on each other, following or meeting, beat everybody else.
• Otherwise a player exactly on the line with the ball on their offside, following or meeting, has it - except against that pair.
• Nobody may enter in front of the player on the line unless the speed and distance leave not the slightest risk. A player who does enter safely and takes control of the ball may not then be ridden into from behind.
• With nobody exactly on the line, and two or more riding the same general way, the smaller angle to the line wins; at equal angles, the one with the line on their offside.
• Riding the way the ball is going beats riding against it, unless the pair at the top of the ladder are involved.
• Hitting the ball last earns you nothing if you have since come off the exact line.
• At a throw-in nobody has precedence until the ball leaves the line out, thrown or hit away; until then any angle is allowed so long as it is not dangerous.
• You may not play the ball on your nearside if doing so endangers a player who could otherwise have made a legitimate play.

The line of the ball (LOB) is the extended path along which the ball has travelled or is travelling... The LOB is the reference for deciding precedence as between players.

Quoted extract · Blue Book 2026, Part 1, Rule 27

Read rule 27 in the Blue Book 2026

Crossing in polo refers to:

• Intercepting the ball mid-air
• Changing your position on the field randomly
• Riding across another player who has precedence ✓
• Passing the ball to a teammate

Any player riding in the same direction as the ball is travelling or has travelled has precedence over any player or players riding from the opposite direction unless they are in accordance with 28a or b above.

What is the Line of the Ball (LOB) in polo?

• A line that divides the field into two halves
• The extended path along which the ball has travelled or is travelling ✓
• A line that players must not cross during the game
• A temporary line that umpires use to make decisions

The line of the ball (LOB) is the extended path along which the ball has travelled or is travelling.

If a player has a free hit but misses the ball, how is the Line of the Ball (LOB) determined?

• The LOB is considered to be null and play is restarted
• The LOB is determined by the direction the ball was originally travelling
• The LOB is determined by the direction in which the player was riding ✓
• The LOB is determined by the position of the opposing players

The line of the ball (LOB) is the extended path along which the ball has travelled or is travelling.

In the context of the LOB, which of the following statements is true regarding two opposing players riding on the exact LOB and simultaneously making a play on each other?

• They have to give way to all other players
• They have precedence over all other players ✓
• The player who is closest to the ball has precedence
• The player with the most goals scored has precedence

Any player riding in the same direction as the ball is travelling or has travelled has precedence over any player or players riding from the opposite direction unless they are in accordance with 28a or b above.

What happens if a player enters safely in front of the player on the LOB and gains control of the ball?

• The player receives a yellow flag
• An opponent can ride into him from behind
• An opponent must not ride into him from behind ✓
• The play is stopped and restarted

Any player riding in the same direction as the ball is travelling or has travelled has precedence over any player or players riding from the opposite direction unless they are in accordance with 28a or b above.

When no player is on the exact LOB and two or more players ride in the same general direction, which player has precedence?

• The player riding at the lesser angle to the LOB ✓
• The player who reaches the ball first
• The player riding at the greater angle to the LOB
• The player closest to the goal

Any player riding in the same direction as the ball is travelling or has travelled has precedence over any player or players riding from the opposite direction unless they are in accordance with 28a or b above.

Which player has precedence if no player is on the exact LOB and two or more players are at equal angles?

• The player that has the LOB on his offside ✓
• The player that has the LOB on his nearside
• The player who is taller
• The player with the fastest pony

Any player riding in the same direction as the ball is travelling or has travelled has precedence over any player or players riding from the opposite direction unless they are in accordance with 28a or b above.

When a player is riding in the same direction as the ball is travelling, does he have precedence over players riding from the opposite direction?

• Yes, unless the opposing player complies with rule 28a or 28b ✓
• No, the opposing player always has precedence
• Yes, always
• No, only if the player was the last one to hit the ball

Any player riding in the same direction as the ball is travelling or has travelled has precedence over any player or players riding from the opposite direction unless they are in accordance with 28a or b above.

If a player hits the ball and then deviates from the exact Line of the Ball (LOB), is he still considered to have precedence?

• Yes, always
• Yes, but only if no other player is challenging for the ball
• No, precedence is lost if he deviates from the exact LOB ✓
• No, unless he is riding in the same direction as the ball is travelling

Any player riding in the same direction as the ball is travelling or has travelled has precedence over any player or players riding from the opposite direction unless they are in accordance with 28a or b above.

During a throw-in, when is precedence established between players?

• As soon as the umpire throws the ball
• When the ball leaves the line out ✓
• After the ball has crossed midfield
• When a player calls for precedence

Any player riding in the same direction as the ball is travelling or has travelled has precedence over any player or players riding from the opposite direction unless they are in accordance with 28a or b above.

Test yourself

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