Rule 37. Positioning Ball and Calling Play
Blue Book 2026, Part 1, Rule 37 · Penalties
In plain English
Thirty seconds to reposition and play a dropped ball.
- Once the umpire drops the ball the player has 30 seconds to reposition it and play it.
- The 30 seconds runs from the moment the player touches the ball, or from the moment the umpire says the time has started - not from when the ball lands.
- Once it is repositioned the umpire calls play, and there must be no contact between opponents before that call.
- Getting the procedure wrong is a Penalty 7a or 7b. If both sides get it wrong, the penalty is simply retaken at the same spot on the same terms.
The clause that governs
Once the umpire has dropped the ball, the player has 30 seconds in which to reposition and play the ball. The 30 seconds starts when the player touches the ball or when the umpire indicates the time has started.
Quoted extract · Blue Book 2026, Part 1, Rule 37
4 questions on this rule
In polo, how much time does the team have to play the ball after the umpire has dropped it and called “play” for taking penalty hits?
- 5 seconds
- 10 seconds
- 20 seconds
- 30 seconds ✓
Once the umpire has dropped the ball, the player has 30 seconds in which to reposition and play the ball. The 30 seconds starts when the player touches the ball or when the umpire indicates the time has started.
When does the 30 seconds to reposition and play a dropped ball begin?
- When the ball leaves the umpire’s hand
- When the player touches the ball, or when the umpire indicates the time has started ✓
- When the umpire calls play
- When the ball comes to rest
Once the umpire has dropped the ball, the player has 30 seconds in which to reposition and play the ball. The 30 seconds starts when the player touches the ball or when the umpire indicates the time has started.
Before the umpire calls play at a dropped ball, what is not allowed?
- Any contact between opposing players ✓
- Repositioning the ball
- Speaking to a team-mate
- Changing which player takes the hit
Once the umpire has dropped the ball, the player has 30 seconds in which to reposition and play the ball. The 30 seconds starts when the player touches the ball or when the umpire indicates the time has started.
Both teams fail to carry out the correct procedure at a penalty. What happens?
- A Penalty 5a is awarded against the team that erred first
- The penalty is re-taken at the same point and under the same conditions ✓
- Play restarts with a throw-in on the centre line
- The penalty is moved up 30 yards
Once the umpire has dropped the ball, the player has 30 seconds in which to reposition and play the ball. The 30 seconds starts when the player touches the ball or when the umpire indicates the time has started.
Test yourself
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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.