Rule 38. Penalty 1
Blue Book 2026, Part 1, Rule 38 · Penalties
In plain English
Penalty 1: a goal, awarded outright.
- A dangerous or deliberate foul near the goal, committed to save a goal, gives the fouled side a goal outright.
- It is the only penalty that scores without anybody hitting the ball.
- The game then restarts with a Penalty 5b to the fouled side, ends having been changed as they would after any goal.
The published wording of this one runs to a couple of sentences, so rather than reprint it: read rule 38 in the Blue Book 2026.
3 questions on this rule
What is Penalty 1?
- A free hit from the centre of the field
- A 60-yard hit
- One goal is awarded to the team fouled if a dangerous or deliberate foul is committed in the vicinity of the goal to save a goal ✓
- A free hit from the spot where the foul occurred
The game shall be resumed with a Penalty 5b in favour of the team fouled, ends having been changed.
What must a foul be for a Penalty 1 to be awarded?
- Any foul inside the 30 yard line
- A dangerous or deliberate foul in the vicinity of the goal, committed to save a goal ✓
- A second yellow flag offence
- Any foul that prevents a shot on goal
The game shall be resumed with a Penalty 5b in favour of the team fouled, ends having been changed.
After a Penalty 1 has been awarded, how does the game resume?
- With a throw-in on the centre line
- With a Penalty 5b in favour of the team fouled, ends having been changed ✓
- With a Penalty 2 from 30 yards
- With a fair play dropped ball where the foul occurred
The game shall be resumed with a Penalty 5b in favour of the team fouled, ends having been changed.
Test yourself
Practise penalty 1 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.