Rule 7. Winning, Goals on Handicap and Scoring Goals

In plain English

Most goals wins, counting handicap goals and any Penalty 1.

• Most goals wins, counting goals given on handicap and any Penalty 1.
• Handicap goals: take the difference between the two team handicaps, multiply by the number of chukkas, divide by six. Any fraction counts as half a goal, which is what stops the game finishing level.
• A goal is scored when the ball passes between the inside faces of the posts, or the vertical lines they produce, and clear of the goal line. Through or over a post does not count. A ball that lodges in a post is treated as though it had gone over the back line.
• The scoreboard can only be corrected before the final whistle.
• If the umpires, the goal judges and the referee still cannot agree whether it went in, the defending team gets the benefit of the doubt.
• Whistle and goal together: no foul, and the goal stands. Defence fouled, the goal stands and the umpires may still award the penalty. Attack fouled, the goal is wiped and the penalty given.

A ball hit through or directly over either goal post shall not count because it has not passed between the inner vertical lines of the goal posts.

Quoted extract · Blue Book 2026, Part 1, Rule 7

Read rule 7 in the Blue Book 2026

If the game is on handicap and a higher handicap player substitutes, what happens to the goals awarded on handicap?

• The goals remain the same
• The goals awarded on handicap will be recalculated as if the substitute had started the game ✓
• The substitute's goals are added to the team's total
• The team loses all goals awarded on handicap

The team with the most goals on the score sheet, including those awarded on handicap and from a Penalty 1 wins the game. b. Goals on Handicaps.

Which team wins the game?

• The team with the most goals on the score sheet
• The team with the highest team handicap
• The team that scores the last goal
• The team with the most goals on the score sheet, including those awarded on handicap and from a Penalty 1 ✓

The team with the most goals on the score sheet, including those awarded on handicap and from a Penalty 1 wins the game. b. Goals on Handicaps.

How is the number of goals given to the team with the lower handicap calculated in a handicap match?

• Multiplying the difference between the totals of the two team handicaps by the number of chukkas and then adding 6
• Dividing the difference between the totals of the two team handicaps by the number of chukkas and then multiplying by 6
• Multiplying the difference between the totals of the two team handicaps by the number of chukkas to be played in the game and then dividing by 6 ✓
• Adding the difference between the totals of the two team handicaps to the number of chukkas and then dividing by 6

The team with the most goals on the score sheet, including those awarded on handicap and from a Penalty 1 wins the game. b. Goals on Handicaps.

When is a goal considered scored?

• When the ball passes between the goal posts and crosses the goal line
• When the ball hits the goal post
• When the ball passes directly over the goal post
• When the ball passes between the imaginary vertical lines produced by the inner surfaces of the goal posts and across and clear of the goal line ✓

A goal is scored from play when the ball passes between the goal posts or the imaginary vertical lines produced by the inner surfaces of the goal posts and across and clear of the goal line.

When must any change to the score as posted on the scoreboard be made?

• Before the final whistle ✓
• After the final whistle
• During halftime
• At the beginning of the last chukka

The team with the most goals on the score sheet, including those awarded on handicap and from a Penalty 1 wins the game. b. Goals on Handicaps.

If the umpires are unsure whether a goal was scored or not, what should they do?

• Award the goal to the attacking team
• Award the goal to the defending team
• Give the benefit of the doubt to the attacking team
• Give the benefit of the doubt to the defending team ✓

A goal is scored from play when the ball passes between the goal posts or the imaginary vertical lines produced by the inner surfaces of the goal posts and across and clear of the goal line.

When the whistle is blown for a foul at the same time a goal is scored, and it is confirmed that there is ‘No Foul’, what happens next?

• The umpires instruct the goal judge to wave his flag to signify a goal and the clock is restarted ✓
• The goal is disallowed and the game continues
• The umpires restart the game with an appropriate penalty
• The umpires instruct the goal judge to not wave his flag and the clock is stopped

A goal is scored from play when the ball passes between the goal posts or the imaginary vertical lines produced by the inner surfaces of the goal posts and across and clear of the goal line.

When the whistle is blown for a foul at the same time a goal is scored and it's decided that the defending team have fouled, what options do the umpires have?

• The goal will stand, and the game will continue without any penalty
• The goal will not be awarded, and the umpires will restart the game with an appropriate penalty
• The goal will stand, and the umpires have the option of proceeding as normal or blowing the whistle again and restarting the game with an appropriate penalty ✓
• The goal will not stand, and the umpires shall instruct the goal judge to not wave his flag

A goal is scored from play when the ball passes between the goal posts or the imaginary vertical lines produced by the inner surfaces of the goal posts and across and clear of the goal line.

If the attacking team is found to have fouled when a whistle is blown for a foul at the same time a goal is scored, what happens?

• The goal is awarded to the attacking team
• The goal will not be awarded, and the umpires shall restart the game with an appropriate penalty ✓
• The goal will stand, and the game will continue as normal
• The umpires shall instruct the goal judge to wave his flag and the clock will be restarted

A goal is scored from play when the ball passes between the goal posts or the imaginary vertical lines produced by the inner surfaces of the goal posts and across and clear of the goal line.

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