Using the boards
The boards are the one part of the field that never moves. Played well they act as a team-mate; played badly they trap you against the side with nowhere to go.
The key points
- A ball hit along the boards cannot run away from you sideways.
- Do not take the ball into the boards with a man on you. Turn before you get there.
- A defender may legitimately hold you against the boards, so leave yourself an exit.
In the app this play is animated, and you can spin the pitch and read the rule behind it.
See it move
See this play animated on the pitch, and test yourself on the rules behind it.
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.