The Playing Field: The maximum permitted pitch is 300 yards long and 160 yards wide, and the goal posts are 8 yards apart.
Duration of Play: The match is divided into chukkas, each lasting 7 minutes, with an interval of 3 minutes between each one. At half time the interval is extended to 5 minute and spectators are invited to take to the pitch to tread in divots. The bell is rung at the end of each 7 minute period. Play continues until the ball goes out of play, or the umpire stops play for a foul, or the bell is rung for a second time 30 seconds after the first bell. In the final chukka play stops with the first stroke of the bell.
Changing Ends: Ends are changed after EACH GOAL scored, or at half time if no score by then.
Do say: “Hola!” to every swarthy player • “What a ride-off!” • “Vamos, vamos!” (“Let’s go, let’s go!”)
Right of Way – During play there is an imaginary “line of the ball”, which is generally the direction in which the ball is travelling at any one moment. When a player has established the right of way along that line, it may not be crossed by an opposing player if there is the slightest risk of collision.
Crossing – Any player who crosses the player in the right of way close enough to be dangerous or cause a player to slow up, commits a foul.
Riding Off – is the act of pushing another player and his horse out of the way using your horse, and is permitted whether the other man is playing the ball or not. But it must not be done by charging in at a dangerous angle, nor must the man in possession of the ball be crossed.
Hooking sticks – A player may hook an opponent’s stick provided he is on the same side of the opponent as the ball, or directly behind him, and provided the stick is below the level of the opponent’s shoulder. Players must not attempt to hook an opponent in front of the pony’s legs.
Each player is given a handicap level from -2 to 10 goals depending on his ability. The lowest handicap is -2, with 10 being the highest possible. A team’s rating is calculated by adding together the 4 players’ handicaps.
A team is numbered from 1 to 4 and each position has a purpose. No1 and No2 are the forwards; No3 is the pivot position and usually the best player in the team, and No4, or Back, the goal defender.
There are two mounted umpires on the pitch and a third man or referee in the stands who acts as an arbitrator if the umpires disagree. The goal judges behind each goal wave a flag when a goal is scored. The time keeper and scorer keep track of the timings of the match and sound the bell or hooter at the end of each chukka.
Different types of penalties are awarded depending on the nature of the foul. 30 and 40 Yard = free hit at an undefended goal. The attackers have to be level with the ball when hit or hit at. Defenders have to be behind the back line.
Free hit = Hit from the spot where the foul occurred, with none of the defending team to be nearer than 30 yards.
From the centre of the ground, none of the defending side can be nearer than 30 yards. This is awarded at the discretion of the umpires. If the ball has gone over the back line, but not through the goal, then the defending team hit it back into play at the point where it crossed the line. The attacking team must be 30 yards away.
Source: The Telegraph
