Starting and restarting play

7 rules

1. 11Start of play

   The match starts with the umpire bowling the ball hard along the ground between the two lined-up teams at the centre.

2. 14Ball hit behind by an attacker

   When an attacker sends the ball over the back line, the defenders knock in from where it crossed, with attackers kept 30 yards out.

3. 15Ball hit behind by a defender

   A defender who sends the ball over their own back line concedes a Penalty 6 (corner), unless it touched another player or pony first.

4. 16Ball out over the side lines or boards: the side-line hit-in

   In Argentina a ball out over the side goes to the other team, who hit it in from 5 yards inside the boards after an 8-second count, with opponents 30 yards away.

5. 17Restart after an interval

   After an interval the ball is brought into play as it would have been without the break.

6. 18Restart when the ball has not left the field: throw-in and fair play

   Play stopped with the ball still on the field restarts with a throw-in, or, when one team had clear possession, with a 'fair play' restart in its favour.

7. 19Buried or damaged ball

   A buried ball means a throw-in unless a player gets it out first; a broken ball means a throw-in, a retaken penalty or a fair play.