Rule 29 · HPA Blue Book 2026

Carrying the ball

A player may block the ball once with their body but may never catch it or carry it on purpose.

1. 29

   CARRYING THE BALL. A player may make a one-time per play only block or deflection of the ball with any part of their body but they may not catch it with an open hand or carry it intentionally. If it becomes lodged against a player, their pony or its equipment in such a way that it cannot be dropped immediately, the umpire shall blow their whistle and restart the game with a throw-in at the point where it was first carried.

   • Ball

   What happens

   1. 0.6 s White 2 hits the ball.
   2. 1.5 s The ball lodges against Blue 1's pony.
   3. 2.7 s Whistle.

   HPA · UK · Blue Book 2026

   No foul

   No foul. A player may block or deflect the ball once with his body, but may not catch it or carry it on purpose. When it lodges against a player, his pony or its tack and cannot be dropped at once, the umpire blows the whistle and restarts with a throw-in where it was first carried.

   Rule 29 — Hurlingham Polo Association