Rules of Polo
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Rule 1 · HPA Blue Book 2026

Facilities and access during play

How big the field, goals, boards and ball are, where the safety zone runs, and who may be on the ground while play is on.

  1. 1

    FACILITIES AND ACCESS DURING PLAY. See Annex A.

  2. 1a

    Field of Play. The field of play is the prepared area bounded by the side line or boards and the back line.

    The polo ground as HPA Annex A lays it out: the field, its safety zone, lines, goals, boards and changing boxes
    1. 30-yard line, solid or broken
    2. 60-yard line, marked 40 yd either side of the goal
    3. Double tees across the middle
    4. Boards curve from the 30-yard line to 15 yd into the back line
    5. Goal judges' line, 20 yd behind the back line
    6. Changing box at each corner
    7. Goal: posts 8 yd apart, ≥ 10 ft high
    8. X 40 yd in front of each goal
    9. X at the centre
    10. Referee, beside the centre
    11. Safety zone: about 10 yd at the sides, ≥ 30 yd at the ends
    12. Sockets for widened goals, 4 yd out

  3. 1a(i)

    Full Size. The measurements of a full size field of play shall be: Length: 300 yards (275 meters) Width 200 yards (180 meters) if unboarded and 160 yards (146 meters) if boarded.

    The two full sizes to one scale: 300 by 200 yards without boards, 300 by 160 yards with boards
    1. Without boards: painted side lines
    2. With boards: boards along the sides, ≤ 11 in high

  4. 1a(ii)

    Minimum Size. The minimum measurements for a field of play shall be: Length 250 yards (230 meters) Width 175 yards (160 meters) if unboarded and 145 yards (130 meters) if boarded.

    The smallest field allowed, inside a full-size field without boards
    1. Full size without boards: 300 yd × 200 yd
    2. Smallest allowed: 250 yd × 175 yd without boards, 250 yd × 145 yd (230 × 130 m) with boards

  5. 1b

    Safety Zone. The safety zone is the prepared area that extends beyond each end and along each side of the field of play. The safety zone should be marked and it is recommended to extend 10 yards beyond the side lines/boards and at least 30 yards beyond the back line and should be prepared to the same standard as the field of play. Any incident which occurs in the safety zone shall be treated as though it occurred on the field of play itself.

    The safety zone round the field: about 10 yards beyond the sides, at least 30 yards beyond each back line
    1. Safety zone: about 10 yd beyond the side lines or boards
    2. At least 30 yd beyond each back line
    3. Prepared like the field; anything that happens here is judged as if on the field
    4. Field of play
    A collision in the side safety zone is judged as if it happened on the field
    1. A collision here, in the safety zone, is judged as if it happened on the field
    2. Safety zone
    3. Side boards
    4. Field of play

  6. 1c

    Goals and Goal Line. The goal posts shall be 8 yards (7.3 metres) apart (inside measurement) and centred at each end of the field of play. The goal line is that part of the back line between the two goal posts at either end of the field of play. The goal posts shall be at least 10 feet (3 metres) high, and light enough to give way if collided with.

    One goal from above: the goal line is the back line between the posts
    1. Goal post
    2. Goal line: the back line between the posts, 8 yd between their inner faces
    3. Back line
    4. Field of play
    The goal from the field: posts at least 10 feet tall, 8 yards apart inside, light enough to give way
    1. Posts at least 10 ft (3 m) tall
    2. Light enough to give way if a pony or player runs into them
    3. Goal line

  7. 1d

    Boards. Boards, if used, shall not exceed 11 inches (28 cm) in height and shall be at least one inch thick. They may be curved at the ends of the field of play.

    A side board in section: no higher than 11 inches, at least 1 inch thick; a ball beside it for scale
    1. Board: no higher than 11 in (28 cm), at least 1 in thick
    2. A ball (3–3.5 in), for scale
    3. Field of play
    4. Safety zone
    A boarded corner: the boards may curve from the 30-yard line to 15 yards into the back line
    1. The curve may start at the 30-yard line
    2. …and meet the back line 15 yd from the corner
    3. Straight boards between the 30-yard lines
    4. 30-yard line
    5. Back line

  8. 1e

    Polo Ground. The polo ground is taken to be the enclosed area which includes the field(s) of play, the clubhouse or similar facility, the pony lines, horsebox park and any practice areas of an affiliated or provisionally affiliated club or the private grounds being used by such clubs for any chukkas or games played under HPA rules by HPA members.

    The polo ground is the whole site, not only the field (schematic: the rule names the parts, not their layout)
    1. Field of play and safety zone
    2. Clubhouse
    3. Pony lines
    4. Horsebox park
    5. Practice ground
    6. All of it, inside the club's boundary, is the polo ground

  9. 1f

    Ball. The ball shall be 3 to 3.5 inches (76 to 89 millimetres) in diameter and within the limits of 4.25 to 4.75 ounces (120 to 135 grams).

    The ball: 3 to 3.5 inches across, 4.25 to 4.75 ounces; a mallet head beside it for scale
    1. Ball: 3–3.5 in (76–89 mm) across, 4.25–4.75 oz (120–135 g)
    2. Mallet head, for scale

  10. 1g

    Access during Play. During play, the field of play and safety zone are restricted to the players, umpires and goal judges except that:

    During play only players, umpires and goal judges are on the field or in the safety zone (riders drawn larger than scale)
    1. Players: no more than four a side
    2. Umpires: normally two, on horseback
    3. A goal judge at each goal (sometimes two)
    4. The referee, and everyone else, stay outside the field and the safety zone

  11. 1g(i)

    Stick holder

    A stick holder may enter the safety zone but not the field of play to hand over a stick to a player.

    A stick holder may step into the safety zone to hand over a stick, but not onto the field
    1. Stick holder: may step into the safety zone
    2. The boards: no further
    3. The player comes to the boards for the stick
    4. Safety zone

  12. 1g(ii)

    Changing ponies

    Players may change ponies in allocated box areas (marked out or imaginary) at any of the four corners of the field of play or as designated by the club in agreement with the umpires. They may not change in the safety zones between the two 30 yard lines.

    Ponies are changed at the corners, never in the side safety zones between the 30-yard lines
    1. Changing box at each corner, marked or understood (size not set by the rule)
    2. No changing in the side safety zones between the 30-yard lines
    3. …on both sides
    4. Or where the club and umpires agree

  13. 1g(iii)

    Riding to the changing boxes

    Ponies may be ridden between the pony lines and the changing boxes within the safety zone during play providing that they are ridden in a sensible manner and at a safe speed.

    Ponies may be ridden through the safety zone between the pony lines and the changing box, sensibly and at a safe speed
    1. Pony lines
    2. Ridden through the safety zone, sensibly and at a safe speed
    3. Changing box
    4. Field of play