Starting and restarting play

7 rules

1. 11Start of play

   The match starts with a throw-in on the centre line after a warning bell five minutes before the advertised time.

2. 14Attacker hits behind (knock-in)

   When the attacking team sends the ball over the back line, the defending team restarts with a hit-in from the back line.

3. 15Defender hits behind (Corner 60)

   When a defender sends the ball over their own back line, the attackers get a Corner 60.

4. 16Ball out over the boards or sideline

   When the ball goes out over the side, play restarts without the whistle with a hit against the team that touched it last.

5. 17Restart after an interval

   After the break between chukkas, play restarts as if there had been no break, unless the teams have changed ends.

6. 18Restart when the ball is still in the field

   When play is stopped with the ball still inside the field and no penalty follows, the umpire restarts with a throw-in from where the ball was.

7. 19Buried or damaged ball

   A buried ball means a whistle and a throw-in; a damaged ball is replaced, and a goal still counts if the larger part went through before the whistle.