Rule 7 · USPA 2026 Arena Rules
Dead ball
When the ball is dead in the arena and how play restarts after it, including balls out over the walls or off the roof.
The whistle kills the ball
At any time the Umpire sounds the whistle, the ball is dead, and no further play may be made by any player. Play is resumed by a free hit or a bowl-in as specified below and elsewhere in these Rules. (See Rules 8 and 9).
Dead ball, bowl-in
Unless Rule 8.e applies, the ball shall be declared dead, and play resumed with a bowl-in toward the nearer sidewall at the point where the ball was considered dead, but not closer than 15 yards from the goal:
An arena dead ball is restarted with a bowl-in towards the nearer side wall, from where the ball was dead, but never closer than 15 yards to a goal. - Bowled in from where the ball was dead, towards the nearer side wall
- Never closer than 15 yd to either goal
- A dead ball nearer a goal is bowled in from 15 yd out
If the ball is broken or trodden into the ground so as to be unserviceable.
If the ball strikes the Umpire or Umpire’s mount so as to affect the flow of play.
If the ball becomes lodged against a player, mount, or equipment and cannot be dropped immediately.
If the ball becomes involved in a melee such that neither team can properly make a play.
If a foul is called and overruled and no goal is scored.
How a dead ball is restarted
A dead ball shall be put back in play with a bowl-in as specified in Rule 8.c.
When play is begun after the ball has been hit out over the side boards, netting, or end wall or has hit the roof structure or anything suspended from the roof structure:
Out off a penalty shot
If the ball is hit on a penalty shot over the end wall either directly or off the hitter’s horse or a teammate or teammate’s horse, or after glancing off the side boards or netting, roof structure or anything suspended from the roof structure, the Umpire(s) shall blow the whistle and award the fouling team a free hit from no closer than 5 yards to the end wall as in Penalty 5.a. If the ball is hit on a penalty shot over the end wall after glancing off a member of the opposing team or his horse, the Umpire(s) shall blow the whistle and (x) if the shot was awarded because of a Penalty 2 or 3, award the fouling team a free hit from no closer than 5 yards to the end wall as in Penalty 5.a.; (xx) if the shot was awarded because of a Penalty 4, play shall resume with a free hit for the fouled team as in Penalty 5.b; (xxx) if the shot was awarded because of a Penalty 5.a or Penalty 5.b, award the fouling team a free hit to be taken 5 yards from the side boards nearer to where the ball went out of play as in a Penalty 5.a, but no closer to the goal the fouling team is attacking than the center line, and all procedures applicable to a Penalty 5.a shall apply.
Out in open play: off the hitter's side
If, in the opinion of the Umpire(s), the ball hits the roof structure or anything suspended from the roof structure, or is hit out across the side boards or netting at any time or over the end wall during live play either directly or off the hitter’s horse or a teammate or teammate’s horse, or after glancing off the side boards or netting, a free hit will be awarded to the team that did not hit the ball out.
Out in open play: off an opponent
If, in the opinion of the Umpire(s), the ball hits the roof structure or anything suspended from the roof structure, or is hit out across the side boards or netting at any time or over the end wall during live play after glancing off a member of the opposing team or his horse, a free hit will be awarded to the team that last hit the ball.
Where the free hit goes: attacking half
In circumstances not governed by subparagraph (1) above, if the ball goes out of play over the end wall, side boards or netting, or because it hits the roof structure or anything suspended from the roof structure between the center line and the goal being attacked by the team awarded the free hit, the free hit will be taken as in a Penalty 5.b and all procedures applicable to a Penalty 5.b shall apply.
Where the free hit goes: defending half
In circumstances not governed by subparagraph (1) above, if the ball goes out of play over the end wall, side boards or netting, or because it hits the roof structure or anything suspended from the roof structure between the center line and the goal being defended by the team awarded the free hit, the free hit will be taken 5 yards from the side boards where the ball went out of play as in a Penalty 5.a and all procedures applicable to a Penalty 5.a shall apply.
Off the umpire, or cause unknown
In all circumstances, if the ball goes out of play over the end wall, side boards or netting, or because it hits the roof structure or anything suspended from the roof structure after glancing off an Umpire or his horse, or if the Umpire is unable to determine what caused the ball to go out of play, play shall resume with a throw-in toward the side boards or netting at the point where the ball went out of play, but not closer than 15 yards to either goal.
Taking the free hit
In each of the situations described in (2) through (5) above, the Umpire shall blow the whistle when the ball goes out of play and place a ball in the appropriate location (either a point not more than one foot beyond the mid-point of the center line for (4) or 5 yards inside the side boards or side line for (5)), call “Play,” and a member of the team awarded possession shall have 5 seconds to play the ball, either by tapping or hitting away.