Rules of Polo
EN

USA

United States Polo Association

Rulebook 2026

The field

3 rules

  1. 12Playing field
  2. 13Balls and officials' equipment
  3. 32Ground kept clear, no outside help

Players, ponies and equipment

6 rules

  1. 1Teams
  2. 2Players
  3. 3Substitutes
  4. 4Player equipment
  5. 5Mounts
  6. 6Mounts' equipment

The game: officials, time and scoring

11 rules

  1. 7Host tournament committee
  2. 8Umpires and referee
  3. 9Goal judges
  4. 10Timekeeper and scorer
  5. 11Protests, variances and enforcement
  6. 14Duration of periods
  7. 15Running and stopping the clock
  8. 16Games and intervals
  9. 17Round robins
  10. 18Winning the game: goals
  11. 19Goals by penalty and by handicap

Starting and restarting play

2 rules

  1. 20How play starts
  2. 22How play restarts

Stoppages: equipment, injury, falls

1 rule

  1. 21How play is stopped

Fouls in play

11 rules

  1. 23Line of the ball
  2. 24Right of way
  3. Appendix ARight of way illustrations
  4. 25Stopping on the ball
  5. 26Dangerous riding
  6. 26AImproper blocking
  7. 27Rough or abusive play
  8. 28Improper use of the mallet
  9. 29Dismounted player
  10. 30Appealing for a foul
  11. 31Carrying the ball

Penalties and discipline

5 rules

  1. 33Unsportsmanlike conduct
  2. 34Repeated fouls
  3. 35Choosing the penalty
  4. 36Penalty procedures and violations
  5. 37The penalties