Rule 2 · USPA Rulebook 2026
Players
Who may play: membership, the handicap limits of an event, fitness to play, and the forfeit for an ineligible player.
One team per event
No player shall play in any Event for more than one team.
Membership
A player who is not a current member of the USPA or who is currently under suspension by the USPA, shall not play in any Event (as the term “Event” is defined in the USPA Tournament Conditions), except that a beginner player may play in up to three Club Events below the 2 goal level or for sixty (60) days below the 2 goal level, whichever comes first, before joining the USPA.
It is the player’s responsibility to be sure his credentials are in order before entering the game. There is no provision for “writing a check at the field” or “calling the office on Monday”. See Rule 2.c.
Forfeit for an ineligible player
The penalty for violation of player eligibility, which is forfeiture, shall be exacted regardless of the player’s knowledge or intent. Unlike many other penalties which the Umpire(s) may elect not to exact, the penalty for violation of this rule must be exacted if a Referee, an Umpire, or a member of the Committee is notified of or otherwise becomes aware of the violation prior to 72 hours after the violation took place.
Player eligibility is to be determined by the Host Tournament Committee prior to the game. If a possible ineligibility is brought to the Umpire’s attention before or during the game and cannot be resolved, the game should be played under Protest (See Sport Protest Procedures, Part III of the Association’s Disciplinary Procedures Policy) and the question referred to the Committee. If the ineligibility is upheld, the game is to be declared a forfeit by the team with the ineligible player. When a player is deemed ineligible because he or she has already played on a team in the same Event that has not yet been eliminated from the Event, the second team that he or she plays on (as an ineligible player) shall be the team that forfeits.
Handicap limits for individuals
A player registered with the USPA is eligible to play in any USPA Event except that:
A player with a handicap of -1 goal may not play in a USPA Event above the 12 goal level.
There shall be no more than one -1 goal or -0.5 goal rated player per team in any USPA Event with an upper handicap limit above 6 goals. In a USPA Event rated 7 to 12 goals, should a substitute be required in the event a player is removed from the game due to an inability to continue or by disqualification or penalty, and only a -1 goal or -0.5 goal player is available, and the substitution would result in more than one -1 goal or -0.5 goal rated player being on the team, the substitution nevertheless may be made for that game only so long as the team substituting plays with its original (higher) handicap.
In any USPA Event with an upper handicap limit of 4 goals or above, the handicap of any player may not exceed 3/4 of the upper handicap limit.
In any USPA Event with an upper handicap limit of 3 goals or below, the handicap of the highest rated player on the team may not exceed the upper handicap limit of the Event by more than one goal.
These handicap limits apply to all USPA Events unless overruled by specific USPA Tournament Conditions or a variance approved pursuant to Article VII, Section 3 of the Association’s By-Laws, and they may not be modified by a Host Tournament Committee.
The “3/4 Rule” applies to events with an upper limit of 4 goals or above. For example, maximum 6 goal player in 8 goal polo. Maximum 4 goal player in 6 goal polo. Maximum 3 goal player in 4 goal polo, etc.
Fit to play
No individual shall participate as a player or official in any game if physically impaired (e.g., sick, hurt or intoxicated) before or during the game if such impairment endangers the safety of that individual or others.
The word “shall” requires the Umpires to remove any individual whose physical condition presents a safety risk.
Late in the game on a hot day, an overweight player appears to be suffering from exhaustion. The Umpire may stop the game and give the player a chance to recover. The game should be restarted within 10 minutes with, or without, the player or a substitute. Prior to a game, Blue #4 is seen in the hospitality tent and appears to be intoxicated. He should not be permitted to start the game. Team Blue may find a substitute or play short-handed. Team Blue’s #1 has been acting strange and at half time is determined to be intoxicated. The Umpires should not permit the player to start the 4th period. The team may continue with three on a side or with a substitute. In the 4th period, Umpire A’s horse falls. Umpire A remounts but is unsteady in the saddle and seems not to be under control. Umpire A should be removed by direction of the other Umpire and a replacement, if available, appointed by the Host Tournament Committee.
'T' handicaps
No player handicapped with a “T” handicap of 6 goals or less will be allowed to play in a USPA Event with an upper limit of 16 goals and above.