Rules of Polo
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Rule 12 · USPA Rulebook 2026

Playing field

The size of the field, its lines, the safety and run-off areas, the goals, the boards and the markings.

  1. 12a

    Size

    A full-sized playing field shall be 300 yards in length by 160 yards to 200 yards in width if unboarded; and 300 yards in length by 160 yards in width if boarded on the sides. The ends shall be unboarded.

    The USPA field from above: 300 yards long, boards along the sides only, an 8-yard goal in the middle of each end line, and the marks at the centre and on the 30-, 40- and 60-yard lines
    1. Side boards, no higher than 11 in; without boards the sides are lines 160 to 200 yd apart
    2. Goal: the middle 8 yd of the end line, posts at least 10 ft high
    3. End lines: never boarded
    4. Centre mark
    5. At each end, the 30-, 40- and 60-yard lines marked at both edges and the centre
    6. Run-off area: what happens here is treated as if on the field; at least 10 yd recommended along the sides

  2. 12b

    Side lines and safety side zone

    The boundaries on the sides of the field shall be known as the side boards or sidelines. The Host Tournament Committee will designate a safety side zone outside and parallel to the sidelines of the playing field that is recommended to be a minimum of 10 yards. If a player intentionally and/or recklessly hits a ball outside of the safety zone a penalty shall be awarded to the opposing team and the offender is subject to Rule 33 disciplinary sanctions.

  3. 12c

    End lines and goal lines

    The boundaries at the ends of the field shall be known as the end lines, except for that portion between the goal posts, which shall be known as the goal lines.

  4. 12d

    Centre line

    The imaginary line that divides the field equally at right angles to the side lines or side boards shall be known as the center line.

  5. 12e

    Run-off area

    In addition to the field of play, there shall be an area beyond the side and end lines, known as the runoff area, and incidents of the game which occur here shall be treated as though they were on the playing field.

  6. 12f

    Goals

    The goals shall be the center 8 yards of each end line between two goal posts.

  7. 12g

    Goal posts

    The goal posts shall be at least 10 feet high, round and of equal diameter throughout. They shall be in vertical position and light enough to break upon collision.

  8. 12h

    Side boards

    Side boards, if used, shall not exceed 11 inches in height. It is permissible to use triangular pieces of wood at the bottom of the side boards toward the playing field to deflect the ball from the side boards. These pieces shall not be over 3 inches wide nor more than 3 inches high.

    A side board in section: no higher than 11 inches, with a triangular strip at its foot no more than 3 inches wide and 3 inches high
    1. Side board, no higher than 11 in
    2. Triangular strip on the field side: at most 3 in wide and 3 in high
    3. It deflects a ball rolling into the boards
    4. Field of play

  9. 12i

    Markings

    The field should be clearly marked at the center and at all boundaries where there are no side boards and at the edges and center of the 30-, 40-, and 60-yard lines at each end of the field.