Rule 27 · USPA Rulebook 2026
Rough or abusive play
No grabbing, striking or elbowing, no abuse of players or horses, and ejection for deliberately striking someone.
Hands, arms and elbows
No player may seize another player with the hand, strike or push another player with the head, hand, arm, or elbow, but a player may push another player with the arm above the elbow, provided the elbow is kept close to the side.
Abuse
No player may physically abuse another player or the player’s own or another player’s mount.
Deliberate striking
A player deliberately striking another player may be ejected from the remainder of the game in accordance with Rule 33.b.(2)(a) and Penalty 10. Disciplinary sanctions, including but not limited to those set forth in the Association’s Sport-Related Conduct Violation Procedures, Part I of the Association’s Disciplinary Procedures Policy, may be imposed by the Association.
A player deliberately or intentionally striking another player with severity and/or the intent to inflict bodily harm with horse, hand, whip or mallet, should be immediately ejected in accordance with Rule 33.b(2)(a), which allows the Umpire(s), at their sole discretion, to assess a red card and eject that player for the remainder of the game for that player’s first offense. A single minor infraction (i.e. elbowing or pushing with hand or mallet) should also not tolerated and should be penalized with a yellow card in accordance with Rule 33.b(1)(a).
White #3 places his mallet in front of Blue #2’s horse’s head to impede Blue’s horse. In Blue’s attempt to make a play, he strikes White’s mallet with the butt of his mallet. The Umpires blow the whistle and announce an offsetting foul, but elect to assess both players two yellow cards and sit them each down for two minutes of play with no substitutions. (See Rule 33.b(2)(a), which allows the Umpire(s), at their sole discretion, to assess two yellow cards for a player’s first offense.) This type of unsportsmanlike conduct may not warrant being ejected for the remainder of the game. Blue #2 has been warned by the Umpires about roughness of play and the use of his elbow in the first period, and given a yellow card. In the second period, Blue #2 is observed placing an elbow in the face of his opponent, Red #3. Umpire A blows the whistle and announces the foul against Blue #2. Because Blue #2 has been previously given a yellow card, the Umpires give Blue #2 a second yellow card and sit Blue #2 out for the following two minutes of play with no substitute in accordance with Rule 33.b(1)(b). Red #3 carries the ball down field towards his goal as White #2 executes a ride off, causing Red #3 to miss the goal shot. In frustration, Red #3 swings at White #2 in retaliation. The Umpires eject Red #3 for the remainder of the game in accordance with Rule 33.b(2) (a), which allows the Umpire(s), at their sole discretion, to assess a red card and eject that player for the remainder of the game for that player’s first offense.