Rule 37 · USPA Rulebook 2026
The penalties
The ten USPA penalties, from a goal awarded to forfeiting the game, with where each ball is placed and where each team must stand.
Penalty 1: goal awarded
If, in the opinion of the Umpire(s), a player commits a dangerous or deliberate foul in the vicinity of the goal in order to save a goal, the team fouled shall be awarded one goal. The game shall be resumed with a Penalty 5.b awarded to the fouled team and a change in direction.
Penalty 2: 30 yards or the spot
A penalty hit at the ball by the team fouled from the center of the 30-yard line nearest the fouling team’s goal or, if preferred, from the spot where the foul occurred (the choice to be made by the team fouled). For a penalty hit from the 30-yard line, all of the fouling team shall be positioned behind their back line, outside of the goal, until the ball is hit or hit at. If the penalty is to be hit from the spot, none of the fouling team may be within 30 yards from the ball and must remain outside of the goal until the ball is hit or hit at. Once the ball is put into play, no player of the fouling team may enter the field.
Every penalty spot from above, to scale, at the end of the team that fouled - Penalty 2: 30 yd from the goal line, opposite the centre of the goal. Or from the spot of the foul, as the team fouled chooses
- Penalty 3: 40 yd from the goal line, opposite the centre of the goal
- Penalty 4: 60 yd from the goal line, opposite the centre of the goal
- Penalty 5a: where the ball was, at least 5 yd from the boards or side lines
- Penalty 5b: the centre of the field
- Penalty 6: on the 60-yard line opposite where the ball crossed the back line, no more than 40 yd from the centre
If, in the opinion of the Umpire, when taking a Penalty 2, the penalty hit would have resulted in a goal, but is prevented by the fouling team entering the field improperly, the hit shall be considered a goal for the team fouled.
If, in the opinion of the Umpire, when taking a Penalty 2, the penalty hit is deflected by the fouling team or is hit wide by the hitter, and a defending player has entered the field improperly, the penalty shall be taken again.
(At the election of the Host Tournament Committee, to be communicated to the teams before the Event begins, the Penalty 3 may be defended in Events with an upper handicap limit of 8 goals and above, providing that all games in the event are officiated by two certified professional Umpires unless otherwise approved by USPA Umpires LLC.)
Penalty 3: 40 yards
A penalty hit at the ball by the team fouled from the center of the 40-yard line nearest the fouling team’s goal. All players of the team fouled are to be behind the 40-yard line unless they are off the field or returning to their proper position. All members of the fouling team who are not off the field or returning to their proper position shall be positioned behind the back line, outside of the goal, until the ball is hit or hit at. If the penalty is to be undefended, no member of the fouling team may enter the field from behind the back line, but if the penalty is to be defended, once the ball is put into play, any member of the fouling team may enter the field from behind the back line except between the goal posts. The team fouled may hit or hit at the ball only once and may not make another play on or affect the course of the ball if the penalty is to be undefended, or until it has been hit or hit at by a member of the opposing team or contacts a goal post, opposing player or mount if the penalty is to be defended.
If, in the opinion of the Umpire, when taking the Penalty 3, the hit would have resulted in a goal, but is prevented by the fouling team entering the field improperly, the hit shall be considered a goal for the team fouled.
If, in the opinion of the Umpire, when taking a Penalty 3, the penalty hit is deflected by the fouling team or hit wide by the hitter, and a defending player has entered the field improperly, the penalty shall be taken again.
Penalty 4: 60 yards
A free hit at the ball by the team fouled from the center of the 60-yard line nearest the fouling team’s goal. The fouled team is free to position themselves anywhere on or off the playing field. All members of the fouling team who are not off the field or returning to their proper position must be behind the 30-yard line until the Umpire calls “Play” and the ball is hit or hit at.
If, in the opinion of the Umpire, the hit would have resulted in a goal, but was prevented by the fouling team’s failure to carry out the proper procedure, a goal shall be scored.
Penalty 5a: from the spot
Hit from the Spot (Penalty 5.a) A penalty hit from the spot where the ball was when the foul occurred, but at least 5 yards from the boards or from the side lines. No member of the fouling team may be within 30 yards from the ball, and all members of the fouling team who are not off the field or returning to their proper position must be between the ball and the defended goal. The team fouled may position itself anywhere.
Penalty 5b: from the centre
Hit from the Center of the Field (Penalty 5.b) A penalty hit from the center of the playing field. No member of the fouling team may be within 30 yards from the ball, and all members of the fouling team who are not off the field or returning to their proper position must be between the ball and the defended goal. The team fouled may position itself anywhere.
Penalty 6: safety
A penalty hit from a spot 60 yards from the end line opposite where the ball crossed the end line, but no more than 40 yards from the center of the 60-yard line. The fouled team is free to position themselves anywhere on or off the playing field. All members of the fouling team who are not off the field or returning to their proper position must be behind the 30-yard line until the Umpire calls “Play” and the ball is hit or hit at.
Penalty 7: player removed
If a player is disabled by a foul to the extent the Umpire permits or orders the player’s retirement from the game, the Captain of the team fouled shall designate the removal of a player from the fouling team whose handicap is nearest above that of the disabled player. If the disabled player’s handicap is equal to or higher than that of any player on the fouling team, any member of that team may be designated. In the event of a handicap game, there shall be no change in the handicap from as it was at the time of infraction. In the alternative, the team fouled shall have the option of providing a qualified substitute.
Applying Penalty 7
The awarding of a Penalty 7 is left solely to the discretion of the Umpires and should be awarded only when an injury is the result of a foul. The Umpire is directed to allow 15 minutes, as provided in Rule 21.d, for the fouled team to find a replacement for the injured player or to designate a player to be removed from the fouling team. The Penalty 7 must be exacted at the time the foul occurred and not after play has resumed. If the removal of a player is selected, teams shall continue to play three (3) on a side for the remainder of the game. After the teams are reduced to three (3) on a side, the fouling team may substitute at an appropriate time so as to raise its team handicap to a level that is no higher than the cumulative handicap the original three unremoved members of the fouling team had when the Penalty 7 was enacted. The player removed from the game as a result of Penalty 7 will remain qualified as a substitute. However, the injured player may not return once the teams are reduced to 3 on a side.
Blue #3 is carrying the ball towards his goal, and Red #2 bumps Blue #3 at a severe angle, causing Blue #3’s horse to stumble. As the horse regains his footing, Blue #3 loses his balance and falls from the horse, breaking his leg. The Umpires announce a Penalty 2 for dangerous riding and since the Blue player cannot continue, a Penalty 7 is awarded. The Blue Team informs the Umpires that a suitable replacement is not available and, therefore, designates a player to be removed from the Red Team. Red #2 is hit in the face with Blue #3’s mallet and a time out is requested. After several minutes, Red #2 tells the Umpires that his vision is blurred but that he will continue to play. After the game has resumed for several minutes, Red #2 announces that he cannot continue to play and asks the Umpires to exact a Penalty 7. Since play was resumed, Rule 21.d (Injury to a Player) applies. The game will be stopped and the Red Team will have 10 minutes to find a replacement. Penalty 7 cannot be exacted after play has resumed from the initial injury.
Penalty 8: horse sent off
The mount is ordered off the field by the Umpire and disqualified from being played again during the game. If a mount is ordered off the field for a violation of Rules 5, 6a or 6b, after curing the violation, the mount may be allowed to play provided the game is not delayed. (Note: the penalty for a violation of Rule 6a is forfeiture.)
Penalty 9: forfeit
The game shall be forfeited. In the event both teams commit a rule violation in the same game invoking Penalty No. 9, both teams shall forfeit the game, regardless of which violation occurred first.
Penalty 10: player excluded
The Umpire may exclude a player from the game in a manner that is consistent with Rule 33 in case of a deliberate, dangerous foul, or conduct prejudicial to the game.
