Rule 1 · USPA Rulebook 2026
Teams
Who makes up a team, who speaks for it, how its handicap must fit the event, and what happens when players are missing or late.
Four players and a captain
There shall be four players on each team to start every game, subject only to the provisions of Rule 1.d below. Each team shall designate one player as its Captain, who shall have the sole right to represent the team and to discuss with the Umpire(s) procedural matters arising during the game. Other players on either team may request a time out from the Umpire(s) when allowed elsewhere in these rules or the Tournament Conditions. (See Rule 21.d, f, g; Tournament Conditions, Section VIII (“Instant Replay”).)
The Captain is the representative of the team and it is through the Captain that the Umpire communicates with members of a team. The Captain’s right to discuss does not include a right to debate or question judgment calls of officials. The Captain may point out what he believes to be a procedural error; or request definition of a call or decision if the Umpire failed to announce the call properly, but may not become argumentative or prolong the discussion. The discussion is over when the Umpire says it is over and prolongation may invoke a penalty.
Blue #2 loses a stirrup. When play stops, he calls for time to replace the equipment. This is permitted under Rule 21.g even though Blue #2 is not the Captain. Red #3, a Captain, rides to the Umpire when a foul is called and questions the severity of the penalty award. This is questioning a judgment call and not permitted. The whistle sounds and a foul has been called and, as Red #3 rides to hit the penalty he passes the Umpire and says, “That was a good call, Blue #1 has been doing that all day.” This type of “working the Umpire” is not permitted. The whistle sounds against Red #1. Red #3 calls loudly to his teammate, “Good play. There was no foul and that is a terrible call.” This conversation is not permitted as it is an attempt to influence the Umpire. The whistle sounds against Blue #4 who then asks Blue #3 what he did wrong. Blue #3 replies, “That was a tough break, but lineup and let’s play.” This is advice to a teammate. This is not a challenge to the Umpire’s judgment and is permitted. The Umpire announces a Penalty 3 against Blue and drops the ball on the 60-yard line. Red Captain points out the error and requests repositioning on the 40-yard line. This is permitted as it concerns a procedural error and does not question a judgment call.
Team handicap at the draw
The aggregate handicap of a team must, at the time of the draw, fall within the limits specified for each Event. In Events that have no draw or for which the date of the draw is not reported to the USPA by the Host Tournament Committee prior to 7 days before the first game of the Event, the term “draw” as it is used in the provisions of this rule and related rules will be interpreted to mean “7 days before the first game of the Event.” No team whose handicap is higher or lower than the specified handicap limits of an Event shall be permitted to participate, except as provided in this rule (Rule 1) or Rule 3.c. For the purposes of these Rules, an “event” or “Event” is a USPA Event or a Club Event as those terms are defined in Part I of the Tournament Conditions, and the terms “League” or “Series of Events” have the same meaning as they do in Part I of the Tournament Conditions.
The Red Team would like to enter an 8-12 goal tournament, but only has a 7-goal team available for their first game. Team Red offers to “assume” 8 goals. This is not permitted. Team Red must meet the minimum handicap level of 8.
Handicap changes after the draw
If a team has entered an Event, League, or Series of Events and has a rostered player or rostered players changed in handicap at any time from the draw through the team’s last game in the Event, League, or Series of Events resulting in the team’s total handicap being over or under the handicap limit of the Event, League, or Series of Events, the rostered team will remain eligible for that Event, League, or Series of Events but must play with the new handicap in all remaining games. A “rostered player” is a player who is listed as one of the top four team members on the team’s roster at the time of the draw (or the first draw, if applicable) for the Event, League, or Series of Events (i.e., is a member of the “rostered team”). A team must declare a complete roster of four eligible team members who are individually and collectively eligible to compete (for example, no “TBAs”) on or before the draw (or the first draw, if applicable) in order to receive the protection of this rule. If a team plays its first game in an Event, League, or Series of Events with one or more players who are not listed as one of the top four team members on the team’s roster at the time of the draw, the rostered team will be the top four team members on the team’s roster at the time of the draw, unless the team’s Captain notifies a member of the Host Tournament Committee, the USPA Tournament Manager, or the USPA Tournament Coordinator before the first game begins that the players in the team’s first game should be treated as “rostered players” for purposes of this rule. All other players will be treated as substitutes. This rule shall apply on a “single Event-by-single Event” basis to any team that enters one or more but not all Events in a Series of Events.
Any substitution of players on such a team must bring the team’s handicap within the handicap limits of the Event, League, or Series of Events.
In an Event, League, or Series of Events played on the flat, any such team having a new total handicap over the handicap limit of the Event, League, or Series of Events must give an opponent the goal difference of the team handicap over the upper handicap limit of the Event, League, or Series of Events or the opponent’s team handicap, if that team handicap is also over the handicap limit of the Event, League, or Series of Events.
In a handicap Event, League, or Series of Events, any such team having a new total handicap over the handicap limit of the Event, League, or Series of Events must give an opponent the full handicap difference. In a handicap Event, League, or Series of Events, any such team having a new total handicap under the handicap limit of the Event, League, or Series of Events shall receive from an opponent the full handicap difference.
If a team has entered an Event, League, or Series of Events and has a substitute player or substitute players changed in handicap at any time from the draw through the team’s last game in the Event, League, or Series of Events resulting in the team’s total handicap being over or under the handicap limit of the Event, League, or Series of Events, the team may not continue with that substitute or those substitutes and must conform itself to the original handicap limits of the Event, League, or Series of Events.
Starting short-handed
In the event one or more players are not available to start a game, and no eligible substitute is available, the team may play up to half the game with less than the full team provided the aggregate team handicap on the field meets the upper and lower handicap requirements of the Event. The team handicap may be altered when the team is changed.
Team Red is entered in a 4-8 goal tournament. At game time, Red’s 2-goal player is not at the field. Team Red may start the game as a 6-goal team. If the player turns up, making Team Red 8 goals, the scoreboard should be changed to reflect the higher handicap. Team Blue’s 5-goal player is late for a 16-20 goal game. As only 15 goals are available to take the field, Team Blue must forfeit the game. Team Red enters a 6 goal tournament with two 2-goalers, a 3-goaler, and a -1 goaler. The -1 is not at the field at game time and the other 3 players want to play the game. Not permitted. Team Red is a 7-goal team without the -1 goal and must forfeit the game.
Late teams
The Umpire(s) may impose an appropriate penalty and assess a yellow card to the unprepared player(s) if a team is not mounted, on the field and prepared to begin the game, including (if possible) in the manner described by Rule 1.d above, at the designated starting game time set by the Host Tournament Committee. If a team is not mounted, on the field and prepared to begin the game, including (if possible) in the manner described by Rule 1.d above, within 15 minutes after the designated starting game time set by the Host Tournament Committee, the Umpire(s) shall declare a forfeit. Disciplinary sanctions as set forth in Rule 33 may be imposed by the Host Tournament Committee and/or the Association.
Any change in schedule is to be made by the Host Tournament Committee before the scheduled time. Once the scheduled time arrives, the Umpire is in charge and the game should start promptly.
The Red sponsor calls 15 minutes before game time saying he is delayed in traffic and asks to delay the game 30 minutes. The request to delay the game 30 minutes must be directed to the Host Tournament Committee and it must be made before game time.
American Rule
“American Rule”:
Each team in a USPA or NPC Event shall, excluding the player who is the sponsor if there is a playing sponsor, have a minimum of one American Player (as defined in subparagraph (2) below), regardless of handicap level.
Definition of “American Player.” For the purposes of this rule, a Registered Player Member as defined in the Association’s Constitution and By-Laws shall be considered an American Player and an Affiliate Player Member as defined in the Association’s Constitution and By-Laws who is a Canadian citizen shall also be considered an American Player.
A team sponsored by a non-playing sponsor (or sponsors) must have at least two players who are both American Players, and the designated sponsor shall be the player on the team who has the lowest handicap. If more than one player on such a team has the team’s lowest handicap (i.e., there is a tie), the designated sponsor shall be the one of those tied players whose handicap was last raised on the earlier or earliest date.
In all USPA or NPC Events except the Gauntlet of Polo®, unless the team already has two American Players, the team owner may be substituted by an immediate family member of the team owner or an American Player, and a designated sponsor may be substituted by the team owner, an immediate family member of the team owner, or an American Player. All such substitutions must satisfy the other applicable substitution requirements under these USPA Outdoor Rules.
In the Gauntlet of Polo® only, regardless of whether the team has two American Players, the team owner may be substituted by an immediate family member of the team owner or an American Player, and a designated sponsor may be substituted by the team owner, an immediate family member of the team owner, or an American Player. All such substitutions must satisfy the other applicable substitution requirements under these USPA Outdoor Rules. In addition, any American Player who is not an immediate family member and who substitutes for the team owner or a designated sponsor with a USPA Outdoor Handicap below 3 goals must be at least 21 years of age.
Definition of “Homegrown Player.” For the purposes of this rule, a Registered Player Member as defined in the Association’s Constitution who provides the USPA with definitive proof that at least one of his or her biological parents is (or was) also a U.S. citizen shall be considered a Homegrown Player. A Registered Player Member as defined in the Association’s Constitution and By-Laws who provides the USPA with definitive proof that one of his or her adoptive parents is (or was) also a U.S. citizen shall also be considered a Homegrown Player, provided that he or she was adopted by that parent prior to reaching the age of ten (10) years old.
Notwithstanding any other rule or tournament condition to the contrary, in USPA or NPC Events with an upper handicap limit of sixteen (16) goals or above, each team shall receive the benefit of a one (1) goal credit toward the calculation of its team handicap for either (i) a Homegrown Player (as defined in subparagraph (6) above) on the team other than the sponsor or designated sponsor , or (ii) an American Player (as defined in subparagraph (2) above) on the team in excess of the minimum number of American Players required by subparagraph (1) or subparagraph (3) above. Any such credit(s) will first be applied to bring the team within the handicap limits of the Event. Thereafter, any such credit(s) shall be added to any goal difference to be given that team by its opponent, whether the game is played on the handicap or on the flat.
In USPA or NPC Events with an upper handicap limit of sixteen (16) goals or above, any substitute for a Homegrown Player for all or part of any game must also be a Homegrown Player in order for the team to receive, or continue to receive, the one (1) goal credit toward the calculation of its team handicap for the Homegrown Player for whom the substitution is made, and any substitute for a “credit-earning” American Player for all or part of any game must also be an American Player in order for the team to receive, or continue to receive, the one (1) goal credit toward the calculation of its team handicap for the “credit-earning” American Player for whom the substitution is made.
Note: if the team qualifies for the maximum credit without including the Homegrown Player or American Player status of the player being substituted for, then the substitute for that player need not be a Homegrown Player or American Player, respectively.
The “sponsor” is the individual or the entity that is predominantly financially responsible for the team. The designation of the team “sponsor” shall be made by the Host Tournament Committee, exercising reasonable discretion and taking into account input from the team, and all such designations shall be made before the start of the event or game in question. For purposes of Rule 1.f, an individual or entity that is or are “predominantly financially responsible” means the individual or entity that contributes a greater amount of financial support to the team than any other source. It is the team’s burden to convince the Host Tournament Committee that the player or entity that it wishes to be designated as the “sponsor,” whether “playing” or “non-playing,” is predominantly financially responsible for the team and should be so designated. A team sponsored by a player who is an American Player must have at least one additional player who is an American Player. A team sponsored by a player who is an Affiliate Member without Canadian citizenship must have at least one player who is an American Player. If a team has two or more players who are equally financially responsible for the team, one of those players shall be designated the sponsor and there shall be at least one additional player who is an American Player. The designated sponsor on such a team shall be the equally financially responsible player who has the lower or lowest handicap. If two or more of such players have the same lower or lowest handicap (i.e., there is a tie), the designated sponsor shall be the one of those tied players whose handicap was last raised on the earlier or earliest date. For purposes of Rule 1.f, an “immediate family member” means a spouse, parent, full or half-sibling (i.e., not a step-sibling), or child (not including stepchildren).