Polocrosse... A brief overview of the game

The Field

The Field is 160 yards long, about the size of one and a half football fields.  The size of the field makes Polocrosse a wonderful spectator sport as well as an exciting sport to play.

The Players

Each team is comprised of two sections of three players each.  One section of three players takes the field for a chukka (time period) of eight minutes while the other section rests.  At the end of the first chukka, the sections switch so that horses and riders can rest every other chukka.  The combined score for both sections is the final score of the game.

The three players in a section are:

#1 Goal Scorer          This player is allowed in the midfield area and in his team’s goal scoring area.  Only the #1 may score a goal.

#2 Mid-Fielder           This player is allowed to play only in the midfield area.  If the #2’s horse enters the goal scoring area, the #2 must not interfere with play and must leave the area immediately.

#3 Goal Defender     This player is allowed only in the midfield area and in the opposite team’s goal scoring area.

The Game

Only one horse can be used by each player in a tournament, and that horse may not be played more than 54 minutes a day.

            To begin the game, the two teams line up beside one another; #1 beside #1, #2 beside #2, #3 beside #3.  The umpire throws the ball into the midfield area and play begins.  Each goal is worth one point, and the team with the most goals wins.

The team that captures the ball moves toward their goal scoring area.  The goal scorer (#1) must be in the goal scoring area before play can begin in that area.

The ball carrier must keep the racquet on the same side of the horse as the arm holding the racquet.  A foul occurs if ball and racquet is carried over the center line of the horse.  The opposing team can attempt to dislodge the ball from the ball carrier’s racquet by swinging their racquet in an upward position only.  A downward or side swing attempt to dislodge the ball is a foul.

If a foul occurs, a player on the opposite team is given the ball.  If an umpire considers a foul dangerous, the opposite team may be given a free goal.  The American Polocrosse Association has well-defined rules and certified umpires.  Safety is of primary importance on the Polocrosse field.

The ball cannot be carried over the 30 yard line (also called the penalty line) by a player.  If the #1 already has possession of the ball, the #1 must bounce the ball in front of their horse over the 30 yard line into the goal scoring area and attempt to pick it up.  If the #2 or #3 has the ball, that player will throw the ball to their #1 after the #1 is inside the goal scoring area.

The goal scoring area is from the 30 yard line to the goal, and there is an 11 foot arc in front of the goal posts.  The goal scorer’s horse (#1) may not step within the 11 foot arc when shooting a goal.  The goal defender’s horse (#3) may be anywhere in the goal scoring area in order to defend the goal.