Polo

An outdoor team sport, Polo is played on a horseback and the main aim of the game is to score goals against the other team. The riders score goals by driving in a white wooden or plastic ball into the opposing team's goal with the help of a long handled mallet.

The traditional game of polo consists of two teams with four riders each. They game takes place in seven minute periods called chukkas. Each game consists of eight chukkas. These days there are many variations to the game, the modern version being played indoor and is known as the 'arena' polo. In this variant game, there are 3 players to a game and each chukka is of seven and half minutes of duration. There are a few more variants of the game including elephant polo, bike polo and snow polo. However, these are considered to be separate games as there is far too much of difference in the rules, composition of teams and facilities of the game when compared to the traditional game.

Polo - History

The game of Polo was first played in Persia (Iran) during 6th Century BC. Polo was used as a training game for cavalry units. It was also played by tribesmen in a warlike fashion with 100 players to a side. Slowly, polo gained the status of being the national game of Persia and was extensively played by the nobility, both men and women.

In the middle ages, polo was played from in Japan as a means to train the cavalry and was known in the East as the 'Game of Kings'.

Polo in its present form was formalized and popularized by the British during who derived the game from India during their reign. The first polo club was established in the small town of Silchar, Assam (India) in 1834. The British are also credited with making the game of polo popular worldwide during the late 19th and early 20th century.

Polo was part of the Olympics from 1900 - 1939. In 1998, the International Olympic Committee again recognized polo along with a bona fide governing body, the Federation of International Polo.

Polo - The Game

The game consists of two teams with 4 players each mounted in horsebacks. The polo field is 300 yards long while the width is 200 yards. However, if sideboards are present, then the width of the field is reduced to 160 yards.

The game begins with the two teams lined up, each team in line forming two rows with the players in order facing the umpire in the center of the field. The game consists of two umpired mounted on horsebacks on the field and a referee on the sidelines. At the beginning of the game, one umpire bowls the ball in hard between the two teams. The goals are changed at the end of every chukka so that each team may take the advantage of any wind.

The position of the players in a game of polo is as follows:

• Position 1: This is the most offensive position and the player has to cover the opposing team's player at position 4.
• Position 2: This is the most difficult position in the game. While playing offensive, the player has to either run through and score a goal himself or pass the ball to the player on the number 1 position. While playing defensively, the player has to cover the opposing team's player at position 3 who is generally the best player on the team.
• Position 3: This position requires a tactical leader who can hit the ball with power to pass it to players at positions 1 and 2 along with providing excellent defense.
• Position 4: This position is filled in with the primary defense player whose mail goal is to prevent scoring.

The intensity with which the game is played can be understood from the fact that in top level professional tournaments, each player plays with a fresh pony in each chukka. This is because the horses have to continuously gallop during the course of the chukka and may tire out.

Some famous people who enjoy the game of polo are Prince Charles of Wales, Prince Harry of Wales, Will Rogers, Walt Disney and Mike Rutherford.