Announcer: Polo is a spectator sport which uses an announcer to communicate to the crowd what is going on in the game. Tinicum Park Polo Club’s announcer is Carol Stahl.

Bump: A player may “ride off” or bump his opponent off the line of the ball, removing him from play. A bump cannot endanger either horse or rider; the player riding off must be going the same speed and at no more than a 45 degree angle as the player he is pushing to the side.

Chukker: The American polo game is divided into six chukkers lasting a maximum of 7 1/2 minutes. A horn (or bell) is sounded 2 minutes before each chukker; 2 horns sound at the time the chukker is to commence and a single horn sounds to indicate 30 seconds remain in the chukker. At the end of 7 1/2 minutes of elapsed timed a horn will sound twice to terminate the chukker, unless the ball goes out of play, hits the side boards or a goal is scored after the seven minute horn which will end the chukker then. The word comes from the Sanskrit word meaning ‘the turn of a wheel’ presumably how polo was once timed.

Divot Stomping: The old time polo tradition when spectators walk onto the field at half time to stomp and place back the small pieces of turf disturbed by the hooves of the horses in the course of play.

Field: The outdoor polo field is 300 yards long and 160 yards wide, larger than nine football fields.

Foul: Also a “penalty” is an infringement of the rules. The umpires blow their whistles at a foul, the time stops and a free hit is allowed by the team which was fouled. The time starts again when the ball is hit or hit at.

Goal: Polo is based on trying to score the most goals by hitting the ball through the goal posts of the defending team. After a goal is scored the teams return to the center of the field for a throw in, switching directions so that each team defends alternate goals.

Goal Judges: Each set of goal posts has a goal judge who holds a flag up when a goal is scored and waves the flag in a downward motion when the ball goes wide of the goal posts.

Handicap: Polo players are assigned a handicap, between -2 to 10 goals. This reflects his or her theoretical worth to his or her team and is not related to how many goals they may make in a game. A -2 is an absolute beginner and 10 goals is the highest a player can be rated and is an achievement reached by no more than 10 or 12 players in the world at any single time. The handicaps or goals of the four players on a team are added to create the team handicap. For example, the handicaps of a team in a 4 goal tournament could be a 2 goal player, a 1 goal player, a 0 goal player and a -1, totaling 6. The opposing team may have two 2 goal players, for a total of 4 goals. That opposing team would be given a 2-goal advantage at the outset of the game, to even the playing field.

Hook: in a defensive move a player may hook or strike the mallet of his or her opponent’s mallet to keep them from hitting the ball. A player may not ‘cross hook,’ which is reaching over, under or across his opponent’s horse, or ‘high hook,’ a hook above the shoulder of the player in an outdoor game. These are considered dangerous maneuvers and will result in a foul.

Knee Guards: Polo is a contact sport requiring equipment which protects the player and horse. Knee guards are leather pads which protect the player’s knees.

Knock-in: When the ball goes off the field over the end line but not through the goal posts the defending team is allowed to hit the ball back in from the point it went out. This is called a knock-in. The players on the opposing team must stand 30 yards or more from the player knocking in until the ball is in play.

Line of the Ball: This is one of the most critical elements in polo play. Similar to the line on a highway which keeps cars from cashing into each other, the line of the ball in polo helps delineate the rights of way of the players moving up and down the field hitting the ball. It is the imaginary line created by the moving ball from the point it was hit to a new position. Players need to be aware of and continually adjust to the changing line. Crossing the line of the ball is a common cause for a foul to be called by the umpire.

Mallet: Also called a stick, it is what the player uses to hit the ball. Most mallets are still made from bamboo as they were 2000 years ago.

Man/line/ball: A saying taught to players learning the game. A player needs to follow this sequence; first knowing where the other team’s player (man) is on the field who is about to hit the ball; then determining where the line of that the ball, to avoid a foul by crossing the line, and lastly to hit at the ball. Players who do not follow this sequence and who simply try to hit the ball are said to be ‘chasing the ball’.

Manager: Every polo club needs a manager who organizes the games and runs the club. Tinicum Park Polo Club’s manager is Hesham El-Gharby. Hesham has been the manager for 23 years since the beginning of the club and is also the club Delegate. (See more information about Hesham by clicking on “About”, then “Players”

Near Side: The left side of the horse is the side from which the horse is handled, saddled, mounted and dismounted. A near side shot is on the left side and because players carry their mallets in their right hands it requires reaching across the horse to hit the ball. Calling the left side of a horse the ‘near side’ derived from the days of knights in armor who had to carry swords, always held in the right hand, on the left hip, which necessitated mounting and dismounting on the left.

Off Side: Is the right side of the horse. The most common shot in polo is the off side forward.

Player: A polo player is a person who is engaged in the playing and the lifestyle of the sport of polo. Once considered the ‘Sport of Kings’ when most players were wealthy men, today polo is played by women and men of all ages, backgrounds and economic levels.

Polo Wraps: Long pieces of fabric, usally fleece and mesuring about 4in. wide x 9 ft. long are wrapped around the horses’ lower legs to protect horses from being hit by a swinging mallet. Often the polo wraps are in the player’s colors, making for a colorful arrangement of moving horse legs on the field. Some players use other types of protection, such a Velcro wrap boots.

Pony (Horse): A polo pony is not a pony but a full sized horse. This name derives from the early days of polo, when the British learned from the Manipuri Indians. They used small sturdy ponies which made the game easier because they were closer to the ground and the ball. Recently, the American Polo Pony has been recognized as a breed of horse. Today’s players use a variety of breeds, frequently thoroughbreds, but also quarter horses and mixes. They look for solid conformation, speed, agility and, equally important, the right temperament for the game. Polo horses are well-maintained, sturdy atheletes and often continue to play into their late teens and even 20s.

Referee: Also called the third man, sits on the sidelines and follows the play. If there is a dispute between the two umpires (s)he gives an opinion on whether or not a foul was committed. They always carry a rulebook. Never distract the Referee!!

Sideboards: The low red boards that run along both sides of the field help keep the ball from going out of bounds. Horses regularly jump over the boards playing the ball still on the field. There is usally a chain or other barriers some distance behind the sideboards to keep spectators from getting too close.

Time keeper: Keeps track of the time in a polo game. Tinicum Park Polo Club’s Time keeper is Barbara Corriden. Barbara uses a time clock, horn, and/or bell to time the game and to announce the stopping and starting of play.

Tinicum Park: The beautiful Bucks County Park on the Delaware River home to the Tinicum Park Polo Club.

Throw-in: The way a ball is put into play in a neutral position, at the beginning of a game, after a goal, or if the ball goes out of bounds. The umpire bowls the ball in between the two lined up teams. Players need to have their mallets down in a throw-in.

Umpire: The Umpires and Referee are the absolute game authority from the time the game is scheduled to start until it is concluded. They conduct and apply the rules of play. The umpire will blow his/her whistle when a foul is committed and award the appropriate penalty shot to the team fouled.