London League II Survey

I also remember that the refs were impeding the play in certain games whilst missing calls on others.

I still stand by the fact that the ref should be there for guidance when it's requested by the players and not before.
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I have added a new poll about rules. Hopefully this will be the final vote. It is on the LPC page along with all the other votes, on a thread entitled, "Should we adopt the EHBPC rules (without netting)?" It should have been called Poll 12, but I fucked it up.

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I also remember that the refs were impeding the play in certain games whilst missing calls on others.

I still stand by the fact that the ref should be there for guidance when it's requested by the players and not before.

This is not a dig at you, which you seem to be taking it as.

I am not taking it as a slur on my character, merely as a criticism of my reffing.

With respect to refs being there for guidance, and only making a call when asked, in the example of the Zombie vs CCC, Yorgo rode straight thru Stef's wheel, and made no contact with the ball. I called it a foul straight away, and put Yorgo in the sin-bin - Stef, being of sunny disposition, didn't make any appeal to me.

Yorgo felt, and still feels, that it was a fair move. So, given that Stef didn't make an appeal, and Yorgo didn't signal that he was going to tap-out, should I have let play continue, and even though it was a clear foul, and dangerous play?

I like object's ideal that players can work it out between themselves, but in reality, this will only work with situations where there hasn't been anger involved already. So working out if it was a goal or not should be achievable, but working out if a t-bone was a foul or not isn't going to work.

In the previous league we had some really rough and nasty play, so bad in fact that some people have never returned to play polo since, I was reffing a game, I wanted to get the offender off the court, but the ref's voice wasn't respected or heard. It would be good for refs to be acknowledged and their word final, but they need to gauge the situation and use their better judgement to decide whether to step in or not.

... I would much rather have a ref make the calls, than get into a shouting match with the other team, or simply concede to a bunch of cheats, because I cant be bothered to argue (both of these happened to me in the last league).

In the previous league we had some really rough and nasty play, so bad in fact that some people have never returned to play polo since.

To combat this, you need a ref and they need to have authority. Yes, ideally players would be able to sort it out themselves but when it comes to competition people have very different ideas about what is acceptable in pursuit of 3 points. As Gabes says, players can sort out what is/isn't a goal fairly well but dealing with sneaky mallets under the front wheel? It's not in my nature to get really confrontational about something like that but I'd appreciate it if someone was there to do it on my behalf and they weren't afraid to call it because 'players should be able to take care of themselves.'

You need a Hammer Ball Samurai.

You need an Extreme Urban Bike Hammer Ball Samurai.

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The latest round of voting is complete. We voted to adopt the EHBPC rules with no nets and goals at cone height.

Here is the current set of rules.

**Basic rules **

• Three games per fixture.
  
• Two weeks to play a fixture.
  
• No-show counts as a forfeit (unless you can rearrange before end of league; see further details below).
  
• A volunteer referee (preferably with 2 goal refs) should be present at all games.
  
• It is the responsibility of the ref to email the scores.
  
• League should not interfere with throw-ins, unless it happens during team night or at a designated league court.
  
• Home team to bear responsibility of making the fixture happen with other team.
  
• There will be a trophy that we can keep for eternity, which will bear the names of each year’s winner (beginning with “BAD Polo” 2009).
  
• Deadline for team registration is one week before league begins.
  
  
  
  

Additional rules that were individually voted on

1. We play according to EHBPC rules, with one change: goals are cone height and there is no net.
   
   1. Individual games are timed (to 15 minutes) or first to 5.
      
2. If there is a tie at the 15 minute mark, then the game goes into “golden goal” mode (game continues until the next goal).
   
3. Fixtures will be announced weekly but teams will be allowed two weeks to play them (i.e., two-week fixtures with one week overlap).
   
4. Every team can have postponed up to two fixtures at any given time, and they need to be played before the end of the league. When a fixture postponement is made up, that postponement is returned to the team and they are then able to postpone again.
   
5. In the case of the forfeit, the team present gets 3 points and 3 goals (this assumes 1-0 in three games).
   
6. Home team gets to pick the home court (league play can happen on any night).
   
7. Subs must be non-league players.5. Home team gets to pick the home court (league play can happen on any night).
   
8. League is independent of the Euros; league placement does not qualify for an automatic spot in the Euros.
   
9. Entry into the league is free.
   
10. There is no limit to number of teams who may register for the league.
    
11. Teams must be from London.
    

I think these rules and regulations are quite comprehensive and good. However, if someone else has any other issue with any particular rules, I would think they could post a suggestion on here and see if there is any agreement, and then we can vote again on specifics. How about, if any debate continues, we allow the possibility of new votes until one week before the league begins -- which is Sept 7, as league begins on Sept 14? After this, any changes have to wait London Hammer Ball League III.

I think that the EHBPC rules need to be slightly modified to reflect that this is a league and not a tourney. I have drafted a version of the rules with some slight modifications for a league context, and have also made a couple of very minor changes to clarify intention. I will post them here as soon as I hear back from Mike on a question. *I think that all these minor changes are not contentious. *

I am not trying to slip anything past anyone here, so please do not throw a fit. The modified rules will include everything that was removed (in strikethrough) and all of the word changes are in italics. In a very few cases I have changed a word (e.g., changing "3-2-1 Go!" to "3-2-1 Polo!) that I think represents common practice. There are no chukkers -- literately or figuratively -- in these rules.

I know this modification should have happened before the vote, but it didn't. Sorry. I've sent them to Mike to review, and then I'll post them here after he approves or revises them. (It's nothing big, just a couple of small changes to reflect the league context.)

League rules (adapted from the EHBPC)

We will be using a Franklin Super Hi-density use a street hockey ball.

~~Helmets will be required.

The 2 courts will be 20mX30m.~~

The goals will be 165cmX75cm bike width with rubber cones (preferably with tall cones and a line painted connecting the cones).

Players listed on your registration form can be replaced by a like representative (representing your polo scene) up until the end of late registration on the morning of the 1st August.

In the rules below, precedence takes priority. If it is listed in the rules first, it most likely over rides anything listed below it.

Bike

• You can ride any bicycle you like, handlebars must be plugged and you must have at least one brake. A fixed drive counts as a brake.
  
• Wheel covers are allowed but any defense oriented frame additions are not.
  
  
  

Mallets

• Referee will have the final say in mallet safety.
  
• Mallet heads should not be made of metal or any material that is sharp and/or could obviously chip, shatter or splinter.
  
• The handle end of the mallet shaft must be securely plugged.
  
  
  

Players

• Teams will consist of 3 players.
  
• During a match, equipment can be substituted but not players. After or before a match, only an injured player can be substituted and only by someone who is not a registered player. This substitute player must finish the rest of the day but could again be substituted by the original player on the following day.
  
• Offensive team means *refers to the team that possesses the ball in their opponent's half of the court,* or defends the goal which the ball is not in the same half of the court including any players defending their half of the court while the ball is in their opponent’s half of the court. Whichever may be the appropriate case.
  
• Defensive team means *refers to *the team that does not posses the ball or defends the goal which the ball is in the same half of the court while the ball is in their half of the court. Whichever may be the appropriate case.
  
  
  

Start of the Game

• Players will start in their goal area with the ball placed at centre court. At the referee’s shout of ‘3,2,1, Go! Polo’ any or all players from either or both teams can charge the ball for possession.
  
  
  

Play of the Ball

• Play of the ball is considered to be anything directly related with, or within one maneuver of, the process of blocking possession, gaining possession, passing, traveling with and putting the ball into your opponent’s goal.
  
  
  

Goals

• Goals will be 165cmX75cm and netted.
  
• Goal area will be a clearly marked 165cm out from the goal.
  
  

Shuffles & Hits

• A ‘Hit’ is only made from the end of a player’s mallet.
  
• A ‘Shuffle’ is hitting the ball with the broadside of the mallet or the shaft of the mallet.
  
• An offensive shuffle does not count as a goal. If the ball is shuffled into the goal by the offensive team, play continues uninterrupted. Either team can take control of the ball but the team that shuffled cannot score until any second player has possessed the ball.
  
• If a team puts the ball into their own goal, it is a goal for the opposing team.
  
• An offensive hit directly into the goal is a goal.
  
  
  

Reflection & Deflection

• Reflection means a hit coming off of a offensive player’s bike or person whether purposeful or accidental.
  
• Deflection means a hit coming off of a defensive player’s bike or person whether purposeful or accidental.
  
• If an offensive player adds momentum or direction purposefully to a reflection it is not a goal. All other reflections are goals.
  
• Deflections, not starting from an offensive shuffle, count as a goal for the offensive team.
  
  
  

Ball Joint and Lobs

• It is legal to lob the ball (‘throw’ the ball with the mallet) and/or to travel with the ball using the ‘ball joint/Angelo shuffle’ cupping style of carrying the ball but you cannot score with either method.
  
  
  

After a goal is scored/resetting the game

• The scoring team is the team that has just scored a goal.
  

• The conceding team is the team that has just allowed a goal to the opposing team.

• In case of the ball ricocheting from the goal past half court, the conceding team must possess the ball before scoring team can possess it. The ref can instruct for the ball be passed back across half court

• After a goal is scored, the scoring team must return to their own goal area and cannot come back across center court until the ball or any player of the conceding team has come past center court.

• The conceding team takes possession of the ball. No conceding player with or without the ball can then pass half court until at least two players of the scoring team have returned to their goal area, one of these players can be a ‘goalie’ who was already in the goal area. In the case of the scoring team taking undue time returning to their goal, the referee can call ‘game on’. Likewise, in the case of the conceding team taking undue time taking the ball past half court, the ref can call ‘game on’.

• A player is not required to tap out for a foot-down after a goal has been scored but must return to their goal area.

Fouls

• Players must not touch the floor with their feet. Touching the sides of the wall or barrier with your feet is allowed. A foot touching any mallet or ball on the floor is considered a foot-down. Each time a player does foot-down, that player is out of play and may not play the ball until they touch either sideline at center court. The player must immediately tap-out and not purposefully obstruct play. Intentionally obstructing play after foot-down will be considered a strong penalty. A possible goal that is blocked by a player out of play due to foot-down is not a goal.
  
• Throwing your mallet is not allowed at any time and will be considered a strong penalty.
  
• Overly aggressive behavior such as unnecessary elbowing, grabbing, pushing, punching with hands, pushing or kicking with feet, and headbutting will be considered a strong penalty.
  
• A ‘T-bone’ or charging, intentional, forward moving bike contact that is perpendicular or near perpendicular (resulting in a maneuver similar in shape to a letter ‘T’), can be considered a strong penalty.
  
  
  

‘Like’ contact that is allowed

• Non-aggressive Body to body, mallet to mallet, and bike to bike. Apart from the fouls listed above.
  
• Contact is only permitted within the play of the ball. Contact away from the play of the ball can result in a penalty.
  
  
  

‘Non-like’ contact that is allowed

• Ball to body, mallet or bike.
  
• Body to ball is allowed if the player is sat in the saddle, feet on the pedals, hand holding mallet, other hand on bars. Players should not intentionally restrain, nor add momentum to the ball with your body. This can result in the ref calling a tap-out.
  
• If the ball becomes trapped within a player’s bike or person play continues but please be aware that any legal play towards the bike or person will be considered as play towards the ball and therefore legal.
  
  
  

Time outs

• Refs can call and extend injury and mechanical failure timeouts over and above these rules, but is under no obligation. The ref will call game-on when appropriate and if the timeout is unnecessary.
  
• Can be called by a player only after a goal is scored.
  
• May be called in order to tend to physical injury.
  
• May be called in order to tend to a mechanical failure.
  
• Will be limited to maximum five minutes, one per game per team.
  
  
  

***Referees and Penalties ***

Above all, the players have the responsibility to keep legal play on the court. In the case of disputes there are three referees that will be appointed per game. The referees’ duties will be:

• Have the final word.
  
• Determine what is and is not a goal.
  
• Determine what is and is not a foul that can result in a penalty and what the penalty is for such foul.
  
• Correct the goal if it is moved.
  
• Keep track of score. Score must be called out after every goal.
  
• Keep track of time.
  
• Call injury time outs for major injuries.
  
• Provide an extra ball at point of exit if the ball is knocked out of play.
  
  
  

Penalties can be:

• Tap out at either the sidelines or either goal line.
  
• Give possession of the ball over to the opposing team.
  
• Be removed from the game until the next goal is scored or for a set time or even permanently. Timed games; 10 minute game=30 second penalty, 15 minutes = 45 seconds, over 20 minutes = 1 minute.
  
• In extreme cases any form of public humiliation can be considered proper punishment for offenders.
  

I don't have time to read these rules.

I will play in the league with bike polo "rules", the way we've been playing so far. I just hope not too many complex rules have been added as I won't be aware of them and will probably end up breaking them. I appreciate all the effort you guys are putting into this, but seriously I don't blame Jack (Sick Buckets) who I saw the other day and said that his reason for stopping polo was all the new rules.

One of the reasons why I never played team sports in my life was the freedom and simplicity I could find in skateboarding, surfing and snowboarding. Please keep the spirit of Polo alive.

Let's add rules about pistachios on the court.

And something that bans cycling excessively in circles.

And no reading the Guardian on the court sidelines.

I don't have time to read these rules.

I will play in the league with bike polo "rules", the way we've been playing so far. I just hope not too many complex rules have been added as I won't be aware of them and will probably end up breaking them. I appreciate all the effort you guys are putting into this, but seriously I don't blame Jack (Sick Buckets) who I saw the other day and said that his reason for stopping polo was all the new rules.

One of the reasons why I never played team sports in my life was the freedom and simplicity I could find in skateboarding, surfing and snowboarding. Please keep the spirit of Polo alive.

Whatever dude. You're playing a team sport, in a league. If you want to have a league, you have to have rules. The old "more polo less rules" refrain is so fucking tired.

You have time to read about Michael Jackson but no time to read the rules of a league you play in?

Last time I played with Jack he was falling off his bike in his own goal and then he pushed me off my bike as he was falling. And that's a bullshit reason anyway -- I defy you or Jack to name a single rule that was instituted between the time that Jack was playing and the time that he quit.

(I've also not read the rules, but assume there are no surprises).

Also, there were no new rules added to the EHBPC rules, so I'm not sure what the problem is.

Lack of the pistachio rule?

i have read the rules, it doesn't take long yorgo, maybe if you dropped the soulmates page of the observer, you'd have time. There's nothing in there you don't already know, but it wouldn't hurt to read them.

mmm... sorry about the rant. I love polo but don't want it to become too regimented. I'm sure you guys have not added anything drastically different anyway.

Soulmates in the Observer is shit - the latest date I went on through it looked like this:

mmm... sorry about the rant.

I probably over-reacted too. But it's not like any of us are actually adding rules for the sake of it ...

mmm... sorry about the rant. I love polo but don't want it to become too regimented. I'm sure you guys have not added anything drastically different anyway.

Soulmates in the Observer is shit - the latest date I went on through it looked like this:

Hahaha!

Seriously, Yorgo no new rules, same rules as EHBPC (with league specific mods).

One of the Irish guys said to me after one of the games:

"Are there any rules at all in this game?"

But it's not like any of us are actually adding rules for the sake of it ...

I have to agree with Dr Chucker. All any of us want is safe, fast games with lots of skill and great passing moves.