Polo Rules

Thanks for last night. My first league game. Its all over a bit to quick.
The shot in question was not a shuffle, honest, though the ref called it, the goalie then shuffled it into his own net.
See you in 2011.

I think that it was called initially as a shuffle, but the disagreement arose over contact after that. As it wasn't originally a shuffle, all of the above is a moot point ;)

Good games last night James.

yup point 8.3 jono, you could really push that. I agree that if it strikes your wheel, mallet, head after a shuffle it isnt a goal, but if you sweep it into your own net then it should count as an OG. Although as James said it wasnt a shuffle to begin with but it was still disallowed when the keeper put momentum onto it and carried it in which meant that it mattered not whether the goal ref got it right or not in my book, but anyway i still can't find a clearly written yes or no. People seem to agree though without it being an express rule.

anyone who dosnt know the rules is a newb.

this was an asshole thing to write. should have written another reason why someone / everyone should have a print out of the rules to hand. Apols

Everyone playing league should have read the rules, and understand them.

If you don't know the rules, you're not a newb, you're a muppet.

Sorry to disagree with you, B, but you had it right the first time.

This is tough to follow, but I think it's strange that a 'shuffle' can hit any part of the goalie, his/her bike or his/her mallet and then be considered a goal. Or am I misunderstanding.

For example, at the Euros, someone did a massive scoop (obviously a shuffle) which went inside the goalie's frame triangle, but because it dinged the downtube it was a goal. I understand why this is a LOT easier to ref, but it still seems strange. You could theoretically keep shooting shuffles in the hope it touches the goalies tyres, etc on the way in...

no i think were talking about shuffling it into your OWN goal. Don't know what that was at the euros though.

For example, at the Euros, someone did a massive scoop (obviously a shuffle) which went inside the goalie's frame triangle, but because it dinged the downtube it was a goal.

That should not have been a goal.

As I remember it, there was a general sense of confusion and mass shoulder-shrugging. The ref didn't really know, but the general consensus was that it counted. I seem to remember someone (possibly Rik) saying that 'as soon as it hits the downtube, it's live'.

Goals must originate from an attacker's business end, or be a mistake from a defenders anything.

Deflections count unless it deflects off of the side of an attacker's mallet.

In my opinion an own goal can be scored at any time with the exception of deflecting an attacker's shuffle (this is the grey area though).

You could theoretically keep shooting shuffles in the hope it touches the goalies tyres, etc on the way in...

Nope, it wouldn't be a goal, unless it touched a defender's mallet head.

As I remember it, there was a general sense of confusion and mass shoulder-shrugging. The ref didn't really know, but the general consensus was that it counted. I seem to remember someone (possibly Rik) saying that 'as soon as it hits the downtube, it's live'.

Absolutely not right. Ball is dead until it touches someone's mallet head. That ref should have known better.

In my opinion an own goal can be scored at any time with the exception of deflecting an attacker's shuffle (this is the grey area though).

The rules are not clear on this point, but I read them as any contact from a defender's mallet head makes the ball 'live' and therefore a goal.

Goalie mallet-contact seems like a good and clear line to draw.

But I'm sure I've seen shuffles or passes, or rebounds or whatever (but definitely NOT shots), and it's hit the goalie's wheel and gone in and been given as a goal. Isn't that, in effect, the same as the Euros example?

Sorry, I re-read Jono's last point and understand now. I think.

I've been having a search for what constitutes acceptable mallet-on-mallet play. Found this on an American site;

-Hooking some ones mallet with your mallet, to pull it away from the ball should be legal.

-Hooking a mallet out from someone while they're resting on it so they foot down should be legal.

-Lifting some ones mallet from underneath to interfere with a shot, or to take a ball away should be legal.

-Pinning a mallet down so the shooter or person with possession cant swing their mallet should be legal.

SWATTING A MALLET WITH A HACKING MOTION, OR DOWNWARD SWING SHOULD NOT BE LEGAL.

Is that pretty much the consensus?

Also known as hooking not hacking.

Yeah, that's wasn't I wasn't totally sure about; what kind of plays cross the hook/hack line?

There seems to be a grey area on hooking not hacking though. I was under the impressing that a hook is where you pull the mallet away, but today someone said as they hit my mallet, that there was no downward motion, so therefore it's not a hack.
Also some clarity, is hooking the goalies mallet away so a team mate can score a dick move or not?
And if someone takes a back swing to shoot / pass, are you allowed to stick your mallet in the way?

7.2 – mallet-to-mallet – this includes incidental contact playing the ball and lifting another player’s mallet. Striking another player’s mallet with excessive force, or slashing, will result in a warning or a penalty. For example, if a player damages an opponent’s mallet, that’s an excessive move, resulting in a penalty.

Striking – A hard strike against someones mallet may be called as “striking.” You can defensively hook another player’s mallet, lift it or hold it down with yours, but striking will be called.

What about gentle taps? Or does that come under "striking". A small tap is usually enough to divert the mallet.

I suppose it's like telling the difference between something intentional and a mistake - same rules apply.

Up to the ref to call if it's excessive or not.

Fair enough.

So, there aren't currently hard and fast rulings on different types of mallet to mallet contact that are accepted universally, but DBAD is a fair guide?

A wild swipe is normally distinguishable from a controlled lift.

What about gentle taps? Or does that come under "striking". A small tap is usually enough to divert the mallet.

I suppose it's like telling the difference between something intentional and a mistake - same rules apply.

Surely if you can gently tap some ones mallet you can get the ball...
Slashing is a result of being caught out by a better player (through skill or speed).
I never get slashed on.