Polo Rules

So, after the fiasco of the first ruleset the NAH brought out, Nick Kruse has been working on them, and now here are the official NAH rules, as to be used at the Euros/Worlds, Euro Bench, and various other tournaments.

http://www.nahardcourt.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/nah_ruleset_v3_3.pdf

Some points to be aware of:

3.1.7 – Jousting players hold their mallet on the side of their bike that a majority of players in the game consider
their “mallet side”. I.E., if 4 of 6 players on the court hold their mallet in their right hand, the joust will
be a right-handed joust.
§3.1.7.1 – If there are an equal number of left and right-handed players, the joust will be determined by
a coin flip, in which each side of the coin correlates to a left-handed or right-handed joust.

Finally, equal treatment for lefties at the joust.

§3.1.8 – Jousting players maintain a straight line until a player makes contact with the ball.
§3.1.9 – On a right-handed joust, players will joust to the left of the opponent. On a left-handed joust, players
will joust to the right of the opponent.

So you can't cut the line until the ball has been touched. I don't think that's ever really been ruled on before. Makes sense though.

§3.7 – The goal judge may be called upon by the court referee to provide perspective regarding a play
near the goal. The court referee makes the final call.

This makes a lot of sense to me.

§3.2.5.1 – A goal is awarded when the entire ball crosses the entire goal line after originating from a
‘shot’. A shot is defined in §4.1. A shot may deflect off of any surface except the broad side of an offensive player’s mallet head before crossing the goal line and be deemed a valid goal.
§3.2.5.2 – A goal will be awarded when the entire ball crosses the entire goal line resulting from momentum added to the ball by a defending player. These are known as own-goals. §3.2.5.2.1 – Deflections originating from ‘shuffles’ that bounce off of the stationary
equipment of a defender do not count as own-goals.

So if you shuffle it at a goalies rear wheel, and it goes in, it's no goal. If you shuffle it across goal, and the goalie tries to play it, and fucks up, it's a goal.

§4.5.1 – Carrying is defined as picking up the ball and carrying it in the air, in any hole in the mallet head, with gravity providing the force which binds the ball to the mallet head.

No snow coning

§5.4.2 – A delay of game penalty will be assessed when a player pins the ball with his or her bicycle while leaning
against the boards preventing other players from playing the ball.

No lame bullshit (yes, I've done this before).

§5.4.4 – A delay of game penalty is assessed in other situations at the referee’s discretion
§5.4.4.1 – Examples include showing up late for the start of a match, rendering the court or a player’s equipment unplayable, taking too long to restart play after a stoppage.

Don't be late.

§5.5.1.1 – Verbal abuse of a referee, goal judge, timekeeper, scorekeeper, or any other event
organizer or official.

Ha!

§5.6.2 – If the team not in possession of the ball commits an infraction of the rules, the referee delays signaling the stoppage of play to issue a penalty until the team to be penalized gains possession of the ball.
§5.6.3 – The referee will signal a delayed penalty by raising his or her arm into the air until the stoppage of play.

So if you are reffing, look at the play, before you blow the whistle. And if you are a player, and foul, or are fouled, play on until told otherwise.

§6.1.3.1 – If a dabbed player blocks a shot on their own goal that would have otherwise crossed the goal
line, the referee may award a goal to the shooter’s team. This is emphasized in regards to §6.1.4.
§6.1.4 – A player that leans against or grabs the goal with their hand for stabilization is considered a
dabbed player.

§3.1.1.1 – Examples of penalized bike contact can include:
§3.1.1.1.1 – A player riding his or her bicycle in such a way that wheel-to-wheel or wheel-to-frame contact is initiated on an opponent. This includes collision with an opponent while riding forwards OR backwards.
§3.1.1.1.2 – Skidding to a stop while changing directions which results in wheel-to-wheel or wheel-to- bike contact on an opponent. This is commonly referred to as
the “whale tail” or “dolphin slap”.
§3.1.1.1.3 – Causing contact to an opponent’s bike with your chainstay, pedals, or any other part of your bike.
§3.1.1.2 – Incidental bike-on-bike contact is contact that doesn’t affect play and is not dangerous. No penalty will be assessed for bike contact deemed incidental.

So basically bike to bike (unless incidental) is illegal.

§7.2.1 – A high sticking penalty will be assessed in the following situations:
§7.2.1.1 – A player attempts to contact an airborne ball with their mallet at a height above the shoulder.
§7.2.1.2 – The mallet is brought into contact with an opposing player’s body above the level of the shoulders.

So no contact with the ball, or other players, above shoulder height.

§8.1.1 – A pushing penalty will be assessed when a player uses his arm, extended more than 90 degree at the elbow, to make contact and push a competitor.

So you can use your forearm as a shield, but not push.

And finally, something that is a new rule for this year (rather than unwritten)

§8.7.1 – A trapping penalty will be assessed when a player holds an opponent against the boards for an extended period of time, not near the location of the ball, by leaning on them or otherwise impeding
their movement.