London Bike Polo League

Taking peoples front wheel out deliberately by skipping into them with the rear is not on.
I hate this kind of play.
It's as bad as trying to take someone else down or fucking their bike up as you're falling.

However if you're blocking them from turning / shooting, not allowing them to turn and they ride into your back wheel, I feel that's different.
It's like when someone's winding in and out and you slow down to stop them getting through.

At the end of the day, it's up to the ref to stop bad play and make some kind of warning, otherwise people will never learn.

We can all learn / teach by making these things vocal.

Yea, that's why I've not included the 'No crossing their line' in the EHBPC rules yet as there's no good way to single out that one action. And how do you define that edge of intentional action on either player? And it does fall into the 'like to like' category.
It's really down to both players etiquette, awareness and the ref's eye.

Although, no T-boning is definitely in.

Agreed. It comes down to respect and etiquette for sure. Not always easy when you're going for it.
But generally you can see when someone is being malicious and doing it on purpose.

During a league game could there be a punishment for such bad fouls?
Or is that ridiculous?

Yea, I'm considering a few penalties to be brought up at the next league meeting, after this one finishes.
Wrong thread here though!

After watching an exceptional match on saturday, questions arise. With the progress of the league, each point becomes more contentious. Players were willing to take down others rather than perhaps playing for the ball, not in a malicious way more like heavy checking / contact. Surprised yet pleased no one had any serious injury. Your wrists and elbows must hurt.
Helmets and pads though a sensible idea do alter the way you ride, less risk to yourself but are you prepared to injure someone else, possibly very seriously. The seconds to recover from being taken out can alter the outcome of the game.
Rather than everyone pad up (though sensible) I think a ref will need to take a more active role,
perhaps sin binning a player for a minute for deliberate foul play, who knows?
Saturdays game was perhaps near the limit of needing an active ref.
The above does not take anything away from the teams on saturday. Awesome match with the right result.

Whats great about the league is you control its future.
One day I hope to play with the elite men and women.

One day I hope to play with the elite men and women.

Just play man.
Everyone has the right attitude and nobody (in an obvious way) thinks they're better than anyone else. I'm new to the game. Only been playing a couple of months and they've all been so supportive. And in that time I've been injured badly over and over!
That's either to do with my willingness to get stuck in, or my clumsiness mixed with a bit of inexperience. But seriously, you get out of the game what you put in.
All those guys are like extended family.

It's important for the future of the game for other people to get involved.

To New People:
Even if you turn up on your own and just say hello you'll be welcomed. You can even borrow a bike and a mallet for a quick game.

Just play man.
Everyone has the right attitude and nobody (in an obvious way) thinks they're better than anyone else. I'm new to the game. Only been playing a couple of months and they've all been so supportive. And in that time I've been injured badly over and over!
That's either to do with my willingness to get stuck in, or my clumsiness mixed with a bit of inexperience. But seriously, you get out of the game what you put in.
All those guys are like extended family.

It's important for the future of the game for other people to get involved.

To New People:
Even if you turn up on your own and just say hello you'll be welcomed. You can even borrow a bike and a mallet for a quick game.

+1 to everything the Todd said. Beautifully put mate.

grow up was just being modest, he plays south regularly and is definetly one of the better players, but your welcome should be noted all the same todd.

Ah I see ;)

Well you guys in the south have your own shit going on and I'm out of that loop.
I should try get over there more and enjoy the experience.

Ah I see ;)

Hi Todd, I did not introduce myself on saturday as you guys were all focused and in the zone...
I need to venture north as well.

And + 1 to Todds welcome.

Players were willing to take down others rather than perhaps playing for the ball, not in a malicious way more like heavy checking / contact.

I don't think anyone was trying to take other players down, but we were playing the person as much as the ball. I think that as long as it is a clean shoulder check, then it should be perfectly legit.

It's true the playing the ball is the ideal, but in practice you simply have to learn to play the person too (because others always will), and, in many cases, playing the person is a good strategy. A good example of playing the person is picking a defender (blocking him/her to open a lane for one's teammate) -- this is a key play that must be retained.

Not "as much as the ball," but there was a fair bit of playing the person going on.

;488737']
Wrong thread here though!

dudes i agree with mike, a lot of things need to be settled here... its issues which change the nature of the game. Which isnt to be settled in a thread but probably in person.

I don't think anyone was trying to take other players down, but we were playing the person as much as the ball. I think that as long as it is a clean shoulder check, then it should be perfectly legit.

It's true the playing the ball is the ideal, but in practice you simply have to learn to play the person too (because others always will), and, in many cases, playing the person is a good strategy. A good example of playing the person is picking a defender (blocking him/her to open a lane for one's teammate) -- this is a key play that must be retained.

Although i know what your saying matt, this is kind of indicative of a hockey vs a football attitude. blocking is not playing the person, blockings ok. But whether you think its a 'clean' shoulder check or not, if your intention is to put the opposition off the bike before your intention is to tackle the ball from then i think thats wrong. Sometimes its unavoidable, but in all cases trying to retain possession of the ball should be the primary goal, not knocking your opposition off so you can get the ball as a result.

i think there's a difference between 'playing the person' to knock them off and 'playing the person' to put them off, force them out wide, etc, etc.

I don't think anyone in our game played the person to purposely knock them off, it was all about putting the ball holder under pressure to force errors. Which to me is fine, and i think wether you like or hate it, is going to be more & more a part of the game.

Playing the person to knock them off is lame though.

in practice you simply have to learn to play the person too (because others always will)

Hmmm, terrible arguement.

Tackling from behind will always happen, doesn't mean it should be legal.

RLJ will always happen doesn't mean it should be legal.

Speeding will always happen...

Murder will always happen...

The question isn't whether it's being done by others, the question is: is it dangerous?

polo is a contact sport, if you dont like it don't play

Basically if you sit in goal be prepared to be taken out.

Basically if you play polo be prepared to be taken out because other people want the ball.

polo is a contact sport, if you dont like it don't play

I like it and I like contact sports, but other contact sports still use rules to stop people getting injured... (In american football you're not allowed to spear players or take your helmet of and hit them with it... grab their helmet.. er... rugby, no stamping/gouging...)... my point above was not against contact, mearly against the "everyone does it" arguement...

Personally I think contact on or near the ball is fine, but off the ball (blocking/hooking defenders/goalies), although tactically sound has the danger of catching someone unawares and therefore is dangerous...

The "don't be a dick" rule, although a lovely idea, isn't enforcable in practice, particularly with the level of refering I've seen (admittedly at the one league game I've made it to so far)...

Who reffed that ?

I like it and I like contact sports, but other contact sports still use rules to stop people getting injured... (In american football you're not allowed to spear players or take your helmet of and hit them with it... grab their helmet.. er... rugby, no stamping/gouging...)... my point above was not against contact, mearly against the "everyone does it" arguement...

Personally I think contact on or near the ball is fine, but off the ball (blocking/hooking defenders/goalies), although tactically sound has the danger of catching someone unawares and therefore is dangerous...

The "don't be a dick" rule, although a lovely idea, isn't enforcable in practice, particularly with the level of refering I've seen (admittedly at the one league game I've made it to so far)...
basically, people play like for like. most of us played eachother many times so play that way. however if a newbie comes its not like that. but seriously htfu.

polo is a contact sport, if you dont like it don't play
Amen.

I agree with skoota and dt ... and max.

khornight2: we are talking about an essentailly unenforcable rule here, which means that my argument holds. You should spend some time playing (including with North Americans) before you start trying to make normative refutation of my substantive point.

Pragmatism as a substantive point vs. idealism and normative beliefs.

Round 1!

be prepared for anything.

With reference to my post 329, some comments were perhaps slightly inaccurate.
Well having put in few more hours at south polo drinking, the comments below sum up a more accurate picture of the game for me.

Just play man.
Everyone has the right attitude , you get out of the game what you put in.

i think there's a difference between 'playing the person' to knock them off and 'playing the person' to put them off, force them out wide, etc, etc.
it was all about putting the ball holder under pressure to force errors. Which to me is fine,

polo is a contact sport,

basically, people play like for like. most of us played eachother many times so play that way. however if a newbie comes its not like that. but seriously htfu.

I agree with skoota and dt ... and max.
khornight2: You should spend some time playing

My intention was to highlight the more you play the more it influences the future of the game, I was not trying to shit stir.
2K9 peace.