Polo Rules

"Some contact is permitted, but be careful that enthusiasm to participate in the play doesn't turn into reckless disregard for other people's equipment, bikes or safety."

?

"Some contact is permitted, but be careful that being a sneaky bastard for competitive advantage doesn't turn into reckless disregard for other people's equipment, bikes or safety."

?

ftfy

Still inaccurate, best to split over 3 statements:
*
Player-on-player contact is allowed, (but not on the steering arm below the elbow, no cockpit reaching etc etc whatever the rules say)
Mallet-on-Mallet contact is OK, but no vigorous slashing.
Intentional Bike-on-Bike contact is not allowed, but shit happens.

Notes for refs:
Watch for players applying force to other players' bars using their legs, arse or hips, it's dangerous and sneaky.
High mallets are dangerous, call it.
etc etc.
*

This was supposed to be aimed at throw-ins, not 'proper' games.

But this is the rules thread.

players who never play proper games >>>>>

We were talking about the high-sticking rules yesterday:

§7.2 – High Sticking
§7.2.1 – Ahigh 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.

We were talking about the high-sticking rules yesterday...
Any particular aspect of them, or their implementation?

Any particular aspect of them, or their implementation?

Various (incorrect) interpretations of them.

Is this about some of the high stick calls in the Americans?

Looking at the rules, it's against the rules to go for the ball with your mallet if it's above neck height, and it's against the rules to hit a player, but waving your mallet around without going for a ball or hitting a player is fine?

waving your mallet around without going for a ball or hitting a player is fine?

Seems like a pretty pointless activity. Go for it.

At the same time it seems pretty bizarre to outlaw going for the ball above neck, but hooking a mallet above neck... Or in fact going for massive swings is fine (you're not trying to contact an airborne ball).

Seems counterintuitive to me.

I don't understand why there isn't an all encompassing high sticking rule. Anything above neck height is out.

"Attempts to" makes way more sense for high-sticking, sorry everyone, I thought it still said you had to connect with the ball (NAH V2)?

I don't understand why there isn't an all encompassing high sticking rule. Anything above neck height is out.

We've been through this so many times. Most shots, other than tap-ins, require a follow-through or back-swing that could start or end above neck height.

It seems the majority agree that whatever the high-sticking rule is, it should not impede the shooting motion.

They manage to hit the ball pretty hard in hockey ( both ice and field) without seeming to be impeded by their high stick rules.

But I guess we can't expect quite the same level of control with such a young sport as bike polo.

Are you trolling?

They hold their sticks with two hands!

Also, NHL says: "The determining factor is where the puck makes contact with the stick." You can't hit a puck out of the air above shoulder height, but you can wave your stick around without going for a ball or hitting a player.

This is a waste of internet.

I'd like to see players get called for high stick waving goal celebrations.

If I wave my mallet around really fast, I don't intend to hit anyone, but it would sure dissuade anyone from entering the locus of pain.

Does the new rule allowing shaft goals only count when struck on a rebound? Or is any shaft shot counted as a goal?

Not intentionally trolling, I've not had this discussion, so it's new to me.

I think that the follow through on shots is the most dangerous way that mallets get to head level, most head injuries I've seen have been either from wind-up/follow-through or from hooking mallets going above head height (something which I've got to admit happens to me quite a lot) and it seems strange that the rules wouldn't try to put a stop to this.

Does the new rule allowing shaft goals only count when struck on a rebound? Or is any shaft shot counted as a goal?

*§4.1.1 – A shot occurs when a player strikes the ball with the round end of the mallet head or shaft of the mallet.
*

I read that as any shot struck with the shaft, rebound or not.

"Attempts to" makes way more sense for high-sticking, sorry everyone, I thought it still said you had to connect with the ball (NAH V2)?

Hehe! I might keep some rules in my bag, you tricked me back into the old ways!

That's what it is for now, but there is a movement against it. NAH might change it for next season, apparently. But this is not an NAH tournament, assuming you are discussing rules in relation to LO, so you could make amends wherever you like, Shirley.

That's what it is for now, but there is a movement against it. NAH might change it for next season, apparently. But this is not an NAH tournament, assuming you are discussing rules in relation to LO, so you could make amends wherever you like, Shirley.

IMO, it's almost always a bad idea to start changing the rules in the week before the tournament.

At the same time it seems pretty bizarre to outlaw going for the ball above neck, but hooking a mallet above neck... Or in fact going for massive swings is fine (you're not trying to contact an airborne ball).
Agree.

We've been through this so many times. Most shots, other than tap-ins, require a follow-through or back-swing that could start or end above neck height.
Disagree. Good technique and physical conditioning are easily a match in terms of power and accuracy for the vast majority of wild swings in polo.

They manage to hit the ball pretty hard in hockey ( both ice and field) without seeming to be impeded by their high stick rules.

They hold their sticks with two hands!
This is true, but it doesn't mean one can't keep a mallet below a given height with only one hand.

Also, NHL says: "The determining factor is where the puck makes contact with the stick." You can't hit a puck out of the air above shoulder height, but you can wave your stick around without going for a ball or hitting a player.
This also is true, but...

If I wave my mallet around really fast, I don't intend to hit anyone, but it would sure dissuade anyone from entering the locus of pain.
...which is a very important point. The rules shouldn't exist only to provide redress for (what can be potentially catastrophic) moments of actual incident. They should lead to a game whereby the conditions leading to such moments are reduced.

I think that the follow through on shots is the most dangerous way that mallets get to head level, most head injuries I've seen have been either from wind-up/follow-through or from hooking mallets going above head height (something which I've got to admit happens to me quite a lot) and it seems strange that the rules wouldn't try to put a stop to this.
Agree.

This is not to say that mallets should never go above a given height, just that if they do, and in a manner that jeopardises the safety of others, the offender shouldn't be surprised if they get called on it. [/brokenrecord]

I'd like to see players get called for high stick waving goal celebrations.
You're just envious.

Allow all high sticking in my opinion, the penalty for mallet-to-body contact is enough (there is an acceptable level of risk in every sport).

In the event that people start lobbing the ball and receiving it in the air too much, perhaps revisit the ruling to stop the game becoming bike lacrosse (or whatever).