Polo Rules

Are the LHBPA rules likely to be revisited, or is the asssumption that we'll adopt the NAH ones?

Another one, again important with the time constraints. In some tournaments, if you aren't there for your scheduled game, it's forfitted. Generally I take a more flexible approach, if another game is ready I start that one, and give the teams a chance to get back to the court, until it can't be delayed further.

I'm happy to retain that approach, from an organiser point of view, as long as we have a game on court, that's the main thing.

But we still may reach a point where a game has to be played. How are we going to handle that? The (old) NAH rules have a 1 penalty goal every 2 minutes rule. I don't think we have a specific rule. Do we award a win to a team that is there? How many goals? What if neither team are there? A draw?

Remember that goal difference may affect things.

London League Rules on forfeits, and no grace period at all. If you're not there at the scheduled time, it's a forfeit. There really is no excuse for not showing up on time.

Are the LHBPA rules likely to be revisited

I can revise them if that's what people want... essentially I'd add in the new NAH rules.

Or if someone else wants to take it on they can?

No doubt the Euros and Worlds rulesets will be used by the majority of scenes once they are published, we could do our own thing (or not)?

Are the LHBPA rules likely to be revisited, or is the asssumption that we'll adopt the NAH ones?

My recommendation would be adopt them in their entirety, once they have been re-drafted. Jono has had lots of input, so there's no reason not to.

As far as revisiting the LHBPA rules, I wouldn't really want to do much to them, beyond very minor changes, as it's a duplication of effort.

Secondly, I've seen Bill and Jono call the same thing very differently at Hell's Belles and the LII.

If a player is injured and can't carry on in the short term, the game can be stopped for a long time. At Helles Bells the call was made to postpone the rest of the game when a player was injured, and play it on later. I remember Jono saying we shouldn't have done that, and made them play on.

But at the LII I raised this with Bill when Johanna dislocated her finger, and mentioned the precedent, but he said he would not force them to play on at that point.

Harsh!

FWIW, at Hell's Belle's I agreed with Jon. But as I said before, I reflected on the sub rules after Hell's Belles, and became very dissatisfied with them, as they seemed manifestly unfair.

Another example was Jon getting cut on the face at LII. It wasn't his fault that he was bleeding, and he just needed a little patching up, so why should I have insisted that SB play with 2 or take a sub?

For the record (&FWIW?), I'm pretty sure that Shotgun Sisters did play on when Johanna was injured. I remember playing out the remaining minutes 3 v 2.

For the record (&FWIW?), I'm pretty sure that Shotgun Sisters did play on when Johanna was injured. I remember playing out the remaining minutes 3 v 2.

Oh really? I can't remember too much about that tournament. And I was sober during all the games.

One time out and the second time luca put his chain back on after you guys scored a goal, it wasnt a time out.

I'm not having a go Brendan, it was an example of where it wasn't called. Well, at least I thought you had two timeouts. Either way I've seen it elsewhere.

For the record (&FWIW?), I'm pretty sure that Shotgun Sisters did play on when Johanna was injured. I remember playing out the remaining minutes 3 v 2.

Yeah, I think in the end they did, but there were various discussions about it, and there was a long delay, which is what I'm trying to avoid on Sunday.

Fine, so I'm suggesting the following:

1 Timeout (mechanical) per game, no more than 5 minutes, or the ref should restart the game, regardless of the number of players on court. Get a replacement wheel, bike, whatever if you can't fix it or don't play. As per the existing rules, but enforced.

For injuries, if it can't be dealt with in 5 minutes, I'd suggest the refs postpone. The game will be continued as soon as possible. If the player is permanently out, they need to find a non playing sub (it's RR so no-one drops out), and if they can't, play 2 vs 3 (or even 1 vs 3, as in Hell's Belles).

For points, I'll do 3 for a win, 1 for a draw.

Sounds good John.

Fine, so I'm suggesting the following:

1 Timeout (mechanical or tactical) per game, no more than 5 minutes, or the ref should restart the game, regards of the number of players on court. Get a replacement wheel, bike, whatever if you can't fix it or don't play. As per the existing rules, but enforced.

For injuries, if it can't be dealt with in 5 minutes, I'd suggest the refs postpone. The game will be continued as soon as possible. If the player is permanently out, they need to find a non playing sub (it's RR so no-one drops out), and if they can't, play 2 vs 3 (or even 1 vs 3, as in Hell's Belles).

I'm happy with this, but just to make it clear - you cannot unnecessarily delay a restart after a goal. If one or both teams is delaying a restart, then the ref should call "game on", and restart the clock.

I agree

Edit, it seems you can only call mechanical timeouts, not tactical. Oops, I did that in one of our league game this year.

12.4.2 – For mechanical reasons only, a team can call a time–out once they have possession of the ball.

I agree, conceptually, and as an organiser, but is that in the rules?

It wasn't, but it is now. (Actually, it was before, I have no idea when it was taken out).

Yep, it should be in future rules. Possibly with a guideline time, like 15 seconds after a goal.

they need to find a non playing sub (it's RR so no-one drops out), and if they can't, play 2 vs 3 (or even 1 vs 3, as in Hell's Belles).

Why should it be a non playing sub? it was such a challenge to find a sub for Sandy in Bristol!

Because those are the rules.

You can only use a player who is not/no longer playing in the tournament. In RR that means no player is out, so it had to be someone who isn't playing.

The rule is there to stop someone playing on two teams, and causing a conflict of interest (what if losing with one team helps the other).

Bizarrely the NAH (old) rules allow it, and a team can object if they think the sub is too good (very subjective).

It's unfortunate, in your case in Bristol, as no-one was around to replace him, but thems the rules.

I see, also you wouldn't want to have a game between those two teams with a shared player.
Can teams register more than 3 players like in football and have pre-planned subs?

Can teams register more than 3 players like in football and have pre-planned subs?

At the moment, that is not permitted in standard polo. It would solve a few problems if it was permitted, or if, say, 4 London teams could share 1 or 2 nominated subs at a tournament, and we did away with the "once a sub plays for one team, that team has to continue with that sub"

did somebody say bench minor?

then we'd all qualify :)

I was an available sub at Bristol but no-one asked me. Was it because you were playing Black Stabbath?!

ha! weren't you not even meant to play with us in the first place? Or was that Nik?

That's a nice idea Bill, I like it. I say max teams of 4, plus the option of super subs who can only play for one team throughout the tourney (which can allow for the return of the injured).
Teams of 4 make sense also for the league as it may be easier to schedule games.

Bench format makes sense.

I've never understood the once you sub the sub has too stay till the end rule.

What is point?