Polo Videos

Field hockey? I think that's where I learned it.

Sounds thrilling. I guess you are just normally this bitchy ;)

It took you 1800 posts to notice?

Hmm, field hockey is one of the few sports i've never played, so I have no idea how that works there.

Have you ever played Bo Taoshi?

maybe not actually, now that i think about it. it's done defensively.

Have you ever played Bo Taoshi?

No

field hockey is one of the few mainstream sports i've never played

ftfm

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D4OV-2uTFeg

That looks mental. Fuck polo, I'm going to start playing that...

75 people per team, we're going to need more interest.

I accidentally screened Emmet in his attacking half in the game I subbed for Degen. He got all antsy about it, and at the time I said "Oh, sorry sorry, I was just riding over here to help out Bill/Vidal". Plus I really didn't intend to screen him out, so felt bad for doing it.

If I had have deliberately gone there to prevent Emmet getting a pass and a clear shot on goal, that's kind of shitty, yeh? Or, it might be ok because I am in my defensive half?

It's ok, because you did it to Emmet.

Seriously, there is NO current rule about screening. At the moment, we can't even enforce the rule set that we currently have consistently. It's already difficult enough to ref, without asking refs to look at other things on court apart from what's happening to ball carrier. Actually having refs that have read & understood the current rule-set would be substantial progress. Sober refs would be desirable, too.

As far as screening goes. If someone blocks my path to the ball, to a pass, to going to my goal, by physically placing there body in my path, i feel i'm justified in un-blocking them. Even if they are a girl. If you are using your positioning, balance, bike skills, speed and reading of the game to stop me from playing, don't be surprised that i use my balance, bike skills, speed and reading of the game to counteract it. It's quite simple, if you are trying to push me off the ball with your shoulder, make sure you can do it and i'm not stronger than you. Mark for eg: is very good at screening, a pass, the ball when he has it, or when you have it, or stopping you from making a run. If someone smaller, tried to play like mark, i'd just outmuscle them and push them out of the way. Whether you can (within the rules) play a certain way or not, dosnt mean it's smart. Do i charge against toddy? Gormley? Gabes? No. They are much faster than me to the ball, i realise my limitations. Do I try to out hop cam in a corner? No ... again, pick your battles. Emmet you fag, bust a cap in her grill, then drop a fiddy on her grave next time.

^hehe, ok.

sage.

#watchingforcapsinmygrill

ha!

In my mind it's fine, and no different to man marking in other sports.

If you 'screened' in a football game you would be penalised for obstruction.

I can't think of any other sports where you are allowed to obstruct the way you are in polo.

OBSTRUCTION (technically known as “impeding the progress of an opponent”) can only occur if the ball is not within 'playing distance' (ball is generally 1-2 yards from the player).

You can screen in basketball, but you are not allowed to do a 'moving screen'. it's a big part of the game.

Netball?
Hockey?

If you 'screened' in a football game you would be penalised for obstruction.

I can't think of any other sports where you are allowed to obstruct the way you are in polo.

OBSTRUCTION (technically known as “impeding the progress of an opponent”) can only occur if the ball is not within 'playing distance' (ball is generally 1-2 yards from the player).

Pulling an opponent's shirt is a foul in football. But if you watch any corner in any professional game, you will see that all the players on both sides take hold of each other's shirts. This is hardly ever penalised.

Also, the kind of obstruction in football that you are referring to is where a player pushes the ball past an opponent, and the opponent moves to block the player's path to the ball.

This would be a foul in polo, or at least, I would call it as a foul.

so, lets say a defensive player Z is trying to tackle me, i pass the ball to my team-mate and then immediately screen Z to prevent them following the ball.
is that what you are reffering too?

I'm referring to: you are chasing the ball carrier, then ball carrier's team mate comes and blocks you. The ball carrier's team mate should be in a decent position to receive a pass and create an awesome play that leads to a goal.

Blocking promotes solo missions up to goal, think of Maradonna or Messi's solo missions to goal, they are not made possible by their team mates blocking the defensive players so they can run free, they are made possible by their team mates moving into open space as if to receive a pass, drawing defenders to them and leaving space for the ball carrier.

I agree with Brendan's sentiment above, blocking leads to contact and physicality. Taking blocking out of the game would be brilliant for lots of reasons, people would easily adapt, everyone knows when they are blocking, just don't do that thing you know you are doing. Pass your way out of trouble instead.

#IMO

on higher levels in indoorsoccer this "screening" is also used without any fauls..on the field it's indeed called as obstruction

Get rid of interference, make double-capped mallets compulsory and make goals at least 2m wide.

It's coming...

when? please coach, make it happen.

i agree 100% with the idea of a non-blocking polo game.

unfortunately, due to the long and thin shape of a bicycle, and the nature of a 'turning circle' (such a thing doesn't really exist in basketball or football), i find it hard to imagine a rule to ban blocking in polo without some kind grass-polo style 'not crossing the line of the player' thing.

If everyone on the court could pivot 180/270/360 at will, then a non blocking rule would be totally justified and a great idea, i can only hope that the skill level increases to the point where this is viable.

when? please coach, make it happen.

I've been making my goals wider for a couple of months now. By staying in the goal I never interfere and I have a couple of double capped heads at home.

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