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Sorry I didn't rock up in the end yesterday, didn't want to risk pushing too hard before my muscles are built up after 5 weeks in a support wasted them.
Also it's my birthday today and i want to ride my trackbike, it's gearing and my injury make this hard work so thought i'd save the energies.
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smiff, yeah whatevs ;)
I hopefully only have 12 weeks left in the country so get your finger out.HAPPY BIRTHDAY Jimmy! Hope you're having a great day, get a lower gearing.
Seriously, don't rush back to polo, it will always be there and you need to be 100% else you'll set yourself back.Good times again last night, cheers y'all.
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So as beginners polo is getting faster, I have outlined some safety points in the first post at the beginning of this thread. Please have a read and feel free to ask questions.
This is a basic outline for beginners / casual but there is more in-depth info in the polo threads if you have a search.BASIC POLO RULES:
3-a-side.
Players start the game with the front wheel on their goal line.
After 3, 2, 1, Polo, (right handed people) charge towards the center of the court to the ball.
If you put your foot down, you must 'tap out' at either side of the center of the court. You must not interfere with play until you have tapped in. Try to get out the way as soon as possible if you foot down.
Once a goal is scored you return to your half of the court. You may not cross the halfway line until one person of the opposition has crossed halfway. Likewise you can not advance with the ball until the scoring team have returned to their half.
Taking out mallets with mallets, the rule is hook, don't hack. So no hacking down on mallets.
Full list of rules:
http://www.lhbpa.org/resources/LHBPA...Polo_Rules.pdfSAFETY. Please read.
You are encouraged to wear a helmet and elbow and knee pads. Whilst they're not obligatory, if you are going to play polo on a regular basis it would be wise to invest.
Helmets can often be found on Chain Reaction
http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/SearchResults.aspx?Search=helmet&SortBy=Price
for a good price, and these are some cheap but decent pads http://rover.ebay.com/rover/1/710-53481-19255-0/1?campid=5336525415&toolid=10001&mpre=http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=120699839315&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT.Some basic tips for game play at beginners sessions.
Cover your brake.
Just like riding on the streets you should cover your brake lever and learn to feather it and apply it safely. If you have a dual brake lever then you should have the rear tighter than the front so you don't go over the handlebars. If you have a freewheel and one brake only, then put it on the back not the front.Polo can be a very fast game but the object is not to ride as fast as you can towards the goal and whack the ball. Don't feel like you should be riding round at pace all the time, hang back, look for team mates moving round, pass the ball to each other to get down the court. Team play is a lot more fun for everyone. If there is a fast break that you're chasing, then be confident in your braking and watch the t-bones (see below). Watch where you're going. It may sound obvious but there can be a bit of riding really fast and watching the play / ball and not knowing there's another player in your path. This is t-boning.
T-boning:
This is riding in to the side of someone's bike and not a good move. Try and keep your head up when riding as much as possible to prevent riding in to people, especially at Peckham where there are pillars on the side. Likewise, try not to cut in front of someone's path so they t-bone you.High Sticking.
Practice doing shots where you snap at the ball instead of bring your mallet up high behind you and/or following through high in front of you. In general, try not to raise your mallet too high in the air.Mallet under wheels.
This is really dangerous so please be careful when going for balls near front wheels. -
blah, blah...
Polo can be a very fast game but the object is not to ride as fast as you can towards the goal and whack the ball.
blah, blah...[owlpic] o RLY? [/owlpic]
haaaa. I guess the object is to have good clean safe fun... but for me that sometimes involves the above + a little argy-bargy.
I hurt myself a lot less than I used to.
It took quite a bit of regular falling off training to get to my standard.
I still sometimes crash for no reason just to make sure I am at the top of my game. -
Left handed people can charge, they just need to be to the left of the ball (so only really useful if the lefty can reach the mallet down on his/her right).
#bantheactionnottheplayer
#howwodyoulikeitifisaidwomencantcharge!
reulbg
citygent
Arunciks
laner
marie
CowHen
smiff
provenrad
Khornight2-
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About
Beginners Polo
Posted by
@Wicksie
That's ok, only need the freewheel :P