How to Play

American Polocrosse Association. The officially sanctioned organization for Polocrosse in the United States of America under the International Polocrosse Council.

The area at either end of the Polocrosse field where the goal posts are positioned. It measures 30 yards long by 60 yards wide and is sometimes referred to as the ‘Goal Scoring Area’ or the ‘End Zone’.

A reference made to the No. 1 player who is the only player allowed to score goals. Plays mid-field and into his goal scoring area.

The line located at the end of the Goal Scoring Area, on which goal posts are situated.

The noise sounded to signify the end of a chukka. Sometimes called the ‘horn’.

A technique for crossing the 30 yard line—the ball is thrown to the ground in a forward motion, and retrieved on the other side of the line.

In Australia, it is a tournament. In the USA, it has ferris wheels and cotton candy

Traveling over the 30 yd penalty line with the ball in the racquet.

The part of the polocrosse field that is between the two goal scoring areas. It measures 100 yards long by 60 yards wide.

An imaginary line through the middle of your horse from the poll to the base of the tail. (You may not cross this line with your racquet while in possession of the ball.)

The No. 2 player. This individual is only allowed to play in the center field area, and is sometimes called a ‘mid-fielder’, ‘two’, or ‘center’.

The action of reining in your horse to avoid a dangerous situation with another player’s horse.

The name for a time period during a Polocrosse tournament. Usually 6 to 8 minutes in length.

A foul that occurs when one rider crosses behind another horse so closely that the rear legs of the horse in front entangle with the front legs of the horse in back.

Riding in a manner that creates the potential for injury to horse or rider.

The team not currently in possession of the ball.

The No. 3 player. This individual acts as a goalie, and tries to prevent the opposing No. 1 player from scoring.

A foul caused by striking at an opponent’s raquet in a downward arc.

In the direction of your goal.

A tournament format where a team is eliminated from competition if it loses. In an elimination, teams are usually seeded such that the strongest teams play the weakest teams during the early rounds. Also called a ‘Knockout’.

1. a verb meaning to enter a team into competition, and;
2. a noun referring to the entire 160 by 60 yard playing area

An infringement of the rules usually resulting in the fouled side gaining possession of the ball, being awarded a ‘free goal’, or being given an advantage in position when play is resumed.

A goal awarded to a team which has been fouled. Common uses, dangerous riding/dangerous swing.

A throw awarded to a player whose team has been fouled by the opposing team. The umpire marks the spot from which the ball is to be thrown. This throw must travel 10 yards in any direction. It is sometimes referred to as a ‘Penalty Throw’ or a ’10 Yard Throw’.

A match between two teams or sections if the format is a sectional. A game is typically 4 or 6 chukkas long.

An attempt by a player to knock the ball out of an opponent’s racquet. The swing to strike the opponent’s racquet must be in an upward direction only.

1. The area between the goal posts, and;
2. a scored point

A person standing behind the goal posts who determines whether a shot for a goal passes between the goal posts, and whether the No. 1 threw the ball before the horse’s feet cross the ’11 Yard Circle’. Also called a ‘Goal Tender’.

Same as ‘Goal Scoring Judge’.

A variation of the game played on a field with only one goal scoring area; much like half court basketball.

Same as “Bell.”

Official international polocrosse competition between two teams.

International Polocrosse Council

This direction the ball is traveling.

In midfield, the two opposing sections align themselves in a parallel arrangement, with each pair of No. 1’s, 2’s and 3’s side by side. All players face the side line, with the No. 1’s closest to the line. In the Goal Scoring Area, only the No. 1 and the No. 3 line up, facing the side line. An umpire is positioned outside the side line, facing the players, and throws the ball into the line up to begin play.

A T shaped marking located 5 yards from the side lines at the midpoint of the ‘Center Field’ area. It is the point where players begin each game and where play resumes after a goal is scored. Sometimes called the ‘T’.

A defensive move to select and isolate one opponent for the purpose of eliminating that player as an effective contributor to the opposing team’s game plan.

A complete game.

Same as ‘Center Field’.

Same as “Center Player”

The side of the player’s body that the ball is carried on. For right handers, it is the left side and for left handers, it is the right side. It is sometimes referred to as the ‘opposite side’

A variation of the game with only one player on a side. The player who has possession of the ball in midfield becomes the No. 1; the player who does not have the ball becomes the No. 3.

The line that separates the Goal Scoring Area from the Center Field Area. This is also called the ‘Line’ or the ’30 Yard Line’.

Same as ‘Free Throw’.

Stick that carries the ball.

One player rides parallel to an opponent’s horse in an attempt to move the opponent sideways and prevent the opponent’s progression down the field.

A tournament format where every team plays every other team. In a Round Robin, seeding teams is not necessary.

Ideally, it is a 20 yard clear area surrounding a field which allows running horses a space to slow and stop.

The side boundary line of the field.

One half of a standard 6 person team; consisting of a No. 1, a No. 2 and a No. 3. Also called a ‘Side’.

A tournament format where three player sections enter rather than full 6 person teams.

The line which runs the length of the field from one Back Line to the other, which provides a lateral boundary to the playing field.

A polocrosse racquet.

The side of a player’s body where the ball is carried in the racquet; the right side for right handers and the left side for left handers. It is sometimes referred to as the ‘Racquet Side’.

6 players make a standard polocrosse team. They are divided into two ‘Sections’ of 3 players each. In a sectional tournament, a team consists of only 3 players.

In a free throw, no player is allowed to position themselves any closer than 10 yards from the point that the umpire marks as the spot from which the ball is to be thrown

Same as ‘Free Throw’ or ‘Penalty Throw’.

A semi-circle with an 11 yard radius that is centered on the back line of the Goal Scoring Area, and which encloses the goal posts. Sometimes called the ‘circle or the “D”

A ball tossed at shoulder height between the two sections in the line up, which signals the start of play.

A period during the game when the clock is stopped. All time outs are called by the umpire. There are no scheduled time outs, such as after a goal or foul.

The person responsible for timing a chukka, and the individual responsible for sounding the end of the chukka. Also called a ‘Timer’.

A variation of the game with only 2 players; a No. 1 and a No. 3 on a side.

The person in charge of the game and the surrounding environment. The umpire’s word is law.

In the direction of the other team’s goal.

United States Pony Club.

A foul that occurs when two players on a team squeeze a player from the opposing team between them, causing a dangerous situation. Also called ‘Sandwiching”.

A foul that occurs when a player swings at an opponent’s racquet on a horizontal plane. Also called a ‘Helicopter Swing’.