a goal regardless of who knocks
it through, including the pony.
Where it gets confusing,
though, is after every goal
that’s scored, the teams
change the direction of play.
Again, this is to ensure
fairness to both teams to
share wind direction and
a possible sloping field.
often used after the rating,
it bears no relation to the
number of goals a player
scores in a match, but to his
overall playing ability instead.
A player’s horsemanship, range
of strokes, speed of play, team
and game sense are the factors
considered in determining
his handicap.
The team handicap is the sum
of its players’ handicaps. Should
a team’s goal handicap unfairly
outweigh the other’s, a simple
calculation is made, and the
team with the lower handicap
will start the match with points
on the board.
The Number 4 player
(or back) is essentially the
most defensive player and
his primary responsibility
is to protect the goal area.
All players are rated on
a goal handicap scale of -2
to 10 (the higher the better).
Although the word ‘goal’ is
600 BC
1932
1850s
1936
The first recorded polo
tournament took place,
with the Turkomans
beating the Persian
in a public match.
An Irishman of the British
Cavalry 13th Hussars,
Captain John Watson,
created the first set of
written rules for polo.
The players
There are four players on
a team and each player is
assigned a distinctly different
role according to their position.
The Number 1 player is
essentially a goal striker whose
primary role is to score goals.
The Number 2 player is also
a forward but plays harder,
especially on defence. Number
3 is the pivotal player between
offence and defence who tries
to turn all plays to offence.
He is usually the highest
rated player on the team.
A BRIEF POLO HISTORY LESSON
1874
The spectators
Labelled the sport of kings and
with a reputation of attracting
the glamour-set, spectators
often arrive wearing the latest
fashion trends spotted on
the catwalks of Milan and
Paris. While ‘dressing up’
is recommended at major
tournaments and charity
events, casual attire is quite the
norm at your average weekend
club match, which are often
promoted as family-friendly.
Either way, it’s recommended
to wear comfortable, or flat,
shoes for the ‘stomping of the
divots’ at half-time. This is an
old tradition where spectators
take to the massive playing
field and assist the ground staff
by stomping down the turf
turned up by the ponies.
Considering the size of the
field (which is approximately
the size of six soccer fields),
it’s also a good idea to bring
along a set of binoculars to
follow the action closely. »
The first recorded South
African game took place
in October at the Parade
Ground in Cape Town,
between the Gordon
Highlanders and the
Cape Mounted Rifles.
1885
A polo club was formed in
Cape Town by army officers
and in Natal by the officers
stationed at Fort Napier,
Pietermaritzburg.
1906
The South African Polo
Association (SAPA)
was formed in a room
at Durban’s Royal Hotel.
1910
England and India adopted
player ratings in the form
of handicaps. Polo matches
are pla