Polocrosse what Is It?
As the name implies, it is a combination of polo and lacrosse. It is played outside, on a field, on horseback. Each rider uses a cane stick to which is attached a racquet head with a loose net, in which the ball is caught, picked up and carried. The ball is made of sponge rubber and is approximately 4″ across. The objective is to score goals by throwing the ball between your opponent’s goal posts.
What About My Horse?
Players are allowed only one horse per game, except in the case of injury. There is no restriction on their height, although the ideal is around 15.2 hands. Players do compete successfully on 16+ hand horses. You can play on any breed of horse, but you will find some more suitable than others especially as you progress in the game and endurance and athleticism become factors. To start out, your most experienced horse will generally do just fine.
How Many Are On A Team?
A team consists of 6 players, divided into two sections of three who play alternate chukkas of a maximum of 8 minutes each. Six or eight chukkas comprise a full match. The three players in each section play the position of #1 attack, #2 center, or #3 defense.
How Is the Field Set Up?
The field is 60 yards (55m) x 160 yards (146.5m), with three separate areas. Two goal scoring areas on each end where only the No.1 of the attacking team and the No. 3 of the defending team can play. The middle area is where everyone plays. Goal posts are 8 feet apart. To score, the ball must be thrown from outside an 11 yard semi-circle in front of the goal.
Who Can Play?
No. If you are old enough (or young enough) to ride a horse, you can play polocrosse. Polocrosse utilizes a handicaps system so that teams can be more evenly matched. Players abilities are assessed and rated on a scale from 0 to 10, 0 indicates a beginning or novice player, while the player rated at 10 goals denotes the highest handicap possible. The rating is an estimate of a players worth to their team, it is an overall rating of a player’s horsemanship, team play, knowledge of the game, strategy and sportsmanship. In matches played by handicapped players (as opposed to open competition where handicaps are not considered), the handicaps of all three players on a side or all 6 players on a team are added up. If the total handicap of a team is more than the team against which they are playing, the difference is added to the scoreboard. For example, if team blue has a total handicap of 6 goals and team red has a handicap of 4 goals, ‘blue’ would start with a 2 goal advantage.
Where Does the Game Start?
It commences in centre field with the players lining up in front of the T, opposition between you and their goal. The umpire throws the ball over the player’s heads. The game recommences similarly after a goal has been scored.
How Do You Get the Ball from One End of the Field to the Other?
Players can pick up the ball from the ground, or catch it in their racquet, and then ride with it, or pass it to another players until the No.1 is in possession of the ball in the goal scoring area. A player cannot carry the ball over the penalty line into the area, but must bounce it or throw it to a player over the line. When carrying the ball, a player must carry it on the stick side, i.e., right handed players must carry it on the off-side of the horse. They can, however, pick-up or catch the ball on the non-stick side provided they immediately bring it back to their stick side.
What Strategies Can You Use to Get the Ball Away From a Player?
Hitting at an opponent’s stick to dislodge the ball is allowed. Riding off or pushing another player over the field boundaries is another strategy but referees will be watching closely for dangerous plays like crossing the line of the ball, pushing incorrectly or elbowing. Strict rules are enforced to keep the game safe.
What Gear Will I Need?
Helmet: Like most horse sports, you will need an equestrian helmet with a 3 point harness.
Saddle: The most suitable type of saddle is an Australian Stock Saddle, but you can use any saddle as long as it doesn’t have a horn. For safety reasons, all saddles must be equipped with a breast-plate, girth and over girth.
Bridle: Any bridle can be used, but no bits with protrusion are permitted (no shank bits or full cheek pieces) and reins must be joined.
Protective Boots/Bandages and Bell boots: Must be on all 4 legs of the horse.
What is the Racket?
A polocrosse racket is usually between 40 and 45 inches long. Most rackets are made of bamboo-like cane with a plastic head and loose net with a 12 inch or longer grip similar to a tennis racket. Like lacrosse the ball is picked up carried and thrown with the racket.
What is the ball like?
A polocrosse ball is between 4 inches in diameter, or about the size of a grapefruit. Balls are made of sponge rubber like a nurf ball with a latex cover. It very difficult to receive any kind of serious injury from a ball.
What do the numbers on the jerseys mean?
Those are the positions, from offense to defense. Watch how the players line up with the umpire to start the game. The players closest to the umpire play the ‘1’ position or goal scorer and is the only player on that team allowed into the opponents scoring area, the number 2 is the play maker and can only ride in center field, and finally the number 3 or defense is the only player on your team allowed into your goal scoring area Like most sports, it’s legal to block plays and take the ball in polocrosse, so players on the defensive team ‘cover their man’ and look for an opportunity to steal the ball and create an offensive drive of their own.
Okay , there was a big jumble and some guy in a striped shirt blew a whistle. What happened?
Like any sport, it takes a while to see plays or, in this case, fouls. The riders in striped shirts are the umpires. They are responsible for enforcing the rules and awarding penalties. A minor mistake could just result in possession of the ball going to the opposite team. Extremely dangerous or aggressive fouls can result in free points to the other team or even players being kicked out of the game. It helps if you read a copy of the polocrosse rules.
It seems awfully cruel to the horses. Why do you make them play ?
You might be surprised to learn that most polocrosse horses absolutely love playing. Some enjoy ‘bumping’ other horses or chasing the ball so much that it’s hard to get them to do anything else. The polocrosse pony is a cooperative partner on the field, so horses who are scared (spook from the ball or other ponies), angry (buck), or who otherwise won’t play polocrosse (won’t run, won’t stop) really can’t be forced to play. Those who don’t like polocrosse at all usually do fine in some other discipline. Additionally, most polocrosse ponies are treated like the valuable athletes they are. Since the pony is worth 70 to 80% of the player/rider team on the field (and a well-playing horse can cost thousands to tens of thousands of dollars), smart players take excellent care of their ponies. Come on over after the game and meet them.
Do I have to be able to ride like a madman?
It doesn’t hurt, but it’s not at all necessary. There are many people in most clubs that learned to ride and play polocrosse at the same time. The game is played at all levels, called grades. At any event there are at least three grades, A, B, and C, with a junior grade as well. Often there is a D grade as well for people who have never before participated in a tournament.
Do I have to have a super-duper horse to play ?
Absolutely not. Any horse will do. Horses pick up the game quickly and seem to enjoy it as much, if not more, than their riders. Any size, age, or breed. There is usually a melting pot of Quarter Horses, Thoroughbreds, Paints, Paso’s, Walkers, Heinz 57, and even an occasional mule.
Do I need special tack?
All clubs require that helmets be worn when playing. It is also strongly recommend that you use polo wraps or sports medicine boots and bell boots as well as a breast collar. Bits with no shanks – like Stock saddles and a few English saddles, But whatever you have will do nicely to start with. Snaffles, Gags and Kimberwicks – and saddles without horns. Most club members ride in Australian
Since safety is stressed, is there something that you’re not telling me?
No secrets here. When you get lots of horses and people together, there are all sorts of interesting things that can happen. It is better to be safe than sorry. All of the rules of the game are about safety. Since polocrosse is an umpired game, there is always at least one, or more often two, umpires on the field, and are in complete control of the game play. The primary reason that they are on the field is to ensure the safety of both horse and rider. The umpires’ word is the law in these matters.
I’ve never been very athletic and my coordination is somewhat less than that of an Olympic gymnast, how could I hope to play any sort of team sport?
You’re among good company. Most cannot walk and chew gum at the same time anyway. There is an interesting phenomenon with polocrosse. Many of the better players were those people who always got picked last whenever sides were being chosen for some school sport. Lots of us spent our formative years condemned to play deep right field at any baseball game in which we participated. Polocrosse messing around by yourself with a stick and ball, playing a little impromptu one on one, or perhaps two on two with some friends to full scale tournament play. It’s all polocrosse, and it’s all fun. seems to have particular appeal for late bloomers and those of us that can’t dance.
Will playing polocrosse make my horse unmanageable in my regular discipline?
Just the opposite. Horses that play polocrosse rapidly develop a great deal of poise. Not only do they become absolutely bullet proof in short order, they also develop some moves you never knew they had. When you’re playing polocrosse you forget all about riding your horse, and you and your horse start moving as one. That’s why polocrosse is such a great way to learn how to ride. You are so focused on playing the game, horsemanship just naturally
follows.
Is playing an entire match on just one horse hard on my horse?
No harder than any other activity other than hanging around the barn. Of course the higher the level in which you participate, the more fit your horse has to be. By the rules, no horse is permitted to play more than 54 minutes on any day and in most competitions, the horses only play 32 minutes a day.
Do I have to have acres of grassy fields, white pants , and spit-shined tack to play ?
Certainly not. Unfortunately, all of the pictures and video that anyone ever gets to see show park like expanses of grassy fields, riders all in white pants and matching polo shirts, the horses immaculately groomed with matching saddle pads, wraps, and bell boots, leather glistening, etc. At tournaments this is pretty much the case but there’s a whole lot more polocrosse being played in jeans and T-shirts by people with bizarre assortments of mix and match tack on dirt fields and arenas than idyllic scenes that always seem to be in those pictures. No one seems to want to take a picture or shoot video of a bunch of people that look like a squad of rag pickers riding horses.
While the standard field is supposed to be 60 yards by 160 yards with grass as the surface of choice, there are in fact a lot more dirt fields than grass and there are variations of the game that can be played in any reasonably sized area, indoors or out. Polocrosse is much more of an activity than just a game played at tournaments.
Where Do You Play?
The Millarville Club field is located a few miles NW of Millarville on the SE corner of 240 Street and 290 Avenue (west of the cafe). There is also a field south of Nanton and one in Calgary on 90th ave SE on the west end of Glenmore Park. Want to go further? There are many countries offering international exchanges & opportunities including the US, Australia, South Africa, UK, New Zealand, Ireland, Zimbabwe, France. More countries are participating every year. Check out the Google maps associated with each club or the Canada wide map for location and driving instructions
How Often Do You Play?
We generally get together twice a week, Thursday evenings for practices and Sunday mornings for games. A few tournaments are held throughout the summer and teams travel to the States for additional competition. Check out the calendar of events for playing times and contact info.
Is it Expensive to Participate?
Relative to many other horse sports, no. Our membership fee is $200.00 for the season. A new racquet and ball cost about $130.00. Many people already have helmets, leg wraps, etc. Occasionally we do get you out to help with field maintenance though!
How Can I Learn More About Polocrosse?
We hope we have sparked your interest enough that you will come out to one of our games or practices and give it a try. We’ll start on the ground learning how to pick up and throw the ball, and have a couple of “games” on foot. Then we’ll get your horses used to the racquet and ball before progressing to horseback.
CAN I HAVE A GO BEFORE I JOIN?
All players must be covered by the Polocrosse insurance scheme, and you must join before you can start to practice. We have special TRIAL & CASUAL Memberships (for new members only). Check details with your club but basically this entitles you to take part in some practice or coaching days to get a small sample of what playing the game of Polocrosse is all about before you pay full annual fees.
All clubs charge a “Club membership” fee so you need to contact your local to Club for more information on membership fees (see the Club for details). Polocrosse is a recognized Pony Club sport in the USA, United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand & South Africa.