Polo was born over 2500 years ago in the rugged landscape of central Asia, and is believed to be the oldest team sport still in existence. It's initial purpose was training for war. Teams consisted of up to 100 men on each side. As the nomads of central Asia expanded their reach, polo spread as well.
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In Persia the game became the national sport, and was played by the nobility. There it became more formalized. During the middle ages it spread to Constantinople, Tibet, China and India.
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The modern game of polo was developed at the Silchar Polo Club, in Manipur India. There, a British army lieutenant named Joe Sherer, saw locals playing polo and decided to learn the game. Official rules were written down, and the game spread rapidly. British military officers and explorers introduced the game to the West where it continued to expand in popularity.
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The United States Polo Association was founded in 1890 to coordinate games, standardize rules and establish handicaps. The 1930s were a golden age for polo, played by notable stars such as Walt Disney and Will Rogers. It was an Olympic sport in those days, and Disney made a Mickey Mouse cartoon about it. Sadly, WWII meant tightening belts, and the sport fell by the wayside. However, by the 1960's polo regained its footing, and the following decade brought huge growth and change, as corporate sponsorship became more common.
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Today, more than 50 million people per year play polo in more than 60 countries. There are more than 250 active polo clubs in the United States.. The highest levels are played in Argentina, the U.K. and the U.S.
A BRIEF HISTORY OF POLO
WHAT
IS
POLO?
Polo is a sport played on horseback, where two teams of four players try to hit a small ball into the opposing team's goal using long-handled mallets. It's a fast-paced and exciting game that requires skill, strategy, and teamwork.
POLO FIELD
Polo fields are the largest playing fields of any sport at 300 yards long and 160 yards wide. This is equivalent of nine NFL football fields or ten acres! An eight-yard wide goal, marked by ten-foot high goal posts, is centered on each end of the field.
CHUKKERS
A game consists of six periods of 7 1/2minutes each, called chukkers, chukkars, or chukkas. Eight chukkers are played in Argentina, and four is a common number in England and on the European continent.
HANDICAP
All players are assigned a handicap. Handicaps go from minus two to ten goals and are determined by competition committees in the polo clubs where the players compete. There are only nine, ten-goal players in the world.
POLO PONIES
Although the horses are called polo ponies, they are full-sized horses. They have been referred to as polo ponies due to their ability to be so agile, but not because they are actually the size of a pony.
POLO BALL
The modern outdoor polo ball is made of a high-impact plastic. Historically they have been made of bamboo, leather covered cork, hard rubber, and for many years willow root. Originally the British used a white painted leather covered cricket ball.
POLO MALLET
The art of polo mallet making remains unchanged — though there have been attempts to make synthetic polo mallets, most mallets are made from Argentinian tipa wood and Malaysian bamboo.There are approximately 10 polo mallet makers around the world.
LINE OF THE BALL
Plays are based on the “Line of the Ball,” or LOB, an imaginary line created by the ball as it travels down the field. It represents a “Right of Way” for the last player striking the ball, and is the basis for most fouls in the game.
RIGHT OF WAY
The most important rule of polo is the ‘right of way’ (ROW) rule. When a ball is in play, the player established on or at the closest angle to the ‘line of the ball’ (the extended path along which the ball has travelled or is traveling) has a right of way.
THE UNITED STATES POLO ASSOCIATION
The United States Polo Association serves as the authoritative governing body for polo in the United States. Established in 1890, the USPA is committed to promoting the sport of polo through a variety of tournaments, events, and educational initiatives.
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THE ARGENTINE POLO ASSOCIATION
The Argentine Polo Association is the governing body of polo in Argentina, the country where this sport was born. Founded in 1922, the APA is responsible for organizing and regulating polo tournaments, as well as promoting the sport both nationally and internationally. With a rich history and a strong commitment to excellence, the Argentine Polo Association is a true symbol of the passion and dedication that characterizes this thrilling sport.
THE HURLINGHAM POLO ASSOCIATION
The Hurlingham Polo Association is the governing body for polo in the UK and Ireland. With a rich history dating back to 1875 the HPA is dedicated to promoting and developing the sport of polo at all levels, from grassroots to elite competition.