356 POLO 



where he can see all that is going on in front, and suit his 

 tactics- to the exigencies and incidents of the game. 



Before proceeding further it may be as well to glance at the 

 various duties of the different players. Men may be individually 

 brilliant players and splendidly mounted, yet if they disregard 

 the duties connected with their respective positions they will 

 probably suffer defeat at the hands of a weaker and worse 

 mounted team, who play together. There is much truth in the 

 Belgian national motto 'L'union fait la force,' and to polo this 

 is certainly most applicable. That, under certain circumstances, 

 it requires much self-denial not to disregard the voice of duty 

 is incontestable ; yet what would be thought of an officer who 

 in action had some important post to defend, if he were to 

 leave his men in order to attempt some brilliant or dashing 

 individual feat of arms ! Ten to one the loss of his commission 

 would be the result, however successful the achievement. So in 

 polo. Every member of a team should//^ for his side> not for 

 his own personal glory , and this fact cannot be too strongly 

 impressed on young players, most of whom are apt to be led 

 away by the temptation of making some brilliant stroke or ex- 

 hibiting some dashing bit of play. It should therefore be borne 

 in mind that a team cannot be considered really first-class till 

 they have learnt to play together and into each other's hands, 

 and abandoned all ideas of playing a selfish game. Such a team > 

 though possibly individually inferior, will nearly invariably de- 

 feat one that, though intrinsically superior, plays a selfish game. 



Taking the players in the reverse order of their numbers, 

 and because No. 4 is generally the captain of the side, we will 

 begin with him. 



No. 4, or the * back ' player of a polo team, is the one on 

 whom the greatest responsibility depends, for he will have not 

 only to be the eyes, ears, and brains of his side, but their reserve 

 as well. His duty is to defend his goal, and to do this he 

 should always be between it and the ball, at the same time 

 staying as close to play as he can conveniently trust himself 

 and his pony. This will enable him to direct and control his 



