360 POLO 



Each side should have its umpire, whose decision ought to be 

 considered final. In important matches, however, a referee 

 is sometimes appointed, and from his fiat there is no appeal. 

 The umpire should be a man thoroughly acquainted with 

 all the details and intricacies of the game ; he should be 

 well mounted and have not only a quick eye and keen ob- 

 servation, but know the proper distance to keep from the 

 game, a distance that will enable him to note any cases of ' off 

 side ' or ' foul ' without getting in the way of the players. 

 Needless to say his task is by no means devoid of difficulties, 

 and he, like umpires in other games, seldom gives satisfaction 

 to both sides. 



The general duties and positions of the various members of 

 a team and the umpires having now been broadly defined, let us 

 pass on to the question of how a polo match should be played. 

 Choice of goals having been tossed for, the two sides range up, 

 facing each other, in opposing lines : No. i facing the No. i 

 of the enemy ; No. 2 and No. 3 the same ; and the respective 

 ' backs ' slightly behind, with their ponies half turned, one and 

 all expecting to get the first smack at the ball. The time- 

 keeper then steps out into mid-ground and throws the ball 

 between the opposing teams. 1 Directly the ball is hit towards 

 one goal or the other, it turns the side towards which it travels 

 into the defending side. The attacking side should now use 

 every legitimate means to drive the ball between their oppo- 

 nents' goal posts ; and to do this all rapidity of motion, com- 

 bined with strategy, is necessary, whereas on the part of the 

 defenders every effort should be concentrated not only on 

 the defence of their goal, but on turning the defence into 

 attack without delay. And here it is that a good ' back ' will 

 have the opportunity of exhibiting his powers of generalship. 

 Hitting a hard back-hander through to his ' forwards,' he should 

 get it away from the front of his own goal, and sending it out 

 into mid-ground, he should hurl his forces at the enemy and 



1 In India the ball is placed in the centre of the ground, and two ' forward ' 

 players cross sticks over it and then begin. 



