342 APPENDIX. 



POSSESSION OF THE BALL. 



(I). Any player who follows the exact line of the ball from the direction from 

 which it has been last hit, is in possession of the ball rather than any player 

 coming from any other direction. 



The last striker is in possession provided that no other player can, without 

 causing the striker to check his pony to avoid a collision, get on the line of the 

 ball in front of him. 



No player shall be deemed to be in possession of the ball by reason of his 

 being the last striker if he shall have deviated from pursuing the exact course of 

 the ball. 



(II). Any player who rides to meet the ball on the exact line of its course is in 

 possession rather than any other player riding at an angle from any other direction. 



(III). Any player riding from the direction from which the ball has been hit, 

 at an angle to its course, has possession rather than any player riding at an 

 angle in the opposite direction — always excepting any player riding as described 

 in No. 2. 



(IV). If two players are riding from the same direction, that player is in 

 possession whose course is at the smallest angle to the line of the ball. 



N. B. — The line of the ball is the line of its course, or that line produced at 

 the moment any question arises. 



CROOKING STICK. 



17. — No player shall crook his adversary's stick unless he is on the same side 

 of the adversary's pony as the ball, or in a direct line behind, and his stick is 

 neither over nor under the adversary's pony. 



OFF-SIDE. 



18. — No player who is off-side shall hit the ball, or shall in any way prevent 

 the opposite side from reaching or hitting the ball. 



DEFINITION OF OFF-SIDE. 



A player is off-side when at the time of the ball being hit he has no one of the 

 opposite side nearer the adversaries' goal line, or that line produced, or behind 

 that line, and he is neither in possession of the ball nor behind one of his own 

 side who is in possession of the ball. The goal line means the eight-yard line 

 between the goal posts. A player, if off-side, remains off-side until the ball is 

 hit or hit at again. 



ROUGH PLAY. 



19. — No player shall seize with the hand, strike, or push with the head, hand, 

 arm, or elbow, but a player may push with his arm, above the elbow, provided 

 the elbow be kept close to his side. 



CARRYING BALL. 



20. — A player may not carry the ball. In the event of the ball lodging upon 

 or against a player or pony, it must be immediately dropped on the ground by the 

 player or the rider of the pony. 



21. — No player shall intentionally strike his pony with the head of his polo 

 stick. 



PENALTY FOR FOUL. 



22. — Any infringement of the rules constitutes a foul. In case of an infringe- 

 ment of Rules 16, 17, 19, 20, and 21, the Umpire shall stop the game ; and in 



