FIP XV European Polo Championship

Each polo team has 4 players. Their roles vary from offensive attackers to defensive backs. Success depends on coordination between horses and riders, and every player must adapt quickly as the game flows at high speed.

In polo, each player has an individual handicap (typically −2 to 10). A team’s handicap is the sum of its four players. When two teams have different totals, the lower-rated side starts the match with a goal advantage equal to that difference. Because handicaps use half-goal steps, the advantage can be +0.5, +1, +1.5, etc. The half-goal also helps avoid tied scores.

• Example: Team A 7 goals vs Team B 8 → Team A begins +1.

A match is divided into 4 periods called chukkers, each lasting 7 minutes and 30 seconds, apart from last, which is only 7 minutes. Horses are usually changed between chukkers to ensure maximum performance and safety. Breaks allow strategy talks and quick adjustments from coaches.

The “line of the ball” is an invisible path showing its trajectory. Players must respect this line to avoid collisions. Most fouls in polo come from breaking this rule, making it the cornerstone of safe and fair gameplay.

Contact is allowed in polo, such as riding off or hooking an opponent’s mallet, but dangerous riding and crossing the line are strictly penalized. Protective gear, trained horses, and fair play rules are vital for keeping the sport thrilling yet safe.

After every goal, teams switch ends of the field. This ensures that no team gains an advantage from wind, sunlight, or uneven ground. It keeps the game fair and adds extra pace, as players must quickly adapt to the new direction of attack.