Editing Polo (section)

== Rules ==
All tournaments and levels of play and players are organized within and between polo clubs, including membership, rules, safety, fields and arenas.

The rules of polo are written to include the safety of both players and horses. Games are monitored by umpires. A whistle is blown when an infraction occurs, and penalties are awarded.<ref name="Rules">{{Cite web |title=Rules |url=https://www.uspolo.org/sport/rules |access-date=2025-03-27 |website=United States Polo Association® |language=en-US}}</ref> Strategic plays in polo are based on the "line of the ball", an imaginary line that extends through the ball in the line of travel.<ref name="Rules"/> This line traces the ball's path and extends past the ball along that trajectory. The line of the ball defines rules for players to approach the ball safely. The "line of the ball" changes each time the ball changes direction.<ref name="Cole">{{Cite web |last=Cole |first=Nicola |date=2020-02-08 |title=Rules of Polo: The "Line of the Ball" & "Right of Way" |url=https://www.riverlandspolo.com/post/the-line-of-the-ball-right-of-way |access-date=2025-03-27 |website=Riverlands Polo |language=en}}</ref> The player who hits the ball generally has the right of way, and other players cannot cross the line of the ball in front of that player.<ref name="Rules"/> As players approach the ball, they ride on either side of the line of the ball giving each access to the ball. A player can cross the line of the ball when it does not create a dangerous situation. Most infractions and penalties are related to players improperly crossing the line of the ball or the right of way. When a player has the line of the ball on their right, or "off-side," they have the right of way.<ref name="Cole"/> A "ride-off" is when a player moves another player off the line of the ball by making shoulder-to-shoulder contact with the other players' horses.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Cole |first=Nicola |date=2020-03-03 |title=Safely Riding Off Your Opponent |url=https://www.riverlandspolo.com/post/safely-riding-off-your-opponent |access-date=2025-03-27 |website=Riverlands Polo |language=en}}</ref> This is called "bumping".<ref>{{Cite web |title=About Polo: What to Know to Enjoy the Game |url=https://kingfamilyvineyards.com/the-game-of-polo/ |access-date=2025-03-27 |website=King Family Vineyards |language=en-US}}</ref> In order for a player to bump another played without committing an "uneven ride-off" foul, the two horses must be shoulder-to-shoulder and moving at the same speed.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Uneven Ride Off |url=https://testing.polo-development.com/ipa-elearning/subject-topic/rules/lesson/?id=1159 |access-date=2025-03-27 |website=testing.polo-development.com}}</ref>