Polo Game in the United States - Term Paper Example

 Polo game Contents 1 INTRODUCTION 2 2general Applied skills 3 3materials and APPARATUS NEEDED FOR POLO 4 4 Rules of Polo 5 5Objectives of the polo game 7 6Psycho-Socio-Physiological effects for kids in comparison to adults and elderly people 7 7Polo versus Other sports 8 8CONCLUSION 9 1 INTRODUCTION Polo can be defined as a kind of sport where man and horse work together to get a ball through a goal while using every move possible to block the opposing side from scoring. It is a game played between two teams and four players in each team (Sutton, 2006). The members of the team are either the defence or the attack and each is expected to further their own goal tally while at the same time hindering the opposing team from scoring. The objective of the game is to move the ball down the field by hitting the ball through the goal posts to score. The two opposing sides change teams after every score with the aim of compensating for wind and the conditions of the field. Polo matches are usually played outside in a 300 yards long and 160 yards wide field. This is the largest field in organized sport. The match lasts approximately one and a half hours divided into periods that are timed, known as chukkers. Each period lasts seven minutes long. The match begins with a throw-in by the umpire at the opening of each period and after every goal. Players change the ponies in each period due to the extremities placed on the horse in the field (Sutton, 2006). The polo game is said to have originated in the Asian continent and in particular China and Persia over two thousand years ago. The first ever recorded polo game was in 600 BC between the Turkomans and Persians. King Sapoor the second of Persia learned to play polo at age seven in the fourth century AD. British tea planters discovered how to play the game in Manipur, Indian border with Asia. As such, they founded the first polo club in the world at Silchar, west of Manipur. Other clubs followed later. Today the oldest polo club is in Calcutta established in 1862. Polo previously known as hockey on horseback was played hastily with a shortlist of ten rules. Between 1856-1908, John Watson formulated the first real rules in India. 2 general Applied skills Polo takes skills and intelligence to score. The player uses a bit which is a metal mouth piece to control the speed and direction of the horse. It is designed to apply a bit of pressure around the horse’s mouth; this way the rider is able to control the direction by guiding the horde through re-directing its head. The player will use a mallet to block the swing of the opposing side player by hooking the opponent’s mallet. This is permitted when a player is on the side from where the swing is occurring or when behind or in front of the player, directly. The player will then use a ride-off or a bump to break the concentration of the opponent to direct him away from the ball. This is referred to as a ride-off which is only allowed at a 30 degree angle and also at the shoulder of the horse (Laffaye, 2011). The players must clearly understand the rules and as such are expected to show them through their skills on the field. The players have advanced horse riding skills, therefore play in a safe manner and always under control. Some of the skills that a player is expected to exhibit in the field include the ability to perform all shots at a gallop or a canter in a smooth manner, as well as the ability to turn the ball and dribble in the set 30 metre circle. He also uses offensive plays from the end line, throw-ins, turn over’s, passes and successfully scores in more at least half of the penalties. Team work is pivotal in the game of Polo. Players have to work together with one another and coordinate well with the horses to achieve success. 3 materials and APPARATUS NEEDED FOR POLO A few items are necessary for the players of polo to successfully compete with their opponents. Of paramount importance is a horse that has docility, its fully sized, intelligent and with speed and endurance. It is the horse that reflects a player’s ability by over 60%. Initially, only thorough breeds were used; however, today there is a significant presence of mixed bred horses. The horses are mostly bred in Argentina, south west or the Rocky Mountains in America. The horses are first worked as cow ponies. The training period begins at age five lasting from six months to two years. The horses reach their peak when they attain the age of nine. With limited accidents, the horses can work up to the age of twenty (Laffaye, 2011). All the players wear protective helmets, riding boots that go up to slightly below the knee, coloured shirts with the players’ numbers of their positions and knee pads and spurs. They may also carry whips with leather handles and straps to ease the grip. These equipments are to ensure they are safe from injuries. Players will need a Polo ball, which was made out of bamboo or willow root about 8.3 centimetres wide and weighing about four ounces. Today the Polo ball is made out of solid hard plastic since unlike the wooded ones do not split apart when hit. The ball varies in centimetres which is dependent on the length of the arm of the player and the size of the pony. The umpires replace the misshapen balls immediately. Approximately a dozen Polo balls are needed in every match. The mallet is essential for striking the ball. It contains a rubber-wrapped grip and a bedded thong for wrapping around the hand. It also has a flexible bamboo cane shaft. The mallet weighs about seven ounces. The riding glove provides a firm grip to assist the player in his performance and swing. The saddles have deep seats to allow players sit properly and especially when the horse gallops. Other necessary equipments are the mallet bag, boot bag, equipment bag which carries the helmet, goggles, gloves and other personal items. The umpire’s bag which has a capacity of holding six balls, a pick up stick, umpire shirts and whistles. The time keepers air horn, bell and clock and the scorer clipboard and score board for displaying the total score and current chuckker. 4 Rules of Polo The game has four players on each side of the two teams competing. The two teams line up in a numerical order and opposite each other. The match officially begins with a throw in where the polo ball is rolled between the two teams and the game begins. These rules are set to ensure the safety of the players and their horses during the match. The rolled ball gives a right of way, the right of way happens when a player has the line of the ball on his right, the player who strikes the ball first has the right of the way. It is allowed for players to ride alongside the player with the right of way so long as his way is not blocked. The umpire’s duty is to look out for the line of the ball and right of way. The line of the ball is imaginary and formed every time the ball is struck. This line is used for tracing the balls path. The players can take away the right of way by moving the player off the line of the ball by way of making shoulder to shoulder contact. The players are allowed to hook an opponent’s mallet, push the opponent off the line, and bump him with the horse or by stealing the ball away from him. The teams have to change ends at the end of each period or chuckker and after every score. This is to account for any wind advantage which may occur. A player is not allowed to touch another player deliberately or touch his pony with his mallet. The players are assigned handicaps who go from minus two to ten goals determined by the committee of the competition in the countries where they are competing. The players score by directing and driving the ball in to the opponents’ goal. The four players in each team wear a different numbered jersey one to four. This is to indicate their position and responsibility in the field. As per the Polo game rules, number one is the main goal scorer, and this position is mostly played by the lowest handicapped player in that team. Player with jersey number two is more concerned with defence than scoring. Player number three is adept at scoring, defending and determining the strategy. He is mainly the best player in the team and the captain. Number four is the main defender. The set period for all polo games are one and one half hours long. The game is divided in to seven minute periods. In a high goal match, there are six periods or chukkers. Breaks between these periods go up to three minutes and fifteen minutes for half time. The players must hit right handed. This is done to emphasis safety (Leigh, 2010). Two umpires control the game and a mid field referee step in if differences between umpires occur. There is a flagman behind each goal and indicates whenever a goal is scored. Fouls are generally called for dangerous rides or the improper use of a mallet. Penalties are awarded for fouls which range from a free hit or a free goal from the opposing side. The ponies are full sized horses varying from 14 to 16 hands high at the withers or the shoulders of the horses and weighing approximately 1100 lbs. The horses play for two non consecutive chukkers per match. At half time, the audience get into the field to participate in divot stamping a tradition that helps replace divots made by horses’ hooves. Most of these rules are to ensure the safety of the players and their ponies. 5 Objectives of the polo game The main objective of polo is to score a goal against the opponent. Polo is a form of entertainment which people take advantage of to go out and enjoy, cheer and hang out with their peers. 6 Psycho-Socio-Physiological effects for kids in comparison to adults and elderly people Scholars have argued that being near horses changes the people’s brain wave patterns since they have a calming effect which assists people in stopping them from becoming fixated on past negative effects. This allows them to have positive experiences. This is more so evident in young children whose brain is still developing as compared to the adults and the elderly. EFL a therapy which encourages children to learn about themselves has proven that watching the horses is helpful to the children with autism, attention deficiency disorder and other bipolar disorders. The children become calmer and able to communicate more (Leigh, 2010). Sporting activities including the game of polo have positive effects to the children, especially those who participate in them. Playing Polo helps the children maintain good health through physical activity which also helps the older generation to maintain independence and a good quality of life. Participating in sports for all generations helps improve social interactions that lead to more sustainable strong personal and community networks. Participating in organised sports such as Polo enhances the child’s Physiological and social development. The game helps in developing motor coordination skills, team work and physical fitness. As much as participating in sports is important, sometimes the players get injuries that are detrimental to their health and therefore affects their general well being physically, psychologically, socially and financially. Short term problems may be cuts and bruises while long term problems include the risk of arthritis and back pain especially in adults and the elderly generation whose bodies are not as strong as those of the young generation especially teenagers (Laffaye, 2011). 7 Polo versus Other sports Polo in comparison to Golf Both of these games are considered the most difficult sports. However, there is a raging debate about which among the two is the most difficult. This is as a result of the huge barrier required for entry, the level of commitment and time that is put in for a person to become a proficient player. It takes months of practice to learn the ropes of these games. Polo requires a strong foundation in horse riding skills and a skilful eye and hand coordination which can take years to get right. It also takes a lot of time to practice golf also since a competent player is expected to control club speeds, to pitch a high wedge shot and to put. These require hours of training, concentration and intelligence (Davies, 2005). Unlike in Polo, golf does not require the players to use horses. Players use clubs to hit balls in a series of holes on a large course using minimal strokes as possible. Golf does not require a standardized playing field unlike polo where the field is measured. Golf also does not have goals unlike in polo. Rather, it has an arranged progression of holes and every hole contains a tee box where the player starts and a putting green which is the actual hole. Every round of the golf game involves playing a number of holes in an orderly manner with a round consisting of 18 holes. Golfing rules and regulations are standardised across the world by the royal and golf club of st. Andrews and the US golf Association. Water polo versus field Polo Water polo can be defined as a water team sport consisting of four quarters with players in the two opposing teams striving to score goals by throwing the ball in to their opponents’ goal. Just lie in Polo; there are two goals and two teams. However, the game is not played in the field but in the water, preferably an all deep pool. The teams comprises of six players and a goalkeeper. It is a very violent and an aggressive type of sports activity. Minor fouls frequently occur. The players are suspended for twenty seconds when they cause an exclusion foul. The equipments needed to play this game include coloured caps, a ball which can float on the water and goals that resemble the hockey goals which are attached to the side of the pool or which can float on the water. No horses are needed like in the case of Polo. 8 CONCLUSION Polo has certain similarities and differences with other sports. Polo however stands out as a unique game that requires concentration, patience, intelligence and good coordination as well as team work for a team to emerge the winners (Sutton, 2006). Polo greatly emphasis on the safety of the players while creating entertainment for the lovers of the game. Polo is a sure way of showing just how people can work in partnership with Animals, in this case the horses for the common good. There are many riding clubs all over the world that are equipped to train aspiring polo players where they first learn the necessary skills in horse riding. References Sutton, A. (2006). The injury-free horse: Hands-on methods for maintaining soundness & health. Cincinnati, OH: David & Charles, an F+W Publications, Inc. Laffaye, H. A. (2011). Polo in the United States: A History. Jefferson: McFarland & Co., Publishers. Leigh, D. K. (2010). The Everything Horse Book: Buying, riding, and caring for your equine companion. Cincinnati: F+W Media. Davies, P. (2005). The historical dictionary of golfing terms: From 1500 to the present. Lincoln: University of Nebraska Press. Read More