Northshore magazine showcases the best that the North Shore of Boston, MA has to offer.
Issue link: http://read.uberflip.com/i/60635
istockphoto Polo 101 Who A polo match comprises two teams, each with four players. The players on each team are numbered 1 through 4, which repre- sents a general role as follows: 1 I Goal Scorer. Pushes forward aggres- sively and seeks openings into which team- mates can hit. Marks the opposing team's number 4 or Back. 2 I Energizer. Always involved in the play while quarterbacking the offense and trying to neutralize the other team's top player. 28 Myopia polo 2011 3 I Field Captain. Typically the best player on the team; directs the flow of the game. 4 I Defender. Plays at the back of the game to prevent the other team from scoring. Every player on the field carries a handicap from -2 to 10 goals, based on his or her skill and horsemanship as determined by a national handicap committee, with 10 rep- resenting the top of the game. More than 80 percent of players are rated one goal or Rules of the gaMe, and a few otheR basics. By Amanda Hersey less. This handicap does not necessarily correlate to the number of goals a player will score but rather his or her net worth to the team. The handicap system is designed to make all games even and competitive. In an eight-goal tournament, the rating of all four players on a team may not exceed eight goals. If one team is eight goals and its opponent six, the latter stars with a two- goal advantage. What Polo is played in six seven-minute periods, or chukkas, with a 15-minute halftime. Teams change ends after each goal is scored. To help you follow along, here are some basic terms the announcer will use during the game: Throw-In: Teams line up facing the um- pire, with players on their respective side of the center line for the umpire to bowl the ball between them to commence play. After a goal is scored, teams return to the center and switch sides before recommenc- ing play. Knock In: Occurring when the offensive team hits the ball over the back line wide of goal. The defending team then plays the ball from the point at which it went over the back line. Offside/Nearside: When seated on a horse, the offside refers to the player's right side and the nearside refers to his left side. Shots can be played forward or backward on either side.