Black & White
Tips for the players in striped shirts.

By Gwen Rizzo

One umpire positions himself beside the play and the other following the play. (Photo by Mike Roberts)

A polo game may not seem as black and white as the shirts on the umpires' backs, but having knowledge of the rules and their interpretations, as handed down by the USPA Rules and Rules Interpretation committees, will help you see your duties as an umpire a little bit clearer. Many players have learned the sport and its basic rules from other players. Some players may have never even opened up a rule book. An amateur player may even be able to get by never having done so, but that same player may one day show up at your game with the whistle hanging around his neck.

All players should have a clear understanding of the rules so they know what plays to go into and what plays not to go into. It is equally important for an umpire to know the rules in order to call a fair and safe game for both teams. Almost all players will tell you they play the game because they love it, it's fun. But whether you play in 0-goal polo or the high-goal circuit, whether you're an individual player or a team sponsor, polo is an expensive sport. To play in a game you love but have invested heavily in only to have an incompetent umpire is very discouraging. If a player is asked to umpire, he has a duty to go out and do the best job he can, otherwise he has no reason to complain when an umpire doesn't do a good job during one of his own games. If you haven't already, chances are you will be wearing that black and white shirt some day. We consulted with USPA professional umpire Steve Lane to offer tips on how to be an effective umpire. Lane was named the 2000 PTF Carlton Beal National Umpire of the year and has received regional umpire awards in 1994 and 1996. In addition to umpiring, Lane conducts umpire clinics at clubs throughout the country and teaches at the USPA's advanced umpire school.

POLO: What is the first bit of advice you would offer an umpire?
Steve Lane: Know the rules and the interpretations. They are good tools for both umpires and players.

POLO: What are the most common misunderstandings umpires have?
SL: The four most misunderstood things that come up in many clubs are:
1) The stroke
2) The nearside
3) When two players are two players and
4) The quick line change.
Stroke: A lot of players don't know when they can ride into a shot. Our interpretation says a player cannot bump the player on the mallet side when the mallet head is in motion toward the ball. In other words, during the swing when the mallet head is straight up, down to where the player can hit the ball, a player cannot be ridden off at this time. The wind-up or the preliminary swing is not part of the stroke and a player can be ridden off. During a dribble, a player can ride off on the mallet side when the player is dribbling and the mallet head is below the horse's hock or knee. There are still a lot of players who think there is a foul on this play.
Nearside: Some players are confused about switching to the nearside when two players are overlapped. If two players are on the nearside of the ball, the player nearer the line of the ball does not have to go to the offside.
When two players are two players: Two players will cross the line of the ball. When the whistle blows on one player he or she will say, "But I had a player with me." Two players have the right of way over one only when those two players are directly on the line of the ball.
Quick line changes: The biggest gray area for both players and umpires is when a player is trapped or caught on the new right of way or the ball is put underneath a player. The umpire should ask himself, "Did the player make every effort to clear that right of way as quickly as possible and take the most immediate exit from that right of way?" If the answers are yes, then no foul has actually occurred.

Avoid confrontations with players. Make the call, drop the ball and move on. (Photo by Mike Roberts)

POLO: Are there any new rules that players and umpires are confused about?
SL: Some people believe that if a player has two red flags during a game or during a chukker they have to sit down or get kicked out of that chukker. This is a total fallacy. If a player gets two red flags in the same play, before the ball was put back into play, then the umpires should exact a Penalty 10 [removal from the game] at least for the chukker or the remainder of the game. A player can get three red flags in one chukker and doesn't have to be set down.

POLO: What is a common mistake umpires make?
SL: As an umpire you should try to keep the game moving.

POLO: Does this mean you should let a few fouls go?
SL: Not really. It says in the rules an umpire may elect not to call a foul. But if that foul has affected the play and the flow of the game, given a sense of unfair play or created a dangerous situation, that foul needs to be called. The sense of unfair play comes in when, for example, during a bowl-in someone is standing on top of the ball. Everybody is standing still so there is no danger, but it is a sense of unfair play.

POLO: How else can you keep the game moving?
SL: When an umpire decides on a call, announce the foul or the play, drop the ball and keep moving. This avoids confrontation with the players and limits the time between when the whistle is blown and the ball is put into play.

POLO: What should an umpire take into consideration when determining ball placement after a foul as been called?
SL: There are two questions you ask yourself. The first is, "Did the team that was fouled come out with the advantage?" And the second is, "Is the team that fouled being penalized?" If the answer is yes to both of those questions, ball placement is probably correct. In applying ball placement you want to discourage fouls from happening and that play from happening again.

POLO: If the umpires disagree what should they do?
SL: If the umpires need to discuss a play, go away from the players so the players can't hear the umpires' discussion and keep the discussions brief. This helps to avoid confrontation and debate with the players. If you still can't come to an agreement, go to the referee. If the referee says no foul, bowl the ball in where the ball was when the whistle blew. Often, umpires will make the mistake of bowling the ball in where the foul was thought to have occurred, penalizing the team that made a good play when no foul occurred. It is the same with broken tack or a loose leg wrap. Umpires should bowl the ball in where it was when the whistle blew, not where the leg wrap came off or where the pony was with the broken tack.

POLO: What if you are in constant disagreement with the other umpire?
SL: Take advice from the third man or maybe even the club manager. Maybe you are calling the game too tight. Ask them if they feel you are blowing too many fouls. The umpires' primary concern is safety, then controlling the play and third, controlling the players. If two umpires are disagreeing a lot, then they are probably not on the same page or it is an extremely difficult game they are umpiring.

Walk away from players while discussing a call.

POLO: If a player wants to discuss the play, how should you handle it?
SL: If the umpire announces the play but a player wants to debate it, say: "OK, you asked me, I told you what we called. That is the end of our discussion." The umpire should not show any emotion whatsoever because that may get the player's dander up. The umpire doesn't want to bring the anger of the player up or down because that also can affect the player's handicap. For example, some players play better when they get mad. So if you allow a 6-goal player to get [in a confrontation with you], you have made him a 7-goal player, and that is unfair to the opponent. The opposite can also happen. You take a 6-goal player and the umpire makes him angry or mad, now you have made him a 5-goal player, and that is unfair to his team. The umpire's job is not to fluctuate the handicap. Avoid confrontation and debate, and show that you are neutral and calm.

POLO: Should you ever discuss a play or game with players?
SL: If a player asks like a gentleman and it is a legitimate question, we will usually discuss it after the game. Some of the tournaments and games are learning games, and we want to improve the education, ability and knowledge of players. If a player is heated, don't discuss the game with them until they have had a chance to cool down. Some clubs issue a rule that umpires will not talk to players about a play or game until two hours after the game. It does two things; allows the players to calm down a little bit and, if umpires have more than one game to umpire, it allows them to keep focused. Two hours after the game you are more likely to have a rational discussion. It is unfair if an umpire has to do two games in a row and a player wants to attack or even debate the game with the umpire. The umpire's head is not screwed on as straight for the next game, and this is unfair to the players playing in that game.

POLO: What should you do if a player is getting out of hand?
SL: The first instance we give a red flag and increase the severity of the penalty. If the penalty is in the player's favor, we bowl it in or decrease the penalty accordingly. If it is bad enough, the player needs to sit down for the chukker. As an umpire, the only friend you have on the field is the other umpire in the black and white shirt. Be firm but courteous.

POLO: What if no penalty was called?
SL: We blow the whistle and assess the appropriate penalty. For example, if the opponent of the player who drew the red flag was going down the field, we have to give advantage to the opponent and penalize the player's team.

POLO: How should an umpire react if a horse is out of control?
SL: It should be taken seriously mainly for the protection of the other seven players and horses. If the problem is broken tack, stop the play and allow the player to replace or fix the tack. If the horse is just out of control, it should be called off the field immediately. It is up to the umpire's discretion if the horse is allowed to come back in another chukker. The horse would probably be allowed back if, for instance, it had the wrong bridle on, but the umpire would have to be aware of the horse when it came back and should look for the first sign of it going out of control again. A second time is kind of a red flag, and it would be ruled off for the remainder of the game. Umpires should also watch for any signs of blood, from the mouth, spur marks or other injuries. That player should be told to take the horse off the field for the remainder of the chukker and have the problem fixed. Umpires should be aware of signs of a tired, laboring or exhausted mount. The umpires' concern is first for the safety of the horses and then the safety of the players. The reason for that is the players have a choice whether to be out there or not and the horses don't.

POLO: If a player is exhausted or injured, can the umpires make him sit?
SL: Umpires usually don't rule players off unless they go down. If that player, in our opinion, is not 100 percent, even if they didn't get knocked out, it is best to rule them out for at least a chukker and, if necessary, the rest of the game. The first thing I do when a player goes down is look in their eyes. Give them 15 minutes, which is the time allowed. If after 5-7 minutes the player looks a bit groggy, I would ask his teammates to start looking for a substitute so that play will commence within the 15-minute time period. It is very important the game is kept going on a timely basis, especially if you have more than one game to be played that day and/or a crowd.

Position players and mounts between the crowd and an injured player or horse.

POLO: What should an umpire do if a horse or player goes down or is injured?
SL: The umpire should direct the other players and mounts between the crowd and the injured pony or player. This allows them a little privacy and helps children and other spectators in the crowd from seeing something that may be upsetting to them.

POLO: How should umpires position themselves on the field?
SL: At each moment of the game we want an umpire looking down the line or following the play and the other umpire to the side of the play. The umpire following the play is looking for players crossing the line and "pinching" or "squeezing" the right of way. The umpire on the side of the play watches for distance between the two players coming down the play. When the umpires are in the proper position you have both angles covered.

POLO: How far away should umpires position themselves from the play?
SL: Umpiring is just like playing, you have to not only anticipate this play but the next play, too. The following umpire should be about 50 yards behind (depending on the level of polo you are umpiring). That way if the play changes and comes at you, you can get out of the way. The umpire from the side should be about 40-60 yards away. That way you can get out of the way if a player goes for a neckshot or turns the ball toward you. The umpires need to follow the play, even into the corners. You can even get too close so you don't see the whole play develop. That sometimes happens if you get caught in a play and couldn't get out of the way.

POLO: If an umpire gets in the way of a play, should play be stopped?
SL: In outdoor polo, if a ball hits an umpire or his horse, no, play should not be stopped. As worded in the USPA rule interpretations, it is "just the breaks of the game,"and play should go on.

POLO: How should the umpires position themselves for penalty shots?
SL: One umpire should be behind the hitter on each knock-in and each foul shot, so the umpire is sometimes required to go off the field. On an open goal, both umpires are behind each goalpost. For Penalties 4 and 6, the umpire bowling the ball in goes behind the hitter and the other umpire positions himself behind the right goalpost when off the field and looking at the goal. For a Penalty 5 spot hit, umpires split the field in half. If it is on your side, you are the trailing umpire. On a 5 from the center there is a little flexibility. One umpire puts the ball down and tees it up, and the other umpire picks up the play down the field. If the ball is on your partner's side of the field, you are open. This helps to keep both angles and conserves the umpires' horses so they can last three chukkers.

POLO: Who provides umpire horses?
SL: Sometimes the teams and sometimes the umpires provide umpire horses. We usually have each team bring two horses. In club polo, using players as umpires, if you are playing right around the barns and [trailering isn't necessary], then umpires usually bring their own. I have seen some umpires show up with one horse to umpire six chukkers. I knew even before the game started that umpire was not going to try and keep up with the play. If they are going to do a good job, each umpire needs two horses.

POLO: What types of horses are best?
SL: You should have horses fit enough and capable of playing the handicap level of polo they are umpiring. If the horse can't play 12-goal polo, don't bring that horse to umpire a 12-goal game. Umpires need to concentrate on the game, not on the horses they are riding. It infuriates players when they think they got fouled (maybe they did but no whistle) and they look back to see the umpire in a slow lope 125 yards behind the play.

POLO: If a club is using players to umpire games, how should they choose who umpires what games?
SL: It is always best to use someone who is not playing in the event, if possible. If you use a player who is playing in the event and it is a bracketed tournament, use a player from one bracket to umpire games in the other bracket. That way, a player will not be accused of juggling the game or the score of a team in their bracket. You want to keep your umpires out of harm's way.

POLO: If a player is umpiring one game and playing in another, how should the games be scheduled?
SL: It is always better to schedule someone to umpire after he plays. If he umpires before he plays, he may not keep up with the play because he won't want to wear himself out before his game. It is better to avoid having an umpire play the same day because after they play they may be exhausted or their attitude not up to par because they lost their game.

POLO: If an umpire realizes he made a mistake with a call, what should he do?
SL: Then the umpire tells both teams the whistle was an umpire mistake and the ball will be bowled in where the ball was when the whistle was blown. If the players are lining up for a foul shot, and the umpires think they may have made a mistake, they still have time to consult with the referee. They should make the correct decision for both teams, not necessarily the quickest decision. Once the foul shot has taken place, then play should go on. Too much time has taken place for the umpires to change their minds.

POLO: Should the umpires expect to be allowed to stick and ball or work their horses between chukkers or at the half?
SL: No, the umpires should stay focused, keep their heads together and on the game. The worst thing would be to have the players come back on the field and have to wait on the umpire to put a mallet down and get a pick up stick.

If the umpires repeatedly disagree on calls, they aren't on the same page. Go to the third man or club manager for advice.

POLO: What happens if an umpire is late or doesn't show up?
SL: Late umpires should be fined. If he has a flat tire or a legitimate excuse, that is one thing, but when eight players, an umpire and third man have to wait on another umpire, it is unfair to those 10 who made an effort to be there on time. If an umpire doesn't make it, the third man usually takes his place since it is easier to find another third man than another umpire. If you cannot find another third man, tell the teams that if the umpires disagree on a call the ball will be bowled in.

Following Lane's advice will help you become a better and fairer umpire, which will make the game better for all. Umpires are an important aspect of polo. They don't just blow fouls. Their responsibilities include keeping cars and people off the side- and endlines, controlling confrontations between the players, keeping the game moving, ensuring fairness for all players, and keeping horses and players as safe as possible. Most times they umpire because they have been asked by a club manager. But even if they are merely helping out, it is important for players and umpires alike to have a clear understanding of the rules. Read the rules and interpretations manual provided by the USPA. If you are still unclear on a specific rule or its interpretation, ask. The USPA, along with the Polo Training Foundation, provides umpire clinics at clubs around the country and umpire training schools in Florida and California. Even the best umpires occasionally make a mistake on the field, just as great players make mistakes. Lane says, "If players didn't make mistakes, there wouldn't be any reason for umpires on the field." It doesn't matter how many friends you had before you umpire, after the game you'll have four players mad at you and four who like you. As Lane says, during the game your only friend out there is the other umpire. When you find that whistle around your neck, treat the responsibility as you would if you were playing. Umpiring is a service we "expect" when we are playing, so when you are umpiring it is a service you are "expected" to give back. Be respectful and courteous and try your best. Often players have what they feel is a clear understanding of the rules until they are asked to umpire. Lane reminds us, "If you don't put in a concerted effort when you have the whistle around your neck, then you don't really have a right to complain about someone else's umpiring."