Polo is the oldest game in the world today. The first polo match was played in Persia. Persians were battling with Turcoman. Polo was introduced in the United States of America in 1877. Meadowbrook Polo Club was the first club to play the game. The club is located in Long Island, New York. It is the most exciting and fastest growing game across the world. It is very dangerous and requires a lot of protective gear. The protective gear includes a helmet, knee pads, boots, elbow pads, eye protection, and mallet.
The polo field is regular in size. It is 300 yards long and 150 yards wide. The polo field is bigger than nine football fields. It gives players plenty of space to move around and run. The basic terms that one should know about the game include chukker, umpire, throw-in, know-in, penalties, groom, and handicaps. Chukker is a sport for six chukkers. Umpire is the referee in the field. The referees are supposed to be two in the whole field. The third referee stays on the sides of the field.
Throw-in is a form of default game when the sport is starting. The referee stands between the two teams and determines the possession of the throw-in. Knock-in is a situation when a player goes out of the lines and when a penalty is awarded. Penalties are regularly awarded in the polo field. The umpires blow their whistles when they spot a foul. The groom is also very important in the field. This is the person who prepares the horses before the game starts and during practice. Players are supposed to surrender their horses to the groom who feeds and takes care of them. Handicaps are the rankings in the field. They are ranked from 2 to 10. The ranking is based on sportsmanship, horsemanship, and the ability to play.
The rules of the game are complicated. New players who do not have experience in the game face a lot of challenges when they start. They increase their experience as they play. It is important to note that the line of the ball is used by umpires to locate and award foul. A particular distance should be established for purposes of crossing the line and having access to the ball. The players should ride their horses on the right side of the line. Many rules must be followed in order to keep the sport safe for horses and riders. Extensive rules are updated annually.