Polo Or Bust: Hobo Cup 27 March 2011

Rules

Equipment

1 - 1.1 Teams will consist of 3 players.

2 - Any common type of bike is allowed. (BMX, road, track, mountain)

    2.1 - The bike must have at least one mechanism for stopping. (i.e., handbrake, fixed wheel)

    2.2 - You may not add anything to the bike to help block shots (e.g., a bar under your BB, netting in the front triangle) with the exception of wheel covers.

    2.3 - Mallets and bikes may not have dangerous protrusions (bolts sticking out, jagged edges, etc.) Handlebars and mallets must be capped. Bullhorn handlebars are not allowed.

 General Rules of Play

Games will be 10mins in duration or ‘first to five’.  Finals will be 15min games or ‘first to five’.  

 3 - Start of a game:

    3.1 - Players from each team proceed to their side of the court. Players will line up, facing center court with rear wheels behind the goal line.

    3.2 - The ball will be positioned at center court.

    3.3 - Play will begin with a "3 - 2 - 1 - Po-Lo" from the court referee.

    3.4 - Overtime:  There are no ties.  In the event of a tie at the end of the allocated time, the ref will call ‘golden goal’, play will continue as normal until a goal is scored.

4 - Scoring a goal and ball movement

    4.1 - A goal must originate as a "shot," defined as striking the ball with the end of the players mallet.

    4.2 - Wrist shots or scoop shots are not considered a "shot," therefore will not count as a goal. This technique may be used to pass the ball.

    4.3 - A "shuffle," defined as a ball that is struck with the broad side of the mallet or mallet shaft. Shuffles cannot be used to score a goal. However, a shuffle of the ball by the defending team into their own goal will be considered a goal (‘own goal’).

• If an offensive player shuffles the ball into the defending player guarding the goal and the ball enters the goal, it will not count as an own goal; The defending team will get possession of the ball and the offensive team will concede half-court.

• A shot from an offensive player that deflects off the broad side a team mate's mallet will be considered a shuffle and will not count as a goal.

    4.4 - Ball-joint: Not to be confused with a scoop pass, toss or other ball handling. The ball-joint is defined as pinning the ball between an open end of the mallet head and the playing surface and then dragging it. Ball-jointing will be allowed ONLY in the player's defensive zone. Ball jointing in the offensive zone will result in the ball turnover and concession of half court.  Side joining IS EQUIVALENT to ball jointing.  

    4.5 - If the ball becomes lodged on a player, bicycle or in the spokes of a wheel in such a way that it cannot be played safely, game play will be stopped. The ball will be dislodged and placed on the ground at the point of incident. The player directly involved in the ball being lodged will get possession and play will resume.

   4.6 - The ball cannot be played with the feet. Intentionally touching the ball will be counted as a foot-down or "dab" (see below) and that player will be required to tap-out.

   4.7 - "buzzer" shots will only count if the ball crosses the goal line before the sounding of the final bell, buzzer, whistle, etc.

   4.8 - If a cone is moved from its appropriate position and the ball crosses the line of where the cone should have been, a goal may be awarded at the refs discretion if there is no doubt the goal would have entered should the cone have been in place.

   4.9  A goal ref can disallow a goal if the ball is ‘too high’ - defined by the height of the cones.  The goal width will be set at 160cm.  

5 - After a goal is scored:

    5.1 - The scoring team will return to their half of the court.

    5.2 - The conceding team will return to their half of the court with possession of the ball.

    5.3 - The defending team may not attack until the ball or an offensive player has crossed the center line.

6 - Footdown or "Dab"

    6.1 - A foot-down or "dab" is defined as any player placing their foot on any horizontal surface (e.g., the ground, his mallethead, a bike, the ball, another player, the top of the boards.)

    6.2 - If a player "dabs" that player is out of play and may not interfere with the ball or other players until they "tap in" at one of two designated center court points.

• If play is blocking a "dabbed" player from a tap out spot, the player should let the play pass before tapping back in or tap back in at the other tap out spot. Interfering is not allowed and result in the player having to ‘tap in’ again.

    6.3 - If a "dabbed" player stops a shot from going into goal, at the ref's discretion, it may be ruled a goal. Example: a defending player in front of the goal loses their balance and dabs. The defending player remains in front of the goal - intentionally or unintentionally - and blocks an incoming shot. If there is no doubt in the referee's mind that the shot would have resulted in a goal, the referee can declare a goal.

    6.4 - The "tap-in" area will be located at center court on either side of the court. Marked with gold love hearts with mallets struck through them.  

    6.5 - If a player crashes or falls off their bike, play will continue unless a player is injured. At this point the referee will stop the game and attend to the injured player.

Contact and general court behavior

Like contact between bodies and equipment is permitted. However, depending on the severity, any physical, mallet or bike play that is considered by the referee to be excessive, reckless and potentially dangerous to the safety of the players will result in a warning or a penalty. Essentially, the choice to check/pick/mallet-to-mallet is not the issue. It's how you do it.

7 - Permitted contact and restrictions:

        7.1 - body-to-body - this includes shoulder-to-shoulder contact and the use of forearms.

        7.2 - mallet-to-mallet - this includes incidental contact playing the ball and lifting another player's mallet. Striking another player's mallet with excessive force, or slashing, will result in a

                warning or a penalty.

        7.3 - Holding or otherwise restraining another player by grabbing that player, their clothing or any of their equipment using hands, elbows, feet or mallets is not permitted.

        7.4 - Pushing with the hands is not permitted.

        7.5 - Pushing or checking someone from behind is not permitted.

        7.5 - Mallet-to-body contact is not permitted.

        7.6 - Mallet-to-bike contact is not permitted.

          7.7 - Body-to-bike contact is not permitted.

          7.8 - Incidental bike-to-bike contact is fine. Throwing a rear wheel into another player's bike and T-boning or forcing a t-bone is not permitted. A ‘t bonee’ can be deemed to be at fault in the incidence of a crash. At the ref’s discretion, you may be forced to tap out even if you haven’t dabbed.  T-boning a player guarding goals is not permitted.    

        7.9 - Any check along the fence will be heavily scrutinized. If the check is deemed

                appropriate and the opposing player simply could not maintain their balance, play will continue. If, however, the check is deemed excessive, reckless or otherwise thought to have little regard for the safety of the opposing player, the referee has the option to issue a warning or a penalty.

         7.10 - Clear intent to injure another player or repeated dangerous and reckless behavior after receiving two warnings is not permitted and will be met with a two-minute penalty or ejection

                  from the match.

        7.11 - Throwing of mallets is not allowed at any time, in any situation. Intentionally throwing a mallet will automatically result in at least a 30 second penalty.  

        7.12 - If a thrown mallet stops a ball from going through the goal the referee may use his discretion to award a goal.

8 - Highsticking or high mallets.

        8.1 A high stick is defined as above the height of an opponent’s shoulders, near the opponent.  Players must be in control and responsible for their mallet.  If a mallet is held on a player’s handlebars they must ensure that it is not above shoulder height and that they are in total control of it.      

            8.2 A player is permitted accidental contact on an opponent only if the swing is a controlled windup and swing, or if the player who is struck was playing ‘low to the ground’ and thus in the line of fire of what the ref considers ‘normal’ mallet windups/play.  An an unwieldy windup and swing would be considered UNACCEPTABLE and would incur a warning and any contact to an opponent above the shoulders shall incur a penalty at the ref’s discretion.  

            8.3 Accidental contact to another player without possession, above the shoulders, shall incur a penalty.

            8.4 Throughout the game, the ref shall issue warnings to ensure all players are playing in a safe manner.

        8.5 Hug it out.  If you accidentally hit someone in the face, you may be asked to hug it out.  

Time-outs

Each team is permitted one time out that is usable during each game. A time out can be called at any time when your team as possession of the ball.

Moreover, the referee reserves the right to stop game play for any reason. Time-outs will/can be called for the following reasons:

• The ball goes out of play. The referee will stop time until the ball can be retrieved. The defending team will then get possession of the ball, half-court will be conceded and play will resume.
• Mechanicals.  Although a team can use their time out for mechanicals, if already used up, and the mechanical is severe, the ref can assess the necessity for a time out.  
• Although time will NOT be stopped after a goal is scored, the ref has the discretion to stop time if a team is deemed to be deliberately holding the ball in their half court and wasting time.  The ref can call ‘game on’ and force the team with possession to cross over.  
• Serious injury.

Penalties

These are the penalties available to the referee. Some infractions have predetermined penalties, such as ball-jointing in the offensive zone (see below). Otherwise, depending on the severity, the referee have the right to use any of these at any time in any order for the infraction in question.

• Tap-out: The referee may instruct a player to tap-out at either side of center court. If required, a player must hit the tap-out point with their mallet or they will still be considered "out." If a player does not physically touch the tap-out with their mallet, they may be asked to tap-out a second time. Tap-outs will always happen without stoppage.

• Ball turnover: The penalized team will return to their side. Once the team in possession of the ball crosses half-court, either with a player or the ball, play will resume.

• Warnings: For most infractions the referee will issue a verbal warning. Repeating the same behavior will result in a more severe penalty.

• 30-second penalty: This penalty will follow a verbal warning or will be used to penalize players for a more serious first-time rule violation. When the referee observes an infraction, they will whistle, stop time and call for the offending player to exit the court. The timekeeper will declare when they can re-enter the game. The resulting game play will be 3 on 2 for a full 30 seconds unless the innocent team scores during the power play. At this time, the penalized player may re-enter the court.

• One minute penalty: This is reserved for striking (see below), excessive force or reckless behavior that draws blood or otherwise results in serious injury or any other dangerous behavior that has been met with two prior warnings. The penalized player will remain off the court for the full two minutes, unless the innocent team scores during the power play. After the innocent team scores during a power play, the penalized player may re-enter the court.

IMPORTANT: A delayed penalty can be called. If a player is fouled and the innocent team has possession, the referee will raise their hand straight up and will only blow the whistle when the opposing team gets the ball. The penalized player will then be instructed to exit the court. The ball will be turned over to the innocent team. Each team will return to their side and play will resume. A goal by the innocent team will end the penalty. The penalized player may then return to the court.

• Ejection: This is penalty is reserved for fighting and acutely reckless or willfully dangerous play that either results in or is deemed as having the potential to cause serious physical harm. The penalized player will be removed from the game. The game will continue as 3 on 2 until the end of regulation time.

Infractions that will result in a ball turnover:

• Tossing the ball out of the court - This is a delay of game penalty. If the ball is shot and deflects off a mallet or other surface, the ball will simply be placed on the court at the point of exit and play will resume with no ball turnover.
• Ball-jointing in the offensive zone - Ball jointing is allowed ONLY in the player's defensive zone. Scooping the ball, throwing the ball is permitted.

Malleting of front wheels:

• If a player's mallet is put in front of another player's front wheel causing them to dab (regardless of intention) a delayed penalty should be assessed.  
• If the malleted player's team retains possession of the ball, the offending player should "tap in" and play will continue uninterrupted
• If the offending player or one of his/her teammates gains possession the whistle is blown and the ball is turned over

Infractions that can result in a Warning or Penalty: Same as after a goal.

• Hooking or holding- Hooking is defined as using a mallet to restrain a bike or player. Holding is grabbing a player, their clothing or their bike with your hand or elbow, a.k.a "chicken winging."
• Cheap shot- Checking, hitting or pushing someone in the back. Physical blows about the neck or head, any punching or kicking will also be penalized as a "cheap shot."

• Striking - A hard strike against someone's mallet may be called as "striking." You can defensively hook another player's mallet, lift it or hold it down with yours, but striking will be called.  

• Mallet throwing. (Minimum 30 second penalty)
• Interference: Intentionally interfering in play whilst "dabbed" (refs discretion)
• High sticking.