Polo is the most passionate sport there is. We’ve talked before about the different variants of this wonderful sport. Today we are going to take a deeper dive into the rules and characteristics of arena polo, comparing it to traditional polo.
Arena is the second most well-known version of polo right after the traditional one played in grass fields. Arena polo has some differences from traditional grass polo, let’s check them out:
The most evident difference is the type of field in which each version is played. In grass polo, the field is about 300 by 160 yards. Meanwhile, in arena polo it is a significantly smaller field of 100 x 50 yards with a sand interior.
Because the size of the field is smaller in arena polo, the ball is bigger and the goal is smaller in size. The number of horses used per game is also significantly reduced.
Depending on their structure, there can be an indoor arena or an outdoor arena. In both of cases, the playing area is surrounded by wood boards of about 1.5 meters high. These wooden walls around the field must be angled at a 68° degree so that, if a player and their horse run into it, the player’s legs won’t get crushed.
Moreover, given that during the game the ball bounced back from the wooden perimeter, all arena players must face the challenge of reacting quicker than they would on grass, pushing them to think of new, different and faster strategies.
Another difference is the number of players involved. Unlike in traditional grass polo, where each team has 4 members, in arena polo, they have only three players. Player number 1 is the striker; number 2 is the center and number 3 plays at the back.
All in all, arena polo is a great variant of traditional polo. It gives players the opportunity to develop and improve their riding and polo skills. It is also suitable for any level, and is considered an excellent option for those taking their first steps in polo.
Have you tried arena polo yet?
