glorifying illegal ride-offs
In the spirit of encouraging lively debate - once again, I've been looking at pics that people have posted of themselves (I assume) fouling other people hideously (and dangerously) in ride-offs.
The rules are pretty clear, so why would someone post a pic of themselves deliberately endangering another player?
Is this because they don't know they're wrong, or because they think it's cool?
The rules are pretty clear, so why would someone post a pic of themselves deliberately endangering another player?
Is this because they don't know they're wrong, or because they think it's cool?
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by GB Polo on -
Bravo, Bruce! Can't possibly get enough lively discussion, especially about something as totally entertaining as a well-excecuted ride-off. There is nothing quite so frustrating as being ridden off and forced to miss a great shot, and it is even more exasperating if the ride-off is illegal. But there is no question that a well-executed ride-off is an extremely effective defensive tool. Several thoughts occur. My experience is that the rules of ride-offs (or at least the way they are enforced) vary widely from venue to venue. Do they even have ride-off rules in Shandur? What about Saudi Arabia? I learned the rules at the Houston Polo Club, and they were extremely strict about it---- too strict, I thought. Then I went to France and the rules are hardly enforced at all. What is your experience in all of this?
Best,
GB
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Permalink Reply by bruce cowley on -
Hi GB - well as for Saudi, almost no-one plays here (and there are certainly no umpires when we do), however I've always found that waiting around the corner after the game, with a baseball bat, discourages people from doing something dumb twice...
Seriously though, everyone is their own umpire (with a lot of encouragement from other players), so it's kind of like golf - you can cheat if you want to, but YOU will know you did it.
In free-style (tribal) polo there are no rules - but there are also no remounts - so no player will do anything that may endanger his horse. And that, I think, is the point of us having rules anyway.
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Permalink Reply by GB Polo on
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Makes sense, Bruce. I like the idea of gentleman's polo. Never any rules, and never any fouls. All for the love of the game. GB
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Permalink Reply by Anthea Boyle on -
I am hoping it's because they don't know they are wrong.
Another question is why is'nt someone training them?
The amount of low goal players i see around with very little knowledge of the rules and also very little knowledge of riding and pony welfare.
How do we tell these people that they need to learn ALL aspects of polo?
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Permalink Reply by mauricio sordelli on -
It´s easy.
when they loose every games (and a lot of money), when they have an accident or when they are not fun in a polo field, they will realize they have much to learn
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Permalink Reply by Catriona Brown on -
Good thread - I brought this up when PCW asked what else should the rule revisions be addressing. I believe people think it's cool and on top of that it is really not macho to call it! I play in Mexico with the boys, if i call an illegal ride off they just give me that look - you know the one that says 'softie' (this is a public forum so I have toned down the language) and trust me I am not! Call me naive but I thought it was against the rules for the safety of horses and players to ride into an opponents horse's neck at speed? Didn't I also read somewhere that you are supposed to be parallel and and at least at similar speed with your opponent ready for the rideoff? Why don;t umpires call this too? Are they too busy looking at the ball? I am a newbie and I do try an remember not to fret the rules too much but when I am staggering to stay on after a ride off, i do want to clobber someone!
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