What is the difference between arena and outdoor polo?

Arena polo is played in a smaller, normally enclosed area — ideally 300 by 150 feet — with three players per team instead of four outdoors. Arena games are usually four 7½-minute periods, penalty distances are shorter, and play starts with a center bowl-in rather than an outdoor throw-in.

Applies to: outdoor and arena polo.

Playing area: arena is ideally 300 × 150 feet (100 × 50 yards), normally enclosed by walls. An outdoor field is 300 × 160 yards boarded, or up to 300 × 200 yards unboarded.

Periods: arena normally plays four 7½-minute periods, with an optional six 5-minute format. Outdoor chukkers end on the horn at seven minutes, with up to 30 additional seconds in defined situations.

Penalties: outdoor Penalties 2, 3 and 4 are 30, 40 and 60-yard hits; arena Penalties 2, 3 and 4 are 15, 25 and 25-yard hits with different defender and rebound procedures.

Recent changes (effective October 1, 2025) made the arena's two-point goal and end-of-period scoring provisions standard and revised the arena Rule 9 penalty procedures.

Based on the USPA 2026 rulebook, Arena Rules 1–9, pp.113–132; Outdoor Rules 1–37, pp.41–106. Read the official rules at uspolo.org. Not affiliated with or endorsed by the USPA.