What do Penalties 1 through 10 mean in polo?

The numbered penalties are not a single escalating scale — each covers specific situations. Penalty 1 awards a goal for a dangerous or deliberate goal-saving foul; 2, 3 and 4 are 30, 40 and 60-yard hits; 5 is a free hit from where the ball is; 6 is the Safety hit from 60 yards; 7 removes a selected opponent after a disabling foul; 8 removes a horse; 9 forfeits the game; 10 excludes a player for dangerous or deliberate fouling.

Applies to: outdoor polo.

Penalty 1: the fouled team is awarded a goal and play restarts with a Penalty 5.b from center, with direction reversed.

Penalty 2: an undefended 30-yard hit, or the fouled team's choice of a spot hit where the foul occurred.

Penalty 3: a 40-yard hit, normally undefended, with a defended option when announced for eligible events.

Penalty 4: a 60-yard free hit with the opponents held behind the 30-yard line.

Penalty 5: a free hit from where the ball was (5.a) or from the center of the field (5.b), with opponents 30 yards away on the goal side.

Penalty 6 (Safety): a hit from 60 yards out, aligned with where the ball crossed the back line but no more than 40 yards from center.

Penalty 7: after a foul that disables a player, a selected opponent is removed under handicap-based criteria, or the injured player's team may use a qualified substitute.

Penalty 8: a horse is removed or disqualified from the game, with limited exceptions for curable equipment or eligibility issues.

Penalty 9: the game is forfeited — both teams can forfeit.

Penalty 10: a player is excluded for dangerous or deliberate fouling or conduct harmful to the game.

The arena has its own penalty system in Arena Rule 9, with different distances and procedures.

Based on the USPA 2026 rulebook, Outdoor Rule 37, pp.104–107. Read the official rules at uspolo.org. Not affiliated with or endorsed by the USPA.