VARIANCES TO OUTDOOR RULES 33, 36 AND 37

VARIANCE TO OUTDOOR RULE 33

Notice to all USPA Members:

For the reasons explained below, the USPA Chairman and Executive Committee have approved a variance to Outdoor Rule 33 requested by the USPA Rules Committee and USPA Umpires LLC. The variance which allows the Umpires to issue three yellow cards for post-game misconduct will apply as of Wednesday, May 19, 2021, in all polo played under the USPA Outdoor Rules.

Background

USPA Outdoor Rule 33 as currently written provides the Umpires with two options for penalizing a player who demonstrates unsportsmanlike conduct after the game ends: (1) issue the player two yellow cards, which requires the player to sit out for the first two minutes of play in his or her next game of equal or higher handicap for the same team with no substitute allowed for those two minutes of play in that game; or (2) issue the player a red card, which suspends the player for the entirety of his or her next game of equal or higher handicap for the same team with no substitute allowed for the first two minutes of play in that game.

USPA Umpires have found that there are instances of post-game unsportsmanlike conduct which warrant a more severe punishment than two yellow cards but a less severe punishment than a red card. The variance adds the option of three yellow cards which, when issued, require the player to sit out for the first four minutes of play in his or her next game of equal or higher handicap for the same team with no substitute allowed for those four minutes of play in that game.

Variance to Outdoor Rule 33 allows the Umpires to issue three yellow cards for post-game misconduct. ©David Lominska

Variance to Outdoor Rule 33 allows the Umpires to issue three yellow cards for post-game misconduct. ©David Lominska

The Variance

The variance revises USPA Outdoor Rule 33 by adding the language appearing in bold-face type below:

RULE 33- UNSPORTSMANLIKE CONDUCT

a. Unsportsmanlike conduct, including but not limited to the following, shall not be permitted.

  • Appealing to the Umpires or Officials
  • Unwelcome talking to an Umpire
  • Vulgar or abusive language
  • Disrespectful attitude toward any official, player, coach, or spectator
  • Arguing with Umpire(s) or other officials
  • Inappropriate behavior by any member of a team organization
  • Delay of game for a player or mount
  • Unnecessary tack time out
  • Swinging the mallet in a windmill or helicopter type fashion as in appealing for a foul
  • Dangerous riding as described in Rule 26 and 26A
  • Improper use of the mallet as described in Rule 28
  • Rough or abusive play as described in Rules 27 and 28
  • Deliberately striking another player or a mount
  • Excessive violation of the whipping rule
  • Hitting the ball after the whistle or horn has sounded
  • Intentional or reckless hitting of the ball outside the safety zone
  • Knowingly striking the ball when it is off the field of play
  • Intentionally striking a ball during play in such a way that it may cause injury to a spectator or official, or damage property

b. The Umpire will follow the procedure outlined below:

(1). Yellow Card: The Umpire shall immediately assess a yellow card against a player who demonstrates unsportsmanlike conduct as described above.

(i.) The player’s first yellow card (offense) in a game will result in a penalty and may increase or decrease an existing penalty’s severity. Any subsequent yellow card or red card will also result in a penalty and may increase or decrease an existing penalty’s severity.

(ii.) A second offense will be a second yellow card and the player will sit out for the following two minutes of play with no substitute at a location designated by the Umpire and/or the Host Tournament Committee.

(iii.) A third offense will result in a third yellow card and the player will sit out for the following two minutes of play with no substitute at a location designated by the Umpire and/or the Host Tournament Committee or it may, if sufficiently severe, result in a red card and suspension for the remainder of the game with no substitute allowed for the next two minutes of play, as described in subparagraph (2)(i.) below.

(iv.) If a player leaves the penalty box for any reason before his or her two minute suspension is concluded, an appropriate penalty will be assessed against that player’s team and that player will be returned to the penalty box to sit out the remainder of his or her original two-minute suspension and the following two minutes of play with no substitute. A yellow card may also be assessed that player if the Umpire(s) in their discretion determine that he or she deliberately left the penalty box prematurely.

(2) Red Card:

(i.) A player’s third offense, if sufficiently severe, may be a red card, as described in subparagraph (1)(c.) above. A player’s fourth offense shall, without exception, be a red card. A red card in a game will result in suspension for the remainder of the game with no substitute allowed for the next two minutes of play. After that, a substitute will be allowed for the balance of the game and the player will remain suspended for the player’s next game of equal or higher handicap for the same team with a substitute allowed. All substitution rules apply. This penalty may be increased by the Host Tournament Committee and/ or the Association. The Umpire(s), in their sole discretion, may assess two or three yellow cards or a red card with imposed penalties as described above for a player’s first, second or third offense.

(3) If a player demonstrates unsportsmanlike conduct after the game ends, the Umpire(s), in their sole discretion, may award that player either two yellow cards, three yellow cards, or a red card, depending on the severity of the unsportsmanlike conduct. If the player is assessed two yellow cards for unsportsmanlike conduct after the game ends, he or she must sit out for the first two minutes of play in his or her next game of equal or higher handicap for the same team with no substitute allowed for those two minutes of play in that game. If the player is assessed three yellow cards for unsportsmanlike conduct after the game ends, he or she must sit out for the first four minutes of play in his or her next game of equal or higher handicap for the same team with no substitute allowed for those four minutes of play in that game. If the player is assessed a red card for unsportsmanlike conduct after the game ends, he or she shall be suspended for the entirety of his or her next game of equal or higher handicap for the same team with no substitute allowed for the first two minutes of play in that game.

(4) Cumulative effect of yellow or red cards:

A player who is in the penalty box at the end of a game shall begin his or her next game of equal or higher handicap for the same team in the penalty box for the unexpired time of his or her original two-minute suspension. A player who receives three yellow cards during a game without receiving a red card shall begin his or her next game of equal or higher handicap for the same team with the status of a player who has already received a yellow card. Yellow or red cards assessed for unsportsmanlike conduct after the game ends are separate from, and not to be added to, yellow or red cards assessed during the game for purposes of determining whether there should be a partial or full suspension from the player’s next game of equal or higher handicap for the same team. However, if the player is required to be partially or fully suspended from his or her next game of equal or higher handicap for the same team as a consequence of yellow or red cards assessed during the game and that same player is required to be partially or fully suspended from his or her next game of equal or higher handicap for the same team as a consequence of yellow or red cards assessed after the game ends, the two suspensions shall be served in sequence with the most severe one to be served first, even if that requires partial or full suspension from the player’s next two games of equal or higher handicap for the same team. For the avoidance of confusion, substitutes do not acquire the yellow card status of the player for whom they are substituting. However, the suspension of any player from all or part of any game as the result of that player being assessed one or more yellow cards or a red card may not be avoided by the substitution of another player for that player.

c. A player may not leave the field of play during the course of a period without the permission of the Umpires except to change a pony, a mallet, or for a legitimate reason. Unauthorized departure from the field (automatic red card) will result in suspension for the next game of equal or higher handicap for the same team.

d. Notwithstanding that this rule limits suspensions from all or part of any next game to the suspended player’s “next game (or two games) of equal or higher handicap for the same team,” if any suspension from all or part of any player’s next game (or two games) under this rule is imposed on a player whose team in the game in which the suspension is imposed is not at the time officially entered or participating in an as-yet uncompleted event or series of events of equal or higher handicap, the suspension from all or part of that player’s next game (or two games) shall be served during the player’s next game (or two games) of equal or higher handicap for any team, as the case may be. The same is true with respect to a player’s yellow flag status in his or her next game of equal or higher handicap for the same team under subsection 33(b)(3).

e. Definition of “next game (or two games) of equal or higher handicap”. As used in this Rule 33, the meaning of the terminology “next game (or two games) of equal or higher handicap” depends on whether the incident precipitating the suspension or yellow flag status in question occurs during or after a Club Event or during or after a USPA Event, as those terms are defined in the USPA Tournament Conditions. When a player is suspended for all or any part of his or her next game (or two games) of equal or higher handicap or receives an enhanced yellow flag status for that game as the result of one or more yellow flag(s) or a red flag issued him or her during or after a Club Event, that suspension (including any unserved time in the penalty box) or enhanced yellow flag status must be served or accepted in the player’s next game (or two games) of equal or higher handicap in a Club Event or a USPA Event that is not a consolation game, the first round game in a subsidiary event, or a shootout. When a player is suspended for all or any part of his or her next game (or two games) of equal or higher handicap or receives an enhanced yellow flag status for that game as the result of one or more yellow flag(s) or a red flag issued him or her during or after a USPA Event, that suspension (including any unserved time in the penalty box) or enhanced yellow flag status may only be served or accepted in the player’s next game (or two games) of equal or higher handicap in a USPA Event that is not a consolation game, the first round game in a subsidiary event, or a shootout.

VARIANCE TO OUTDOOR RULES 36 AND 37

Notice to all USPA Members:

For the reasons explained below, the USPA Chairman and Executive Committee have approved a variance to Outdoor Rules 36 and 37 requested by the USPA Rules Committee. The variance, which allows a player who is off the field during the execution of a defended penalty to return to his or her proper position before or after play is called, will apply as of Wednesday, May 19, 2021, in all polo played under the USPA Outdoor Rules.

Background

Players sometimes leave the field to change horses, adjust tack, or for some other reason when a penalty shot is being taken. This often requires that player (or players) to go to the end of the playing field that is behind the hitter. If any such player on the fouling team steps back on the playing field in a location that is not sufficiently in front of the hitter before the Umpire calls play and the ball is hit or hit at, a procedural violation of current Rules 36 and 37 has occurred and (if they see it) the Umpires award the fouled team an increased penalty under Rules 36 and 37. This increased penalty is awarded even though (1) the returning player or players may be as many as 240 yards away from the penalty hitter and the ball, (2) the ball is dead at the time of the violation, and (3) the returning player or players have not violated USPA Outdoor Rule 36.d (the “offside” rule). Policing this particular procedural violation is difficult for the Umpires, because it requires them to divert their attention from the upcoming penalty shot which should demand substantially all of their focus.

The outcome discussed above that results from the way Rules 36 and 37 currently fit together has divided into two categories those players who return to the playing field form behind the other team before and during the execution of defended Penalties: (1) there are those players who are unaware of the way the rules fit together and therefore commit the procedural violation to their surprise; and (2) there are those players who have learned the hard way how the two rules fit together and who therefore avoid the procedural violation by galloping down the sideline in the safety zone before stepping back on the field in the proper position with the rest of their teammates.

After a thorough discussion of this situation, the Rules Committee has determined that the outcome discussed above that results from the way Rules 36 and 37 currently fit together is not desirable. There is no compelling reason to penalize a player for a procedural violation that has no impact on the game itself, especially where the Umpires have at their disposal USPA Outdoor Rule 36.d (the “offside” rule) to penalize a player for an actual offside violation. And there is also no good reason for the rules to promote the potentially dangerous situation caused by players galloping fresh horses down the sidelines outside the field in the safety zone in front of the spectators. For that reason, the Rules Committee has requested, and the Chairman and Executive Committee have approved, a variance allowing a player who is off the field during the execution of a defended penalty to return to his or her proper position before or after play is called, as long as that player returns unobtrusively by a route that is on the field and no closer than 30 yards from the spot where the ball is placed for the penalty shot. When the ball is hit or hit at, any such player who has not reached his or her proper position may not make a play until he or she has passed a teammate who was properly positioned at that time.

Variances to Outdoor Rules 36 and 37 allow a player who is off the field during the execution of a defended penalty to return to his or her proper position before or after play is called. ©David Lominska

Variances to Outdoor Rules 36 and 37 allow a player who is off the field during the execution of a defended penalty to return to his or her proper position before or after play is called. ©David Lominska

The Variance (showing only the affected provisions of Outdoor Rules 36 and 37):

RULE 36.d – PENALTY PROCEDURES AND VIOLATIONS

d. (1) For Penalties 2, 3, 4, 5.a, 5.b and 6,

A member of the fouling team who is off the field may return to his or her proper position before or after play is called, as long as that player returns unobtrusively by a route that is on the field and no closer than 30 yards from the spot where the ball is placed for the penalty shot. When the ball is hit or hit at, any such player who has not reached his or her proper position may not make a play until he or she has passed a teammate who was properly positioned at that time. A violation of this procedure will result in an increased penalty against the fouling team. If all four players on the fouling team are not properly positioned when the ball is hit or hit at, no player on that team may make a play until play is interrupted and resumed. If any such player makes a play, a Penalty 2 shall be awarded to the other team.

(2) For a defended Penalty 3 and Penalties 4, 5.a, 5.b and 6,

A member of the fouled team who is off the field may return to his or her proper position before or after play is called, as long as that player returns unobtrusively by a route that is on the field and no closer than 30 yards from the spot where the ball is placed for the penalty shot. When the ball is hit or hit at, any such player who has not reached his or her proper positioned may not make a play until he or she has passed a teammate who was properly positioned at that time.

RULE 37 – SPECIFIC PENALTIES

PENALTY 3

(At the election of the Host Tournament Committee, to be communicated to the teams before the Event begins, the Penalty 3 may be defended in Events with an upper handicap limit of 8 goals and above, providing that all games in the event are officiated by two certified professional Umpires unless otherwise approved by USPA Umpires LLC.)

a. A penalty hit at the ball by the team fouled from the center of the 40-yard line nearest the fouling team’s goal. All players of the team fouled are to be behind the 40-yard line unless they are off the field or returning to their proper position. All members of the fouling team who are not off the field or returning to their proper position shall be positioned behind the back line, outside of the goal, until the ball is hit or hit at. If the penalty is to be undefended, no member of the fouling team may enter the field from behind the back line, but if the penalty is to be defended, once the ball is put into play, any member of the fouling team may enter the field from behind the back line except between the goal posts. The team fouled may hit or hit at the ball only once and may not make another play on or affect the course of the ball if the penalty is to be undefended, or until it has been hit or hit at by a member of the opposing team or contacts a goal post, opposing player or mount if the penalty is to be defended.

b. If, in the opinion of the Umpire, when taking the Penalty 3, the hit would have resulted in a goal, but is prevented by the fouling team entering the field improperly, the hit shall be considered a goal for the team fouled.

c. If, in the opinion of the Umpire, when taking a Penalty 3, the penalty hit is deflected by the fouling team or hit wide by the hitter, and a defending player has entered the field improperly, the penalty shall be taken again.

PENALTY 4

a. A free hit at the ball by the team fouled from the center of the 60-yard line nearest the fouling team’s goal. The fouled team is free to position themselves anywhere on or off the playing field. All members of the fouling team who are not off the field or returning to their proper position must be behind the 30-yard line until the Umpire calls “Play” and the ball is hit or hit at.

b. If, in the opinion of the Umpire, the hit would have resulted in a goal, but was prevented by the fouling team’s failure to carry out the proper procedure, a goal shall be scored.

PENALTY 5

Hit from the Spot (Penalty 5.a)

A penalty hit from the spot where the ball was when the foul occurred, but at least 5 yards from the boards or from the side lines. No member of the fouling team may be within 30 yards from the ball, and all members of the fouling team who are not off the field or returning to their proper position must be between the ball and the defended goal. The team fouled may position itself anywhere.

Hit from the Center of the Field (Penalty 5.b)

A penalty hit from the center of the playing field. No member of the fouling team may be within 30 yards from the ball, and all members of the fouling team who are not off the field or returning to their proper position must be between the ball and the defended goal. The team fouled may position itself anywhere.

PENALTY 6 (Safety)

A penalty hit from a spot 60 yards from the end line opposite where the ball crossed the end line, but no more than 40 yards from the center of the 60-yard line. The fouled team is free to position themselves anywhere on or off the playing field. All members of the fouling team who are not off the field or returning to their proper position must be behind the 30-yard line until the Umpire calls “Play” and the ball is hit or hit at.

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