Notes on Polo
by MR. J. H. ASHTON
I wrote these notes in 1938 and found they helped very much to make four players into an effective team.
If the players comprising a team were not thoroughly experienced in each other’s play, I asked each player to read them carefully before each tournament game.
I have only studied two books on Polo, Modern Polo, by Miller (English), and As to Polo, by Foster (American). These books deal well with the very many aspects of the game, such as hitting, training and riding the pony, combination, etc.
On the question of hitting the ball, which is the most important thing in Polo, Devereux Milburn, the great Back, said: “The most essential thing is to hit from the proper brace of stirrups, knees and seat.”
I also include Tactics of Play, by Thomas Hitchcock, Jnr., which are outstanding notes for all players.
TEAM PLAY
1. Get to the line-up in plenty of time and position continuously to get closer than your opponent to the Umpire throwing in the ball, at the same time keeping close to him to prevent him breaking through quickly after the ball is thrown in.
2. When the ball is thrown in No. 1 should make a great effort to hit it, and hit or missed go up as quickly as possible. No. 2 should also try his utmost to hit it for his No. 1 to take on but should remain in the line-out if he misses until he knows the ball is definitely out of the line-up. No. 3 should make every effort to hit a fore-hander but, immediately he misses, must turn back with out looking to see where the ball has gone. No. 4 should place himself to gallop in to hit it if the ball passes the No. 3, but must only do so if he has a certain hit at it or can definitely block the opposing Back getting it. If the ball stops or is hit by either side before passing the No. 3 he must turn back immediately and not look round till he has his pony moving back at pace towards his own goal.3. Don’t become a spectator of the game, keep your brain alert all the time and play your position.
4. Play as hard as you can mentally and physically (and quick thinking saves your pony), never let up for a moment, don’t check if you think a foul has occurred, play until the whistle blows. Never give up trying till the ball is through the goal.
5. When players are positioning or riding each other off in front of you, hit the ball to the side your man is on, not to your opponent.
6. It should be the object of a side to ride their opponents away from the centre of the field and then hit to the centre so that their players can pick up the ball in a good position for scoring goals.
7. It is generally good policy to let an opponent’s hit go behind rather than hit at it, if you are hard pressed.
8. Watch your corresponding opponent continually, so that you can ride him out of position to get the ball always on defence and often on attack. Manoeuvre unceasingly with this in view. It is all important.
HITTING OUT FROM BEHIND
The No. 3 (or No. 4, as the case may be) must position continually to cover the man closest in if he is at all likely to meet the ball; if he can easily be avoided by the player hitting in, cover another man. The No. 2 should position just offside the next opponent likely to meet the ball; he should face towards his own goal to view the hit out. If the hit out is along the ground, he would gallop in to block his opponent meeting it, if it is long and lofted he should turn immediately to get away offside his opponent. In this position it is easier for the No. 2 to watch his opponent and the ball than for the opponent to watch him and the ball. The No. 1 has to use a lot of discretion as to where he positions. If the Nos. 1, 2 and 3 on the opposing side all look to have good chances of meeting the hit out, it is good policy to leave his opposing Back and stand just offside the opposing Nos. 2 and 3 and adopt the same tactics as for No. 2, always remembering that he must go up to the opposing Back immediately the hit out is under way or the opponent he is marking cannot immediately meet it. If only two of the opposing Nos. 1, 2 and 3 have a chance for the hit out to meet, stay with your Back.
No. 1 POSITION
No. 1 should be a great optimist. He should ride forward every time there is the slightest chance of his side getting on the attack; he must not wait to see the ball hit; he must get offside his opposing Back and often ride him out to the side on the chance that his own side will hit the ball up and, if the opposing Back rides back fast and deep, he must go with him hard even if both players get too far from the game for a time. If you get the opposing Back a long way out of the game it gives your No. 2 more chance to come fast on a run and hit a goal, and opportunities arise if you have your Back well covered for you to hit goals from in front, or drop in behind your No. 2 if he is ridden out and hit a goal from behind him. Remember always that the time you must turn quickly and come back to defend fast, is if you and your Back have ridden each other over his back- line. Your side will be backing up hard and fast to try and hit a goal. If you turn quickly when in this position you can cover the defence for your own No. 3 and Back, and enable them to gallop in fast with confidence to try and hit the goal, knowing that if they miss the ball the other side will not get clear away. Don’t rush the Back in forlorn hopes, but, if he really steadies on the ball or goes to turn on it, you must go to him at a collected gallop to force him to hit, and then mark him before he can get into another play. You can disconcert a Back by changing the pace of your pony quickly.