Cotswold Polocrosse Club

What is Polocrosse?

Polocrosse is a fast, exciting, action game on horseback.

There are 6 players in a team, but actually only 3 players (called a section) from each team, are on the pitch at a time. The pitch is about the size of a Rugby pitch and has a goal at each end, which also looks a bit like Rugby posts without the crossbar. The point of the game is to get the ball between the posts!

Oh yes the ball! The ball is a soft rubber ball, so it poses no danger to the horses. You have a "stick". This is a bit like a squash raquet with very loose stringing. The stringing forms a net in which you catch and carry the ball, and with luck pass it to your colleagues or shoot at the goal.

Of the three players on the pitch, Number 1 is the Goal Shooter and Number 3 the Goal Defender. Number 2 has a tactical role, generally having the job of riding off the oppostion players to keep them out of the way. This is not a minor role! A good Number 2 will ensure that his/her Number 1 is never bothered by the opposing Number 3!

The pitch is divided into three sections, with a central area and goal scoring areas at each end. Only the attacking Number 1 and the Defending Number 3 are allowed in each goal scoring areas. No-one may carry a ball into or out of these areas but must pass it or bounce it and catch it again as they cross the lines.

So why 6 in a team if only 3 play? Well the first section play for 6 or 8 minutes - called a chukkha. Then the second section play, while the first section rest their ponies before playing again. A full match is 6 or 8 chukkhas. The goals scored by each section are simply added together. At some tournaments you may well play as sections if there are not enough players to make teams of 6.

As hinted at when describing the role of Number 2, the game is very tactical. Riding Off, or pushing the opponents horse, is allowed even if that player does not have the ball.

Polocrosse is a "one Horse" sport. You need just the one. Indeed the rules state that you can only play one - except in cases of injury. As well as a horse you just need a stick (£35 - £50), a ball (£15) and some bandages and boots. Nothing in equestrian sport is cheap, but Polocrosse is not an expensive game. There is also no age restriction, There are players of 9 and players of 50. Often you will find whole families taking part. If you have a teenaged son who is bored with riding or Pony Club, because it's just not "cool", introduce him to Polocrosse, it will be the making of him. It is definitely "cool"

There are a dozen or more clubs across the UK and all will make you very welcome if you enquire. In the first instance contact Cotswold and if you are not in our patch we'll let you know who to call!

We play at weekends, usually spending the whole weekend at a tournament. Typically we camp from Friday to Sunday, so it helps if you either enjoy camping or have a really flash horsebox with luxury living!