Segway Polo

Do you think it is essential to have a horse to play polo? Well, maybe it’s not. Many variations of polo have been created since this sport became famous. Overall, this happened because most people were not able to get or maintain horses.

One of these variations is the Segway Polo, which is played with Segway PT’s instead of horses. Although some people tried to play polo with Segways before, it wasn’t until July 2004 that this sport was made popular and official by the Bay Area Segway Enthusiasts Group, a unit that tries to increase knowledge and acceptance of Segway transports (BASEG).

The responsible of the creation of this sport is Jonathan van Clute, a member of the group before mentioned, who suggested they should play polo with Segways. To make this possible, van Clute needed the help of Alex Ko, who created special PVC mallets for the Segways (Folsom Breakout).

Soon enough, people who played Segway Polo realized they needed some rules to make the game more organized. These rules were made in 2007 and continue to be refined by the ISPA (International Segway Polo Association) Committee (Folsom Breakout). The basic rules of the Segway Polo are very simple:

• There are two teams of five players each, trying to get the ball through the opposite’s team goal.
• Each match is divided in four eight-minute chukkers.
• The mallet must be held only with the right hand at all times.
• The ball can only be hit with the mallet. Only if a goal gets scored accidentally with the body or the Segway can be counted. Also, goals are counted when the ball was hit with the mallet.
• A player can’t go in another player’s way if doing so could cause a collision.
• The size of the field must be 200 feet by 128 feet. Also, the goal must be 8 feet wide by 5 feet high (ISPA).

Polo Segway can be a young sport, however, there has been increasing interests in playing this sport in the United States, New Zealand, Germany, France, Switzerland and Austria (ISPA).

Alejandra Treviño A01280206.

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Bibliography

BASEG. "Bay Area Segway Enthusiasts Group." Bay Area Segway Enthusiasts Group. 2008. Web. 31 Aug. 2011.

Folsom Breakout. "Historiy of Segway Polo." Folsom Breakout Segway Polo Club. 2010. Web. 31 Aug. 2011.

ISPA. "About Segway Polo." ISPA The Home of International Segway Polo. 2011. Web. 31 Aug. 2011.

The Perfect Polo Outfit

As we can all suppose, polo is a very elegant and traditional sport that was formalized by the British, who made it popular among the elites. That said, don’t expect to be taken seriously in polo (if you ever want to play it properly) wearing a typical sports outfit and sneakers. There are some etiquette rules you need to follow if you want to be taken seriously in this sport. Also, some of this equipment is strictly necessary for safety reasons.

The rider of the horse rigorously needs to wear a helmet and knee wards for protection. Also boots reaching the height of the knee are necessary, as well as mallets. The mallet is a 51-inch long bamboo handle with a woodenhead. The shape and color of the handle can change depending on the team’s preferences. As you may imagine, polo shirts derive from this sport. Polo shirts were made in the 1800’s especially for this sport, and began being long sleeve shirts. Then, it became sort of a trend and lots of brands surged using this clothing style.

The horse also has its own equipment needs. Every pony horse in a formal polo game must use bridles, blankets, wraps and one saddle.

The polo ball nowadays is usually made of hard plastic. However, on the beginning, they were made of wood. The size of the ball must be within the limits of 3 to 3.5 inches in diameter and 3.5 to 4.5 ounces in weight.

Remember, polo is not an easy sport. Knowing how to ride the horse and play it is just the first step. You need to buy all this equipment, in order to play it properly.

280 words.

Sources:

Sport Polo. "Characteristics of a Polo Ball." Equestrian Sport of Polo. Web. 23 Aug. 2011. .

Everything Polo. "Polo Equipment." Polo Sport. Polo Ponies, Holidays, Equipment Etc. Web. 23 Aug. 2011.

Alejandra Treviño A01280206 Group: 301

What is Polo?

Polo is an ancient equestrian sport originated in the Middle Eastern country of Persia, about two thousand years ago. The word “polo” means “ball” in Balti, a language that is spoken in Pakistan. The sport was introduced to Europe when the British colonized India and spread it around the world. In its origins, mostly kings and warriors who were preparing their horses for battle played polo.

The main purpose of the game is to move the ball downfield with a long, flexible mallet and get it through the opposite’s team goal. This may seem quite difficult, but the real hard work lies on the horses. “Polo ponies”, which is the name polo horses are given, start training at the age of two or three, and are selected for agility, speed, and above all, obedience.

Polo is normally played outdoors in a field that is 300 yards long and 160 yards wide, making it the largest field in organized sport. There are two teams of three or four people on a match. Each player rides a polo pony while holding a mallet, trying to hit a ball with the size of a small football reaching speeds of 110 miles per hour up to the other’s goal. Polo is played in periods called “chukkers” (or chukkas). Each chukker lasts seven minutes, and there are six chukkers per game. This may not seem much, but a regular polo match can last up to two hours. There’s also a half time in which spectators go down to the field and take part in a social tradition called "Divot Stomping".

265 words.

Sources:

Sport Polo. "The Equestrian Sport of Polo." Equestrian Sport of Polo. 2011. Web. 16 Aug. 2011. .

Wise Geek. "What Is Polo?" WiseGEEK: Clear Answers for Common Questions. 2011. Web. 16 Aug. 2011.