Bike Polo

Unlike “Traditional” or Grass bike polo, we try to keep as few rules as possible. Rules vary slightly from city to city (See notes below).  Generally speaking here are the most important ones.

Gameplay Rules

• Random teams of 3 (sometimes teams of 4 or 2) for pickup (casual play) or open days.  Set teams for tournaments.
• Games limited to 15 minutes (Sometimes 10 or 12 less in shorter round robin games or during busy times, Sometimes unlimited in Tournament Finals)
• First to 5 goals, wins. (Sometimes to 3 in shorter round robin games) Sometimes first to 11 in Tournament Finals.
• To start a game, each teams sit behind their goals and charge for the ball at center court after a countdown of 3, 2, 1, Go/Polo/Kill etc.
• Hit the ball anyway you want, but a goal can only be scored off the end of the mallet.
• If you put your foot on the ground, you must tap in at the wall or a designated post (or in some cities, do a full 360° on the spot) before you can re-enter play.
• In Melbourne after scoring a team must return to their half and wait there for an opposition player or ball to pass half way before challenging.
• In Sydney scorers must pass behind their own goals but then may advance the full court.
• In Perth the ball is reset to the centre after a goal.

Safety Rules

Here’s a copy of Melbourne’s tournament rules for 2008 (Generally as above with a bit more detail and provisions for an umpire)

Here’s a copy of Melbourne’s Summer Sessions 2009 rules (Generally as above with a bit more detail)

Sydney’s Bike Polo Open Tournament Rules (coming soon)