PTJan/Feb 2010 p20-21 Umpire JM PJ YC MB 21/1/10 16:23 Page 2
Comment Umpire’s corner
With Arthur Douglas-Nugent, deputy chief umpire for the HPA
Opening up the UK game –
and a Pandora’s Box of ideas
he debate on how to improve ball is hit or thrown in); (d) All penalties to players to tire. In rugby, as in polo, there
T
polo for players and be one hit; (e) Ponies may only be changed are many grey areas but players accept
spectators initiated by Javier in the pony lines; (f) The umpire to drop that playing to the referee's
Tanoira has gathered pace the ball for penalties – in other words, no interpretation is an important skill.
and now everyone is wading positioning by a player; (g) Umpires to Perhaps we should plant the same
in. Fear not: the HPA has taken all the blow fewer fouls but each penalty that is thought into the minds of our players.
suggestions and arguments on board and is
in ongoing discussion with the Argentine
Polo Association (AAP).
The main focus this year will be on
‘
turning the ball and blocking the right of The AAP has instructed umpires to penalise a player
way of a player in possession. HPA rules
on crossing are to be brought into line
turning the ball in front of an opponent even if that player
‘
with the AAP’s, to state specifically: “No
has checked or pulled away. We will do likewise
player shall cross a player following the
line of the ball except at a distance that
no risk of a collision or danger to either awarded should be more severe; (h) No Staying with rugby I was interested
player is involved”. dialogue between players and umpires. to read the headline “French to restrict
It is on the basis of this rule that the the Foreign Legion”. The French are
AAP has instructed its umpire team to LE RUGBY PROTECTS ITS OWN worried about the number of foreign
penalise a player turning the ball in front It is perhaps some comfort that we are players, mostly English, who are playing
of an opponent even if that player has not the only ones navel-gazing: the same in their clubs – rather like polo’s
checked or pulled away to avoid a collision. sorts of problems have beset rugby in overseas influx. From next season 50 per
We will do likewise. that the game is degenerating into mauls cent of each squad will have to have
Similarly we will instruct our umpires and kicking with a dearth of open play. come through the French system before
to be much stricter on the rule that states: I have in front of me five suggestions the age of 21. The ruling is likely to be
“A player may not position himself or his on how to improve rugby, including one challenged in the European courts but
pony so as to block or obstruct the that recommends a reduction in the this will probably do no more than
legitimate progress of a player trying to number of substitutes to allow the induce the shrug of a Gallic shoulder. F
move forward with the ball”. In this way
the game will be opened up, as has been
shown in the Argentine. Play goes on until the whistle blows…
PEPE’S RADICAL REFORMS
This month’s puzzle
Now that Pandora's Box has been opened
A Penalty 4 (60 yards) is awarded. As the striker
other ideas are flooding in, many of which
approaches the ball his stick gets caught in his pony's tail. He
overruns the ball but turns quickly and hits a backhand shot
are open to serious consideration. In general
through the goal. What should the umpire do? Would it be different if
it is felt that the player in possession is too
a Penalty 2 had been given, to be taken from the 30-yard spot?
well protected, which encourages him to
keep possession rather than pass with a
Last month’s solution
forehand or backhand shot.
A player's helmet falls off during play. What should the umpires do?
In one recent article in Argentine
If a player loses his helmet the umpires should stop play when the ball
magazine Polo Mundial, Pepe Heguy has is neutral unless the player is in danger of injury. The rule aims to
come up with some good ideas. These can
prevent a player discarding his helmet to stop play when his goal
be summarised as: (a) Stricter umpiring on
is under threat – slightly less drastic than throwing oneself off
the “one-tap” rule; (b) Penalising the
a pony, a practice at which some were once rather skilled.
player who is blocking; (c) No contact
Email your comments and questions for Arthur
before “play” is called (we are going one to whistleblower@polotimes.co.uk
further and allowing no contact until the
20 January/February 2010 www.polotimes.co.uk
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