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This page explains the principles. It is not a substitute for lessons from a qualified polo instructor or club, and it does not replace the rules of your governing body, club or tournament.
The team of officials
The HPA's 2026 rules (Rule 4a) say the rules are normally administered by two umpires and a referee, helped by goal judges and a timekeeper, who may in turn be assisted by a scorer and an assistant scorer. Their decisions cannot be overruled by anyone else.
The USPA's 2024 Outdoor Rules (Rule 8a) require every game to have either two mounted umpires and a referee, or three mounted umpires. All umpires and referees must be USPA members. Their authority runs from 15 minutes before the scheduled start until about 15 minutes after the final whistle (Rule 8b).
| Official | Where | Job |
|---|---|---|
| Umpires (normally two) | On the field, mounted | Control the game and call fouls |
| Referee, or third man | Off the field, at the centre of the ground | Decides only when the umpires disagree |
| Goal judges | Behind each goal | Signal goals and balls over the back line; give evidence to the umpires |
| Timekeeper | Off the field | Keeps chukka and interval time and rings the bell or sounds the horn |
| Scorer | Off the field | Records the score and, under the USPA rules, fouls per team |
The umpires
Under the HPA's 2026 rules (Rule 4c), there are normally two mounted umpires who control the game. Tournament conditions may instead provide for a single umpire, or the captains may agree to one (Rule 2.6h); the referee can then be consulted, but the umpire decides.
Under the USPA's 2024 rules (Rule 8d), the decision of an umpire, or the agreed decision of two umpires, is final. Each umpire carries a whistle, a pick-up stick and a ball bag (Rule 13). The HPA's 2026 umpire checklist (Annex G) lists an umpire shirt or jacket, a working whistle, yellow and red flags, a pick-up stick, a pony tacked for polo with ball bags, and radios if used.
Meadow Brook Polo Club notes that the two mounted umpires wear black-and-white shirts, and the St. Moritz snow polo programme (2023) also describes umpires by their black and white striped shirts. The HPA's 2026 rules bar teams from wearing black-and-white vertical stripes.
Before play, the HPA's 2026 umpire guidance has umpires confirm that whips, spurs and helmets conform to the rules; a player whose gear does not conform may not play until it is put right.
Umpire ponies
Umpires need horses too. The HPA's 2026 rules require teams to supply two umpire ponies for matches of 15 goals and above, and one below that. At 8 goals and above, a pony may not both play and umpire on the same day.
The referee
The HPA's 2026 rules also call the referee the third man. Under Rule 4b, the referee sits in an elevated, isolated spot at the centre of the ground, should not use a mobile phone, and decides only when the two umpires disagree. The referee's decision is final, and if the referee cannot judge the incident, the ruling is "No Foul". Play then restarts with a throw-in toward the nearest boards or sideline (Rule 36).
Under the USPA's 2024 rules (Rule 8d), if two umpires disagree, the referee decides which view prevails or calls offsetting penalties. Where three mounted umpires serve and no two agree, no foul is called. Rule 8e allows additional referees, a "Deputy Referee" in the rulebook's examples, to be positioned to give testimony to the umpires. Under Rule 13, the referee holds a current copy of the rules.
Goal judges
Under the HPA's 2026 rules (Rule 4d), there is one goal judge per goal, sometimes two. Goal judges give evidence to the umpire on goals and on play near the goal, but the umpire decides. The HPA's Annex G has goal judges check before play that the posts are correctly placed and upright, that they can replace a broken post and widen the goals, and that chairs, ball boxes and spare posts are at least 30 yards behind the goal. They should have balls, a white flag and access to spare posts, and should wear distinctive clothing such as white coats, plus protective headgear: a riding or cricket helmet is recommended, not a cycle helmet.
The USPA's 2024 rules (Rule 9) require goal judges in all USPA events. They wave the flag over their head for a goal and at their feet for a ball over the end line, and the umpires make all final decisions. The rule notes that the goal judge's position is potentially dangerous.
Timekeeper and scorer
Under the HPA's 2026 rules (Rules 4e to 4g), the timekeeper keeps the chukka and interval time; the scorer records each goal with who scored it, the time and the direction of play, and the scorer's figures always count; the assistant scorer keeps the scoreboard up to date. The USPA's 2024 rules (Rule 10) appoint an official timekeeper, who keeps time and sounds the horn, and a scorer, who keeps the score, the fouls per team and the score sheet. Both are subordinate to the umpire.
Only the captain talks to the umpires
Under the HPA's 2026 rules, only the team captain may speak with the umpires. The USPA's 2024 rules say the captain alone represents the team on procedural matters. Both rulebooks list excessive appealing (HPA Rule 35) or appealing to the umpires (USPA Rule 33) as unsportsmanlike conduct.
Protests and tournament committees
Questions outside the umpires' remit go to the organising committee. Under the USPA's 2024 rules (Rule 7), a Host Tournament Committee of three or more people runs each event, appoints the officials, decides eligibility and settles questions outside the umpires' remit, subject only to the USPA Board of Governors and the protest procedures. Protests go through the USPA's Sport Protest Procedures (Rule 11). Scoring or timing may be questioned only for the final period, by the captain, within 15 minutes of the final whistle.
The USPA revises its rules each year; check the current rulebook for the procedures that apply today. The governing bodies page explains who writes the rules in each country.