The Sport of Kings Trivia Quiz

Answer: Chukka

There are 4, 6, or 8 chukkas, or periods, to a polo match depending on the number of players and horses that are available. Also spelled "chukker", chukka comes from a Hindi word "cakkar", meaning "circle" or "wheel". While it is believed that polo began in Central Asia, specifically Turkey and Persia, where it was used to train cavalrymen, the modern game originated in Manipur, India, and the first established club in 1833 was in Silchar, India.

Answer: Divot

Divots are pieces of loose turf that are caused by the movements of the horses at a polo match. At half-time all spectators are expected to participate in the "stomping of the divots", to put the turf back in place. This is done for reasons of safety for the horses and to provide a social event for the spectators, who should choose the shoes they wear to the match well and wisely!

Answer: Handicap

The handicap system that ranks polo players is used so that teams can be easily matched. The ranking system goes from a -2 to 10; the higher the number - the better the player. Professional players typically have a ranking of a 5-10. Ranking is based on a player's horsemanship, speed, sense of the game, range of strokes, and sportsmanship. The team handicap is the sum of all its players' ratings.

Answer: Intervals

According to the 2017 rule book of the United States Polo Association, there is a four minute interval between periods of play and a ten minute break at the half in field, or outdoor, polo. Otherwise, polo is continuously played, with stoppage only allowed when the umpire blows his whistle, signaling a penalty, when there is a problem with a horse's equipment, or when one of the players or horses is injured.

Answer: Mallet

Called a "polo stick" in British English, a polo mallet looks quite a bit like a croquet mallet; the sides of the mallet, however, are used to strike the ball, not the round ends as in croquet. Although plastic composite materials can be used to make the mallet, many prefer the traditional type, made of rattan cane (not bamboo which is hollow), because it is said to absorb vibrations better.

The size of the mallet can depend on the height of the horse, and women typically prefer to use lighter mallets than men.

Answer: Thirdman

Typically polo umpires wear striped shirts. Two are mounted and are placed on each side of the field. If the mounted umpires cannot agree on a call, they defer to the thirdman, who usually sits on the sidelines until needed. There are also goal judges stationed behind the goals; they wave a flag if a goal has been successfully scored.

The scorekeeper and timer round out the group of polo officials.

Answer: Ringer

Performing well, above expectations, for a player means that he plays above his handicap level; for a pony it means that it performs better than anticipated. A ringer status may not last very long, however, as the handicap is assessed and possibly adjusted two times a year. The term should not be confused with North American English lingo, where a ringer is a player or horse that participates illegally in a race.

Answer: Safety

The safety, also known as Penalty 6, occurs when a defending player hits the ball over his own backline. In this instance, one free hit is awarded to the opposing team and is taken 60 yards from the backline. It is compared to a "corner" in a soccer game.

Answer: Quartet

Although it depends on the stipulations of the match, most outdoor polo teams consist of four players called a quartet. While there is an attempt to play the position assigned, the nature of the fast-paced game means that the players may change positions often.

There is the goal striker and forward who attempt to score goals; pivotal, who will play between offense and defense; and back, who protects the goal.

Answer: Ponies

The term "ponies" is a bit misleading because, although there are really no height requirements, horses are used to play polo. A polo player must have a string of ponies, as it is customary to allow them to rest in between the periods they play; in fact, some players might have a different pony for each period of the match.

It is understood that quite a bit of a player's success - some say as much as 80% - depends on the temperament, speed, and stamina of the horse.