*Changes are designated with bold type*
These rules may be used in USPA Events with an upper handicap limit of 8 goals and above providing that all games in the event are officiated by two certified professional Umpires unless otherwise approved by USPA Umpires LLC.
In all events played under these rules, including USPA Events, issues that are not specifically addressed by these rules are governed by the USPA Outdoor Rules, Examples and Interpretations, if any, that specifically address those issues (see, for example, USPA Outdoor Rules 1-13), and the USPA Tournament Conditions, Constitution, By-Laws, and Disciplinary Procedures Policy.
9. BALL OUT OF PLAY OF SIDELINES
vi.) If the ball goes out of play over the side boards or side line after glancing off an Umpire or his horse, or if the Umpire is unable to determine what caused the ball to go out of play, play shall resume with a throw-in from the side boards or side line parallel to the point where the ball went out of play.
vii.) In each of the situations described in (i) through (iv) above, the Umpire shall count 8 seconds and drop a ball 5 yards inside the side boards or side line, and a member of the team awarded possession shall have 5 seconds to play the ball, either by tapping or hitting away. The same is true in the situation described in (v) above, except that the Umpire shall count 8 seconds and drop a ball 10 yards inside the side boards or side line, and a member of the team awarded possession must play the ball by hitting to goal or to a teammate, but not by tapping. In all of the above situations, the same procedures concerning player positioning and delays shall apply as those that apply to a Penalty 5.a.
17. RIGHT OF WAY
e.) Delay of Game: A player in possession of the ball when marked by an opposing player must keep moving the ball. Should he stop or reduce to a walk or walking speed he may tap the ball only once and thereafter he or any member of his team must within 5 seconds either hit the ball away or run with it. A player is considered to be marked when an opposing player is within two ponies’ lengths of his own and the player in possession is neither being blocked nor ridden off and therefore has the freedom to continue along the right of way. An infraction of this rule will result in a penalty against the team in possession of the ball.
18. DANGEROUS RIDING
h.) Improper Blocking: During the execution of a knock-in, Penalty 5.a or 5.b, or a free hit resulting from a ball hit out of bounds, an offensive player may not block a defensive player from marking the offensive player’s teammate who has a play on the ball (i.e., set a pick on the defending player). When an offensive player improperly blocks a defensive player, the Umpires shall call a foul and award an appropriate penalty. Improper Blocking may or may not constitute Dangerous Riding, and result in a yellow or red flag under Section 5, depending on the degree of danger as determined in the discretion of the Umpire.
28. 30 YARD HIT (PENALTY 2)
a.) A penalty hit 30 yards from the back line of the fouling team opposite the middle of the goal or, if preferred, the spot from where the foul occurred (the choice to rest with the team fouled). For a penalty hit opposite the middle of the goal, all of the fouling team shall be positioned behind their back line, outside of the goal, until the ball is hit, or hit at, and once the ball is put into play, no player of the fouling team may enter the field. All players of the team fouled not hitting must be behind the 30 yard line or off the playing field. The team fouled may hit or hit at the ball only once and may not make another play on or affect the course of the ball.
31. HIT FROM THE SPOT (PENALTY 5.a)
A penalty hit from the spot where the ball was when the foul occurred, but at least 5 yards from the boards or from the side lines. None of the fouling team may be within 30 yards from the ball, always between the line of the ball and the defending goal (If any player of the fouling team were off the field at the time of the penalty, he may enter the field anywhere on the field before the ball is not in play but only always behind the line of the ball, towards the goal his team is defending after play resumes). The team fouled may position anywhere. If a player of the fouling team were located as offside, a new stroke shall be granted to the team fouled, moving the penalty spot at 30 yards closer to his goal.
Red Flag:
(1) A player’s third offense (red flag) in a game will result in suspension for the remainder of the match with no substitute allowed for the next two minutes of play then a substitute will be allowed for the balance of the match, the player will remain suspended for the player’s next game of equal or higher handicap with a substitute allowed. All substitution rules apply. This penalty may be increased by the Host Tournament Committee and/or the Host Association. The Umpire(s), at their sole discretion, may award two yellow flags or a red flag with imposed penalties as described above for a player’s first or second offense.
*David Lominska