Bike Polo Rules: Body Contact Penalties
Bike polo allows some contact, but not all of it. This post covers where the ruleset draws the line on charging, holding, extension, head contact, trapping, and flagrant fouls, plus how the Ref judges each one.
Bike Polo Rules: Mallet Penalties
Your mallet is for the ball, not for other players. This post covers slashing, high sticking, jamming, hooking, throwing, and dropping your mallet, and what each one looks like on the court.
Bike Polo Rules: Bike Handling Penalties
Put a foot down and you're out of the play until you tap in at half court. This post covers dabbing, toppling, and bike-on-bike contact: what's allowed, what isn't, and how the Ref calls it.
Bike Polo Rules: Technical Penalties
Some penalties have nothing to do with contact. They're about timing, attitude, and positioning. This post covers delay of game, unsportsmanlike conduct, interference, illegal substitutions, and crease violations.
Bike Polo Rules: Penalty Format
How a Ref decides how serious a foul is, and what happens next. This post covers ball turnovers, minors, majors, player advantage, penalty shots, and how repeat fouls escalate. Start here before the posts on specific penalties.
The Emotional Labor of Organizing a Tournament
Organizers carry more than boards and brackets. Here’s the work of organizing that’s hard to see, and how players can share the load.
Ref, Goal Judge, Timekeeper: The Invisible MVPs of Tournament Day
Every game needs someone with a whistle, someone watching the goal, and someone running the clock. Here’s what refs, goal judges, and timekeepers do, and why newer players can step in too.
The Start and End of Every Tournament: Court Setup and Breakdown
A tournament starts with tools and a crew and ends with trash bags and thank-yous. Here’s what goes into building and taking down a bike polo court, and how to help even if it’s your first time.
How to Be a Good Guest at a Tournament You’re Not Organizing
You didn’t organize the tournament, and you still have a role. Here’s how visiting players can support the host club, respect the space, stay on schedule, and be a house guest people want back.
Bike Polo Rules: Game Mechanics
From the opening joust to the final whistle: how games start, when the clock stops, how play restarts, and what counts as a goal. Section 4 of the NAH Ruleset, with diagrams.
What to Pack for a Polo Tournament (and What to Share)
The people who pack well make the weekend easier for everyone. Here’s what to bring for yourself, what to bring for the crew, and how to help even if you’re flying in with one bag.
So You Want to Help? Here’s What Makes a Bike Polo Tournament Happen
Tournaments run on a small crew of tired, sweaty volunteers. Here’s what goes into a bike polo tournament, from permits to trash patrol, and where you can pitch in, whether you’re with the host club or just rolling in to play.