Playing for a foul

The worst of all unsporting behaviour is playing for a foul; that is, deliberately causing an opponent to commit an infringe* order to gain a severely trowned upon. The Hurlingham Polo Association recently incorporated the following stricture in the field Rules as further guidance to umpires on one aspect of the "manufactured foul" :* a player with possession of the * right to the line of the ball on his offside, checks his speed to such an extent that an opposing player may enter the line and take the on ball on his offside, without, in the opinion of the umpires creating any danger to the checking player, if that player, if that player were to maintain his reduced speed, then no foul shall be deemed to have occurred, even if the checking player subsequently increases his speed, umpires are advised that if the checking player slows to walk, or stops completely, under this directive it is almost impossible for any danger to occur, and therefore no foul is committed.'

Penalties
Umpires may award penalties in the following order of severity. First, a penalty goal. If a player commits a dangerous of deliberate foul near his team's goal mouth in order to save a goal, the side that has been fouled is given a goal. (The ball is then thrown in 10 yards (9 m) in front of the goal without ends being changed.)

Second, a 30-yard (27 m) hit. A free hit taken at the specified distance from the goal line. Opposite the middle of the goal; or if preferred, at the place where the foul occurred. The defenders must remain behind the back line (not between the goal posts) until the shot has been taken.

Penalty 3 - a free hit 40 yards (37 m) from the goal line, opposite the centre of the goal. The defenders must not cross the goal line before the hit has been taken, nor be between the goalposts.

Penalty 4 - a free hit 60 yards (55 m) from the goal line of the side fouling, taken opposite the middle of the goal. The side fouling can be on the ground, but not within 30 yards (27 m) of the ball until it is hit. The players of the side fouled can place themselves whenever they like on the field.

 Penalty 5a - a free hit from where the ball was when the foul took place, but not nearer the boards or side lines than 4 yards (3.5 m). No member of the side