Squad format games tend to be longer in duration, typically 30–60 minutes. In Squad format, there are still 3 players on each team on the court at one time, but there is a bench of players that can be substituted throughout the game. There are currently two types of tournament formats in hardcourt bike polo: 3v3 and Squad.ģv3 is the more traditional format of hardcourt bike polo, where 2 teams of 3 players play against each other.Īn alternate format is Squad, where 2 teams of anywhere from 4-6 players play against each other. The North American Hardcourt Bike Polo Association (NAHBPA) and European Hardcourt (EHBP) are the prime organizations, but there are others such as the Australasian Hardcourt (AHBP) and Bici Polo Latinoamerica (BPLA) organizations coming up as Bike polo spreads to other continents and countries all over the world. Since 2009, various governing bodies have been created within the polo community for the purposes of advancing the sport and creating rule sets.

The North American Bike Polo Association has created an official set of rules for North America, which has been influential to standardizing rules world-wide. A 'check' is allowed as long as it's 'shoulder to shoulder' and deemed safe by the referee.Īs a decentralized and organically growing game, the rules and styles of Hardcourt Bike Polo may vary substantially from city to city. The amount of contact in a particular game may vary but is generally restricted to 'mallet to mallet', 'body to body'. You should avoid affecting play of the game at all cost after a foot down occurs. It is also common to have to say 'foot down' or 'dab' to let other players know you are out of play, but not required. This usually involves 'tapping out' (riding to a designated point on the court and touching it with the mallet). 3v3 games are typically 10–15 minutes, while Squad games are typically 30–40 minutes.Ī player who 'dabs', (touches a horizontal surface with their foot), must undertake some form of remedial penalty before making contact with the ball again. The game continues until a team reaches either a limit of a predetermined length of time, depending on the format. After the scoring team returns to their half, the scored-on team may cross the half line and resume play. In order to score one goal, a player must hit the ball into the opposing team's goal with a shot if the player uses a shuffle, two points are awarded and play continues.įollowing a goal, the scoring team returns to their own half of the court. A shot is made with either end of the mallet head whereas a shuffle is made with the side.

Following a countdown or a whistle, a player from each team charges the ball in what is termed the 'joust'.Ī player may hit the ball in two ways: a 'shot' or a 'shuffle'. Goals are placed at each long end of the court.Īt the beginning of the game, the ball is placed in the middle of the court while the players wait behind their own goals. Typically, players play in an enclosed trapezoidal area, called a 'court'. All formats have a maximum of 3 players per team on the court at any given time. Bench was a team of 7 to 12 players and games were between 60 and 90 minutes. 'Squad' is the smaller version of what used to be known as 'Bench'.

Squad is a team of 4 to 6 players and games are between 30 and 40 minutes, allowing for substitutions. One is the traditional style called '3v3', which is a team consisting of 3 players and games are usually around 10–15 minutes in length. There are two types of hardcourt bike polo. It may also be referred to as 'Hardcourt', 'Urban Bike Polo' or simply 'Bike Polo'. Hardcourt Bike Polo is a variation of traditional Bicycle Polo in which teams of players ride bicycles and use mallets to strike a small ball into a goal. JSTOR ( September 2011) ( Learn how and when to remove this template message)īeavers vs Guardians, NAHBPC 2013 European Hardcourt Bike Polo Championship 2013.Please improve this article by adding secondary or tertiary sources.įind sources: 'Hardcourt Bike Polo' – news This article relies excessively on references to primary sources.

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