Course
Reaching

Why is Reaching a Rule
 
Reaching is a rule that refers to a player reaching their mallet across the mount of another opponent. The reason this is called a foul, is that if a player is reaching and their opponent inadvertently makes a swing or is unaware of the player reaching, then there is danger of an injury to both player and horse if the mallet trips the front legs of the horse.

The definition of the rule states:

  • No player may reach immediately over and across or under and across any part of an opponent’s mount to hit at the ball, nor hit into or among the legs of an opponent’s mount.
Keeping in mind the right of way, a player on the line of the ball has the right to play the ball on their offside, without an opposing defender reaching across the front of their horse. This rule still applies even for the situations of a player playing the ball on the nearside, the defender still cannot reach across the front of the horse to make a play on the ball. 


How is the Rule of Reaching Applied

The reaching rule is applied equally to both offensive and defensive players.

Situationally, when considering an offensive player there are a few common occurrences where the reaching rule is called including:
  • The player in possession of the ball hits the ball with angle off to the right. As they try to position themselves to strike the ball again, they do not restablish the right of way over an oncoming defender. The player originally in possession of the ball then reaches out to try and regain possession, but reaches across the defender who is now established on the right of way.

  • When receiving a pass, the ball can be arriving ahead of an oncoming defender. If the ball isn't hit far enough ahead that allows the receiver to establish the right of way, they can often reach in front of the defender to try and gain possession.

On the defensive side of the ball, the reaching rule is less common, but still occurs. This can be due to an attacking player playing the ball ahead of their horse and a defending player thinking they have enough time and space to establish possession. In this situation, it is important to know that the ball needs to come past their stirrup in order to be the established player on the right of way. Otherwise, the defender is reaching back across the attacking player to create a dangerous situation. In a similar play to the attacking player, a defender can also be called on the reaching rule on a pass, as they try to intercept the ball, but haven't fully established the right of way before gaining possession over the oncoming receiver.

Procedure of the Reaching Rule

The outcome of the foul for breaking the reaching rule is a penalty hit to the fouled team. This can be both the offensive or defensive player depending on the situation. However, in most cases the penalty is a spot hit because it is often an attacking player reaching in front of a defender to try and keep possession of the ball.

The outcome of the foul depends on a few factors including:

  • whether it was the offensive or defensive player
  • the location on the field
  • the danger created
If a defender commits the infraction while a short distance in front of their own goal, then often the result will be the ball being moved to a Penalty 2, 3 or 4 in favour of the attacking team. 

For an umpire, the most difficult decision is deciding whether one player reached (committing the reaching foul) or whether the opposing player rode over the shot from behind. As a player, this situation should be kept in mind when making a play on the ball. If a defender is on the same side of the ball and parallel with the attacking player, then a reaching foul will be the more likely infraction by making a play on the ball in front of the opposing player. However, if the action to reach for the ball and maintain possession has already occurred and the defender then rides into the mallet, the foul can be called on the defender for riding into the shot. 

Reaching at Different Levels of Polo

The reaching rule is applied very similarly at all levels of polo, whether it be low-goal or high-goal. Regardless of level, the main factor an umpire considers when judging whether to call a reaching foul is whether the mallet crossed over the mount of another player. The amount of danger or space between the mallet and the mount also significantly impacts whether the reaching foul is called.

Although the plays can be done at different speeds, the fundamental component of the reaching rule remains the same. The most common error at all levels is that a player will not realize they have gone wide of the line. They are no longer established on the right of way and must give way to another player who is established. From there, a player will end up reaching across the mount of another player. 

No matter the level of polo, Fergus stated that best way to mitigate this common error is to ensure that the ball has passed your stirrup before attemptiong to make a play at it. As soon as this is no longer the case, a player's risk for making a play on the ball and being called for reaching increases. 
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