Course
Nearside
 
Why Nearside is a Rule:

A player shall not be entitled to play the ball on his nearside if he endangers another player who would otherwise have been able to make or attempt to make a legitimate play.

Nearside is a rule, as a player may not make a play on the nearside, if an opponent has a legitimate play on the offside and therefore has precedence on the right of way.


How is the Rule of Nearside Applied:

The nearside rule applies equally to both attacking and defending players.The priority is always given to the player who’s traveling in the direction of the ball with the line of the ball on their right side or offside. Any opposing player approaching the ball to make a play on their left side or nearside, must ensure that they do not endanger anybody else by making a play on that side.

This becomes even more important when travelling towards the ball in the opposite direction. If the player possesses the ball on the offside and is travelling in one direction while a defending player is travelling in the opposite direction and approaching on the nearside, it creates the opportunity for a signficant collision. 

Therefore, regardless of position on the field, a player must remember that they cannot be established on the near side if another player is established on the offside. 


Procedure of the Nearside Rule:

The penalty for breaking the nearside rule is a foul against the player who has made an illegitimate nearside play.

The outcome and ball placement are determined by field position, degree of danger, and whether the foul is committed by the attacking or defending player. If carried out by the defending player, the appropriate penalty up field should be given, and if by the attacking player, generally a spot hit should be awarded.


The game is started after an infringement of the nearside rule with the appropriate penalty in favour of the team that has been fouled. This can be in the form of a spot hit, taking into account the field location and severity of the foul, or it can be moved to a Penalty 2, 3 or 4. Lastly, a Penalty 1 can be called if it is in proximity of the goal and creates a dangerous play in what would have otherwise been a goal for the attacking team.


Nearside at Different Levels of Polo:

There is no differentiation between the nearside rule in high goal and low goal polo. There is however, a greater prevalence of this play in low goal polo as opposed to high goal polo.

The common errors, when a player is blown for a nearside foul are a lack of spatial awareness and a lack of understanding the positioning of opponents. Also, an over eagerness to play the ball at any cost.
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