Knowledge
Playing Tips
Playing tips with Rege Ludwig A Field Divided Renowned polo coach, Rege Ludwig gives his expert advice on how to get more out of your game I had the privilege of working on two different teams with Memo and Carlos Gracida, the 1994 and 1995 U.S. Opens, of which we won both. During those experiences I had the opportunity of learning things that I had never been exposed to prior to those two experiences. One of the things that I learned that impressed me the most is, the number one and the number four should try to be positioned at all times in a direct line between the ball and the goalmouth. That is especially true for the offense number one and the defense number four when the ball is headed toward the goal at which the offense team is trying to score. If both players can accomplish having done that, then when the ball is hit toward the goal, each is close to being on the Line Of the Ball (LOB); thereby, increasing
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their chances of having the right to hit the ball; offense number 1 to carry the ball toward the goal, and the defense number 4 to back the ball away from the goal. The following diagram depicts five hits of the ball as the offensive team moves the ball from one end of the field to the other. Indicated are ideal positions for the offense number 1 and defense number 4 for each hit. Notice how each is positioned within their designated area of play. The fact of the matter is, seldom should the number one or the number four of either team be outside of the eighty-yard-wide area of play that exists from one end of the field to the other. To facilitate being positioned between the ball and the goalmouth, mentally divide the field lengthwise into three sections, with
the middle section being about eighty yards wide, and the two side areas each being approximately fifty yards wide. That is such a simple concept; but oh, how incredibly well it works relative to being correctly positioned, especially if you are the number one or the number four on either team, and are in either the offense or defense mode of play. Even though, the three sections are not equal in width, each does extend the length of the field. The first section to identify is the middle section, which can be identified by marking two spots on each backline; one approximately forty yards to the left of the center of the goalmouth, and the other approximately forty yards to the right of the center of the goalmouth. Do that on both ends of the field. Then, draw an imaginary line the length of the field from one spot to the corresponding spot on the other end of the field. Then, do the same thing with the other two spots on the other side of the goalmouth from one backline to the other. You have now identified an eight-yardwide area of the field in which the number one and the number four should try to stay within as the ball moves up and down the field. Those two lines define an area of the field that the offense number one and defense number four are responsible for on one end of the field leading the ball down field, while the offense number four and defense number one are responsible for the same area on the other end of the field while following the ball down field. Since the shortest route between two points is a straight line, an objective of the offense number one and the defense number four should be to stay on a direct line between the ball and the goal towards which the ball is traveling. Once near that straight line, the offense number one and the defense number four should establish within the ROW adjacent to the projected LOB and, as much as possible, parallel to it. The two remaining areas of the field are each approximately fifty-yards-wide, and are next to the boards on either side of the field. Those areas of the field are where the defense number two and offense number three should do a large portion of their work following the ball down field, while the defense number three and offense number two are typically at the ball or in front of it leading the ball down field. www.polotimes.co.uk
