VIEWPOINTS
ROW vs. LOB Rules intended to provide safety for horses and players By Rege Ludwig
When reading the rulebook, I find myself sometimes confused by what I read. A large portion of that confusion is related to understanding the meaning of the words—rule, enter, and cross—and phrases: line of ball and right of way. When I am confused, I resort to the dictionary in an effort to develop a clearer understanding of the message the rulebook is espousing. My understanding of teaching polo comes from a commonsense understanding of what safety and fairness for all players (human and equine) means. I derive my understanding from what I read in the rulebook, and the words I look up in the dictionary. I do not present my understanding as representing a legal or binding interpretation of any rules put forth by any group espousing an interpretation of the rules. My intention is to express what I understand about the rules from having read and studied the rulebook on many occasions. The place to begin my discussion of confusion is by defining the word rule, which according to the Oxford English Dictionary, is: 1. “… a set of explicit or understood regulations or principles governing conduct or procedure within a particular area of activity. ….” or 2. ” a law or principle that operates within a particular sphere of knowledge, describing or prescribing what is possible or allowable.” I start with the word rule because the book of rules describes and/or prescribes what is possible and allowable; or more to the point, what is not possible or not allowable. Keep those definitions of rule in the forefront of your mind as you read on. They will prove to be critical in understanding what is allowed, or not allowed, when playing polo. The next definition is for the phrase line of ball. There is no definition in the dictionary for that phrase; therefore, I use a definition I perceive as being generally accepted throughout the world of polo. The LOB is an imaginary line projected onto the ground by the ball. The LOB follows the direction the ball is traveling either on or above the ground. The LOB is not necessarily a straight line; as it curves to the degree that the ball curves within the process of traveling. To take that definition a step further; the portion of the line ahead of the ball in the direction the ball is 18 POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N
traveling is referred to as the extended, or projected, line, while the line behind the ball, from the direction in which the ball has already traveled, is referred to as the established line. Those two terms (projected and established) will prove to be significant to the purpose of determining how the LOB effects the playing of the game. The primary purpose served by the imaginary LOB is that it serves as a dividing line between two imaginary right of ways, or lanes, one on either side of the LOB; with each ROW being approximately six feet in width, extending the length of the LOB, and running parallel to it. The next definition is that of right of way. The term ROW is often equated to the LOB and that is truly unfortunate as the two are entirely separate entities serving their own unique function to the safe and fair playing of the game. With that point having been established, I refer to the Oxford English Dictionary to develop a more accurate understanding as to what a ROW is, and how it can be and should be used to play the game of polo safely and fairly. The definition of right of way has two distinct definitions as applied to polo: 1. “The legal right …. to pass along a specific route … A path or thoroughfare … .” 2. “The legal right … to proceed with precedence over others in a particular situation or place.” Relative to the game of polo, the ROW is first and foremost, a lane or path on either side of the LOB that runs contiguous with the length of the LOB, is parallel to it and leads directly to the ball. Secondly, the ROW is a precedence allowing the player who is safely positioned within the physical established ROW the precedence to continue forward to the ball in that ROW without encountering the slightest risk of danger from an opposing player. Once safely positioned within the established ROW, that player has the right to continue within that lane, over other players who have yet to safely enter within the established ROW in front of the player already positioned there. A difficulty in recognizing the ROW and correctly applying its function to the game of polo is that each
