November 2021 Polo Players' Edition- Arena Penalty 4s

Arena Penalty 4s

Strategies for Offensive and Defensive Setup Options

By Jared Sheldon

After 7-goal arena star Jared Sheldon, a two-time winner and MVP of the U.S. Open Arena Polo Championships, was asked to work with an interscholastic team prior to a national tournament, he drew up some plays and ideas for them to use. This gave him the idea to write a series of arena polo strategy playbooks. The following is adapted from a chapter in his first book, “Arena Polo Strategies: Penalties & Throw-Ins,” covering offensive and defensive setup options for Penalty 4s.

He reminds us that no matter what penalty is called, the most important factor for success is for players to set up quickly—as soon as the umpire calls the penalty—regardless if your team is taking or defending the penalty. The sooner players set up, the sooner they can anticipate and choose their actions based on the way the other team sets up.

Hitting

In the image above, notice the O2 player is not following the shot, but instead allowing O1 to apply pressure. The reason for this is with a Penalty 4, there is usually a more unpredictable rebound. When O1 takes the pressure role, it allows that pressure to be applied on the offside of X3, no matter where the rebound ends up. Here is how the offensive players line up:

O1- With a defending player in the goal mouth for a Penalty 4, O1 is free to think very offensively on this play, depending on the shot. If the shot is on target and will clearly be a live ball once touched or swung at by the defending player in goal, then O1 is responsible for attacking player X3 in the goal. It is preferable for O1 to attack here and not O2 because O1 is able to come from a wider angle and attack the defender easier on the offside.

O2- Communication with O1 is extremely important. As mentioned earlier, it is preferred that O2 play more reservedly while positioned in the center of the field so if the rebound comes back past the 25-yard line, O2 is able to make a play on it. If the rebound goes off to O2’s right-hand side, then the X player on that side becomes their defensive responsibility. If the rebound goes to O2’s left-hand side of goal, then he or she must mark the player on that side as O1 moves in to go to the defender in the goal.

O3- This player must think the most defensively because the hitting team cannot attack a rebound off the wall. It is best for O3 to set up just outside the 5- yard arc on the offside of the hitter. O3 is there to shut the back door. If O2 goes to X2, then O3 must go back toward the defensive goal in order to cut off X1 from receiving a counterattack pass. If O2 goes to X1, then O3 goes to X2. Anticipating the rebound will make for quicker decision-making.

Defense

Defensive players line up as follows:

X1- What changes here from a Penalty 2 or 3 is that the ball may become live if the shot is on goal and X3 makes a play on or at it. Because of this, X1 must set up on the offside of player O1. This prevents O1 from meeting X3 head-tohead for a live ball. If the shot is not on goal and/or is not played on by X3, then reaction for X1 remains the same as if it were a Penalty 2 or 3. If it is a miss to the right-hand side of goal, then X1 gets the offside free and goes for a pass. If it is a miss to the other side, then X1 must decide if X3 has the space to clear comfortably and whether to go for the intermediate pass or to follow.

X2- This player lines up 5 yards to the right of the hitter. If the shot is on target and will be a live ball, then X2 goes to O2 in order to allow X3 time to clear the ball. If the shot is not on goal or will be an automatic live ball, then the reaction for X2 remains the same as for a Penalty 2 or a Penalty 3.

X3- This player takes a position in goal with the horse’s tail at the back post. It is easier to move forward to block a shot than it is to move backwards! Do not touch a shot that is going wide. Allow the ball to stop for a spot hit if it is going to fall short of the wall or allow it to hit the wall and set up for a play on the rebound. Approach it the same way with a Penalty 2 or 3 if it is not a live rebound. Make sure the team crosses midfield and knows where they are going to be.

Other chapters in the book cover both offensive and defensive setups for a Penalty 2, 3 and 5, as well as center and spot hits and throw-ins.

To purchase Sheldon’s first book, “Arena Polo Strategies: Penalties & Throw-ins” contact him directly at Jared.T.Sheldon@gmail.com or call him at 858-735-9795.

Polo teams can purchase four books for the price of three. Readers of Polo Players’ Edition receive a special 15% discount off the cover price.