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POTOMAC POLO NEWS Another awesome weekend of arena polo was had by members of the Potomac Polo Club. We had matches on Saturday and Sunday and the weather was ideal. As predicted, the rains on Friday and earlier in the week created ideal field condtions in our arena. This coming weekend promises to be just as spectacular with continued unseasonably warm temperatures. As always, please call Mary well-before Saturday to indicate you interest in chukkers this weekend. And be sure to bring a red and a dark jacket or jersey so that we can keep a clear demarcation between team colors. Rules, rules, rules... Everyone should study the rules on a WEEKLY basis. Try looking them over on game day at breakfast, but please, review them frequently. Whether or not the foul is called is no reason to continue to commit fouls. Most fouls create danger and some create extreme danger to riders and horses, so please continually review the rules and apply them. I've included rules pertaining to some fouls committed this weekend. Review these and see if you remember the fouls that occurred. ARENA RULE 12--RIGHT OF WAY h...INTERPRETATION: 
ARENA RULE 13--DANGEROUS RIDING
a. Careless or dangerous riding or lack of consideration for the safety of any player or mount, regardless of team, or right of way, is a foul.
b. The following are examples of riding prohibited under this rule:
(1) Riding off at an angle or speed dangerous to a player or to a mount. Factors to be considered in judging a dangerous speed or angle include:
(a) Relative speeds of the two mounts. It is very dangerous to ride off an opponent if you are not moving at approximately the same speed he is moving, whether it be fast or slow.
(b) Relative sizes of the two mounts.
(c) Relative positions of the two mounts. It is dangerous if either mount is more than a foot or two ahead of or behind the other.
(d) The angle at which the mounts converge. At high speeds, angles which mightbe safe at slower speeds become extremely dangerous.
(e) States of exhaustion of the mounts involved.
(f) Lack of readiness of an opponent for the ride off (blind siding.)
(2) Running into or over the rear quarters of another mount.
(a) A player may ride from behind, between an opponent and the wall, if: i) the player's speed is reasonable relative to the opponent; ii) the player rides between the opponent and the wall, not into the legs of the opponent's mount; and, iii) the player executes a hook stopping the stroke of the opponent.
(3) Pulling up on or across the Right of Way of another player.
(4) Zigzagging in front of another player.
(5) Riding an opponent dangerously across the Right of Way of another player.
(6) Running the head of a horse into an opposing player.
(7) Riding an opponent's mount dangerously into the side or end walls.
(8) Two players of the same team riding-off an opponent at the same time whether or not it being on the Right of Way. However, it is not necessarily a foul for a player to hook or strike an opponent's mallet while the opponent is being ridden-off by a teammateof the player.
(9) Riding one's mount into the stroke of another player. For the purpose of this Rule, a "dribble", in which the mallet head is not raised above the mount's hock or knee, is not considered a "stroke".
Right of Way on a Free Hit
On a free hit the No. 3 Red hits or hits at the ball at X. The Right of Way following the hit is determined as follows:
1. If the ball is hit from X to X', the next play is a goal defense by No. 3 White who may change the Line of the Ball by striking or by a rebound off the pony. No. 3 Red has a Right of Way from X to X' but may not again strike the ball until a play is made by No. 3 White. Future play is determined by the Line established by No. 3 White.
2. If the ball is hit from X to Y by No. 3 Red, No. 3 Red has a Right of Way on the offside to Y, but may not again play the ball until it rebounds from the wall at Y toward Z. At the instant of the rebound, the Line changes and No. 3 Red may lose the Right of Way to No. 3 White who can now follow the ball away from the wall on the offside. Nos. 1 Red and 1 White may have anticipated the Line change off the wall and be traveling on the new Line thereby assuming the Right of Way.
3. If the ball is hit from X to Y' No. 3 Red has a Right of Way, but may not play the ball until the ball rebounds at Y'. Any goal defense by No. 3 White at Y must be made so that not the slightest risk to No. 3 Red is involved. Following the rebound from Y' to Z', both Nos. 3 Red and White must be careful they position themselves so as not to be in a fouling situation should Nos. 2 Red and White be advancing from Z' to Y'.
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