Tennis Polo
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Tennis Polo is a unique field sport played with racquets and a ball similar to those used in tennis – hence how it acquired its name. The sport can best be described as an amalgamation of racquet sports and team sports such as football (soccer), field hockey and lacrosse. The sport that closest resembles tennis polo is the gaelic sport of hurling.
A team consists of seven field players. The object of the game is for teams to score more goals in a match to win the game.
The sport was originally known as toccer. The sport is still goes by this name outside of the United States and Canada. There are players in 14 countries including Canada, Mexico and France.
Among the fastest field sports in the world, tennis polo is a fast-paced, exciting game. Players use their racquets to hit, pass, carry and pick up the ball in the field of play. Ground strokes often exceed 90mph and helmets and shin guards are optional - but most players opt not to wear them.
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[edit] Equipment
The maximum head size on a tennis polo racket is 100 sq. in (645 sq. cm). This rule is only enforceable in tournament play. A regulation tennis polo ball has a diameter of 2.79 inches and is the same as an oversize tennis ball. The goal is generally 6 ft wide by 6 ft tall.
[edit] The Code of Play
Tennis polo is conducted under a code that governs all players of the game. Taking from tennis, the sport is governed by a series of etiquette rules that players follow. The most vigorous is that tennis polo, is not a contact sport. Intentional contact may occur, but intentional physical play or use of "brute" force will result in immediate expulsion.
[edit] Field of Play
The tennis polo field of play is 75 yards long by 55 yards wide, and is often played on a soccer-type field in many areas.
The playing area is divided into two halves by a median line called the midline.
The possession area is a 15 yards semi-circle measured out from each goalpost.
[edit] Players
The number of players shall be limited to seven on each side in all games and matches. Teams may carry unlimited substitutes, though some tournaments restrict numbers. Substitution takes place in front of the scorekeeper’s area on the left boundary line and occurs without stopping the match.
An injured player may be replaced as soon as he/she leaves the field of play.
Tennis Polo teams are comprised of seven players on the field at one time. 3 of the players are designated as Defensive backs and generally play solely defense.
The Midwing (or Halfback), is a hybrid offensive player who may play between the defensive and offense ends, depending on the scheme the team is running.
The three primary offensive players are the wing players (left wing & right wing) and the attacker (or center).
[edit] Length of a Match
The tennis polo match is 40 minutes, divided into four periods of 10 minutes each. The team with the most points at the end of the four quarters, wins the match. If at the end of the match, the teams are tied, they play a 3-minute overtime period, with the winner at the end of the overtime, being declared the winner. If the game remains tied, the teams will continue to play overtime periods until there is a winner.
[edit] Starting the Game
The game begins with a touchoff, where the opposing team hits the ball to the other side of the field. The game begins once a player from the other team makes contact with the ball or its hits the ground in-bounds.
[edit] Starting and Resuming Play
The game will begin with a coin toss, with the team designated as the "visiting" team making the call. The team that wins the toss may opt to receive or send the ball in the first half, with the team that receives in the 1st half, sending it in the 2nd half.
To "send" the ball to start the match, one player stands inside the crease and hits the ball to the other side of the field. The sending team may not touch the ball or gain possession until a player from the receiving team has made contact with the ball.
After a goal has been scored, players will return to their starting positions on their respective sides of the field. The ball is given to a member of the team who did not score at the center of the midline. If an umpire is in use, he will signal the beginning of the game by blowing his whistle. If there is no umpire, play will begin as soon as the player receives the ball and the game clock will resume counting.
[edit] Substitutions
Teams may make unlimited substitutions, but at no point shall there be more than 7 players in the game for either team. If a team has “too many players on the field,” the penalty is an automatic change of possession from the spot where the penalty occurred - not when the whistle was blown.
[edit] Turnovers
When the ball is turned over because it goes out of bounds, the clock is not stopped. Instead, the ball is retrieved (or in most cases, a new ball given to the opposing player) and the game resumes. If the ball is intentionally thrown out of bounds, it is called wasting and the team that receives possession is awarded a free shot from the spot where the ball was hit.
[edit] Scoring
Scoring in tennis polo occurs in two ways.
- A goal is worth 2 points.
- A goal hit outside of the 15-yard arc is worth 4 points.
[edit] Officials
Each tournament match shall have at least two field officials, one to monitor scorekeeping and an umpire to monitor infractions and time.
In matches where there are no officials available, teams will appoint a captain. Prior to the match, the captains will discuss lineups, time of play and other “house rules” applicable to their match.
Infractions shall be determined by the players, always maintaining The Code™ and ensuring fairness and continuity of play. In the event of a dispute, the captains shall determine the course of action and play will resume.
[edit] Infractions
Infractions are called by field officials for various miscues on the field. The results of infractions depend on the severity as adjudged by the field officials. A man-advantage is gained when a player is ejected due to severe misconduct during a match. As a result, the player’s team becomes short a player giving a distinct advantage to the opposing team.
They are: • Change of Possession (A) • Indirect free shot (B) • Free Shot (C) • Penalty Shot (D) • Ejection (E)
- If a penalty occurs and the end of the period, the game clock will be reset to the time the penalty occurred and game play will be resumed.
- False – A false is called when a team scores while in the possession area. The
defending team gets control of the ball at the penalized team's possession line after the false is made. (A)
- Crosschecking - When a player uses his racquet against another player to
stop the player from moving or otherwise using the racquet to touch any part of the player's body. (C)
- Personal Foul - is called when a player makes illegal contact with an opponent
using their body. The fouled player receives a foul shot from the spot of the foul. If the player is shooting when the foul is committed, the player will receive a penalty shot. (B or C)
- Hand Contact – When a player makes illegal contact with the ball using their hands. (A)
- Misconduct – When determined by an official for unsportsmanlike conduct. (E)
- Holding - When a player uses bodily contact to obstruct an opponent (such as holding onto the opponent’s racquet or jersey). (A)
- Pass Interference - When a player has hand-control of the ball after a pickup,
the defending player interferes with a legal pass with his racquet or hands before the pass is made. (B)
- Inappropriate Use - Inappropriate use is called when a player misuses their
racquet, hands, feet or other legal appendage during the game. (B, C or D depending on severity)
- Offside - Called when a player from the opposing team enters the possession area with the ball. That player may not leave the possession area with the ball. (B)
- Ripping - When a player takes forcibly removes the ball from the hand of a possessing player, who clearly has control of the ball. (C)
[edit] Shots
- Indirect Free Shot - Awarded after certain fouls. The player may pass the ball
to a team member, but may not score directly.
- Free Shot - The player may shoot directly for the goal.
- Penalty Shot - All players stand on opposite sides of the field, while the player in question starts at the midline and has 15 seconds to take a shot towards the goal.
[edit] History
Tennis Polo was originally invented as toccer. In 2002, Ron Bronson, a counselor at a summer camp in Connecticut (Camp Awosting) the sport was developed as a diversion for tennis players during a rainy summer season. Bronson originally had no designs on inventing a new sport. Instead, the game was one of a series of elaborate tennis hybrid games he created for his students.
But at their insistence, he developed the first rules of the sport and later created the first association for the sport called the Toccer Players Association, since the sport was governed largely by those first players of the sport. He felt it was far more important to involve the players in the growth and development of their own game, rather than become a hegemonic inventor over a game that he felt that they were co-owners of.
Tennis Polo is the first field sport invented by an African-American and only the second known sport to be invented by an African-American.
[edit] Viperball
In 2004, the sport of Viperball was created by Tennis Polo enthusiasts in the Western United States as an indoor variation of Tennis Polo. This indoor variation employs a faster-paced, fewer players (5 on 5) and allows players to carry (aka, run with) the ball, make plays off walls and does not use a goalkeeper.
In late 2005, the National Viperball League (NVL) was formed. The league's ultimate goal is to create a professional viperball league based in the United States.
Both the TPA, tennis polo's governing body and the NVL worked together to develop an outdoor version of Viperball, aimed at increasing the participation in Tennis Polo -- specifically in North America.
The game is played on a regulation American football field, with two teams of 10 players. The game is more physical, but is still officially non-contact. Players are allowed to run with the ball (called carrying) for up to four steps at a time, before having to dribble the ball on their racquet before continuing to run or passing with their racquet or throwing it to another player.
There is no goalkeeper and teams score in three distinct ways.
- Hitting a ball into a tennis polo sized (6' x 6') goal placed in the middle of both team's goal line for 5 points.
- Carrying or dribbling the ball or catching the ball past the goal line into the end zone for 3 points.
- Hitting the ball through the goal posts for 1 point.
[edit] Resources
Official Rules of Tennis Polo (formerly Toccer), Tennis Polo Association, (c) 2006
TPA Magazine, Tennis Polo Association, (c) March 2006
[edit] External links
Tennis Polo Links
