Soft-Spoken Words
BICYCLE POLO

However good the commentator, if you have never seen polo then reading these notes beforehand should help your enjoyment and understanding.

o The horseless version of one of the three fastest games in the world;
o Can be played on almost any level surface;
o First played in County Wicklow, Ireland 1891 (the Summer parent of bicycle polo dates from about 600 BC in Persia);
o First international match was played between Ireland and England in 1901;
o Most addictive after Summer polo and Winter polo ;
o All Players must play right-handed for safety reasons;
o Spectators must stay alert: bicycle polo balls are like highly-inflated miniature footballs and players often cross the sidelines - both travel fast and hard!

o Ideal size of ground is whatever is available;
o Goals only scored when both the scorer and their bicycle are within the D-ring;
o Play is continuous after a goal is scored;
o There is no offside rule.

Game Object : to score more goals than the other Team
(NB Ends are usually changed after each Chukka)

YOU WILL SEE

o One Timekeeper/Umpire timing/monitoring each period (chukka) of playing time; each chukka of playing time lasts 6 min or more according to local custom;
o One blast of the Umpire's stops both play and the clock;
o Two D-rings marked on the ground, one round each goal;
o Four Players a Team, hopefully numbered 1 to 4 on the backs of their shirts;
o Four Chukkas a Match (usually).

Because of the speed of the game there are strict Rules to minimise danger and ensure fairness - basically, if you are following the exact "Line of the Ball" then you have "Right of Way" over everyone else.

If that Right of Way is infringed, then Penalty Hits may be awarded, or the decision may be "no foul" and the ball is then "thrown in" to restart play.

Unlike other forms of polo, if the ball goes out of play over a sideline then a backhand shot must be used to bring it back into play.

Players may "ride off" an opponent (shoulder to shoulder, not bike to bike) but may not "sandwich" them and elbows must not be used.

Shall I commentate on your next Tournament?

Racecourse Announcer Demo	Winter Polo Commentator (SSW)	Children's Storyteller
Telephone Message 1 (SSW)	Verse - Humourous (SSW)	Verse - Romantic (SSW)
Promo 1 - Cheesecake (SSW)	Sample Script 1 (SSW)	Promo 2 - VW Vicar (SSW)