The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1885-02-18
HOW TO PLAY POLO.
The Game that is Becoming Popular On
ROllers--A Chance TO Witness
it Played.

The famous Galesburg polo club being
booked for a game at the rink Friday
evening, it behoovcs the good people to
learn what polo is, so that they can watch
the game understandingly With the
object of giving an idea of what the game
is, the rules below have been obtained
with some trouble.
There has been considerable talk of Ors
ganizing a polo club in this city and also
in Davenport and Moline. The coming
of the Galesburg champions will probably
eliminate in the formation of such clubs.
which will lead to many exciting and in
teresting contests fer the championship
of the trl>cities.
The following will explain the game,
which is sometimes called rink ball.
First Eleven players shall constitute
match team, but the game may be play
ed by as few as six on side. When
eleven on a side are played they are plac.
ed as follows: Two to guard the goal,
three in front of them as blacks, and
the others further in front as rushers.
Second-One umpire, selected by the
two captains, shall decide all disputed
points, and his decision shall be final.
Third The ball shall be a hollow rub
Der ball, not to exceed four and half
ounces in weight, and TO be not less THAI
four and a half inches in diameter and
fifteen inches in circumference.
Fourth -Thc ball must not be kicked
by any contestant, nor picked up from
the floor, it only being in play when it is
rolled or "dribbled" along the floor of the
rink, when being pushed or struck with
the players hand.
Fifth-Any player kicking the ball dur,
ing the progress Of the game, or striking
it with his hands, so that it is lifted above
the head of any other player, shall at once
be declared out Of play by the umpire, AND
he shall not take further part in the game
until q touch down be scored by either
side
SiXth-The goal line shall be line
marked on the floor within ten feet from
the boundary lines of the field, at each enc
thereof; and it shall be in length one hall
the width of the rink field, or of the wdtl
from one side boundary line to the other
Sevcnth-Outside the boundary lines i;
"out Of touch" and when the ball goes
outside either of the boundary lines 1t i:
dead until placed in play again by The
umpire.
Eighth-A touch down" ball shall be-
scored to the credit of the side whose
player makes it, whenever the bail is fair
| ly rolled, dribbled or lifted across the goa
line of the opposing side, provided th(
ball is not lifted over the line higher thar
| the heads of the fielders.
Ninth-When the ball has been kicked
accidentally or otherwise, foul shall
be declared by the umpire, and the bal
must be retained to the place from which
it was thus unfairly removed. When the
ball, too, is picked up by fielder, OIL
struck so that it be sent flying higher than
the heads of the feldcrs, it shall be SINH
larry declared foul, and returned to the
place from which it was picked up OF
thrown.
Tcn-Thee touch-do shall cons.i-
tute game, and the best two out OF
three games, or best three in five, d
match.
Eleventh Should no touch>downs be
scored within forty minutes of the call OF
play" by the umpire, the side first scor>
ing a touchdown thereafter shall be cred
tied with the game.
Twelfth-At the beginning Of the game
the umpire shall take the bell and place il
in the center of the rink field, and wher
the captains of each side have placed
their men in position, he shall call play
and until such call be made the game car
not begin.
Thirteen-Nhcn time" is called by the
umpire, play shall cease at once, and the
bail shall be considered dead thereafter
until the umpire again calls play"
Fourtecnth-Any match not decided II
accordance with rule ten shall be regarded
as drawn.
Fifteenth-At no time during the pro.
gress of match shall either the goa
player or the backs be allowed to cross
the center line of the rink field in pursuit
of the ball, except when called upen tc
take the place of forward PLAYER.