Cycle Polo, is a team sport, similar to traditional polo, except that bicycles are used instead of horses. There are two versions of the sport: grass and Hardcourt Bike Polo. The hardcourt game saw a sharp spike in interest in the first decade of the 21st century and new teams are sprouting up across the world in China, Canada, Ireland, Switzerland, France, India, Germany, Pakistan, Ukraine, Russia, Malaysia, Sri Lanka, Indonesia, Hungary, Australia, New Zealand, Sweden, England, Scotland, Argentina, Italy, Spain, USA, Poland, Croatia, Slovenia, Lithuania, Nepal, Brazil and Cuba. Originating in Ireland in 1891, traditional bike polo is played on grass courts. Modern hardcourt bike polo has roots in the early 2000s in Seattle. Bike messengers would play during down time between deliveries. Hardcourt bike polo spread internationally and is played in over 30 countries. The first world championships were held in Toronto in 2008! The sport was invented in County Wicklow, Ireland, in 1891 by retired cyclist, Richard J. Mecredy. Traditional Bicycle Polo is played on a large rectangular grass field, but the faster hardcourt version played by less players on a smaller court is getting popular. The hardcourt version is called "Hardcourt Bike Polo" or "Urban Bike Polo", and is played by three players on a hard court surface such as for basketball tennis with a street hockey ball. At the beginning of the game, the ball is placed in the middle of the court the players wait behind their own goals. Following a countdown, both teams charge the ball in what is termed the "joust". A player may hit the ball in two ways: a "shot" or a "shuffle". A shot is made with either end of the mallet head whereas a shuffle is made with the side. In order to score a goal, a player must hit the ball into the opposing team's goal with a shot; if the player uses a shuffle, the goal does not count and play continues.
First, riding in an enclosed area means you’ll want a bike with a low gear ratio. Most people play on a single speed bike with a freewheel, some folks prefer to ride with a fixed gear. Shorter bikes are easier to maneuver, they accelerate quickly and balls have a harder time getting through them. You’ll want a medium to long stem to ensure your body is in a comfortable position, and most polo bikes have only a front brake since the right hand is typically busy handling the mallet. Bicycle Polo was apparently a demonstration sport at the 1908 Olympic Games. Do not confuse this sport with Cycle Ball, a sport similar to football played on bicycles. There are many ways to put together a polo mallet and none of them are fancy. Typically, players play in an enclosed rectangular area, called a "court". Courts vary from city to city but they all have two nets, a centre line and are enclosed by some kind of board or chain link fence. Some clubs play in tennis courts or in skating rinks, others set up temporary boards in parking lots or on some other kind of concrete slab. Some polo clubs play on grass. 온라인경마
There are two types of hardcourt bike polo. One is the traditional style called "3v3", which is a team consisting of 3 players and games are usually around 10–15 minutes in length. The other form is "Squad". Squad is a team of 4 to 6 players and games are between 30 and 40 minutes, allowing for substitutions. "Squad" is the smaller version of what used to be known as "Bench". Bench was a team of 7 to 12 players and games were between 60 and 90 minutes. All formats have a maximum of 3 players per team on the court at any given time. Typically, players play in an enclosed rectangular area, called a "court". Goals are placed at each long end of the court. A player who "dabs", must suspend play until "tapping in". It is also common to have to say "foot down" or "dab" to let other players know you are out of play, but not required. You should avoid affecting play of the game at all cost after a foot down occurs. A player following the ball on its exact line and taking it on his off side will be entitled to the right of way over all other players. You can play bike polo with any whip, but there are a few things to look for in a good polo bike.