HISTORY

Polocrosse can be traced back to England in the 1930s as a game used to teach individuals how to ride. Mr & Mrs. Hirst were two of the first people to play and fall in love with the game. They took the sport to their home country of Australia, where it was further developed, and Polocrosse as we know it was created. The first club was formed in 1945, and currently about 400 clubs exist throughout the world. The American Polocrosse Association (APA) was started in the 1984, and the Minnesota Extreme was started in the Fall of 2002.

 

WHAT IS POLOCROSSE?

Polocrosse, as the name implies, is a combination of Lacrosse and Polo. Mounted on horseback, each player carries a racket 36 inches in length with an 8 inch diameter net on one end. The ball is four inches in diameter and is soft foam covered with a soft latex skin. The ball is scooped up from the ground, carried in the net of the racket and passed between teammates. Ultimately, it is thrown through the goal posts at one end of the field or the other.

 

PLAYING POSITIONS

 Teams are made up of 6 players, 2 teams of three. The number 1 player is the "attack". The #1 is the only player who can score a goal for the team, and can only do so when in the goal scoring area. The number 2 player is the "midfielder" responsible for both offense and defense. The #2 is usually the pivot of the team, and can only play in the midfield area. The number 3 player is the "defense", or essentially, the goalie. The #3 is the only player who can defend the goal.

 

THE PLAYING FIELD

Polocrosse is played on a field which is 160 yards long by 60 yards wide. Goal posts, which are 8 feet apart, are located at each end of the field. Infield, there is a line that extends the width of the field, 30 yards from each goal, that is called the "penalty line". This line encloses what is called the "goal scoring area", into which only the No. 1 of the attacking team and the No. 3 of the defending team are allowed to enter. Directly in front of the goal posts is an 11 yard arc. The ball must be thrown through the goal posts from outside this arc, and from within the "goal scoring area". The ball may not be carried across the penalty line when entering or exiting the goal scoring area. It must be either thrown to a teammate or bounced across by the appropriate player. For a more detailed description of Polocrosse rules check out the American Polocrosse Association http://www.a-p-a.org/

 

Who plays Polocrosse?

Players come from a variety of backgrounds; english or western, and some of us have "no background at all".....just  Polocrosse!  ANYONE can play, for fun or competitively. We have a variety of riders who ride at different levels for different reasons.  ALL ARE WELCOME!

 

What kind of horse do I need to play PLX?

ANY horse will do.  Our club members are riding  Quarter Horse, Thoroughbreds, and Arabians. The  horses are aged from 5 to 35  and range in size from 13.hh to 16.1hh. All are enjoying the game, playing at a variety of levels.  The horses come from every background; english, western, working ranch horses, and some are young horses who have are being trained specifically for Polocrosse.  The only restriction is that STALLIONS  are prohibited from playing. 

 

How will I know if my horse would be good at it?

Most horses don't mind and pick things up quickly.  They will be   desensitized to the ball and racket at your first practice. The majority of horses take about 15 minutes to decide that the ball and racket are no big deal. They seem to  enjoy the variety of activity in PLX and after a few practices you will  find your horse eager to  play.    They become comfortable with horses close to them, balls and rackets moving in all directions, and  are better horse overall because of it. 

 

What kind of equipment do I need to buy?

Nothing to start! We can  find rackets and balls for you to use until you decide that this is the sport for you, and you buy your own.  Other than that you need a horse, approved helmet, saddle, bridle (without a shank on the bit), four bell boots, leg wraps, protective foot wear, and a breastplate.    Though we would like every horse to wear this equipment when we practice, this is  not always the case for economic reasons.  For example many people do not have breastplates so we make exceptions during practices. Equipment requirements for tournaments are more specific, such as requiring a saddle without a horn. You can visit www.a-p-a.org for the American Polocrosse Association  standards.

 

    Are there any other clubs in Minnesota?

 The Minnesota Extreme is currently the only club in our state. However, we are very excited about a new club forming in the St. Croix Falls, WI area!  The closest club as of now is in Colorado.  There are also clubs  forming in Ohio and Missouri.

 

I'm interested how do I sign up?

For more information, you can contact our President, Kristi Beall,  or visit us during one of our practices!