New rink to play
Here is a google map of the hockey rink in the Delcastle Recreational Area.
View Delcastle Recreation Area, Hockessin in a larger map
These guys are GOOOD
Thanx to b.windle for sending me this clip.
Chicago vs Milwaukee from Mr.Do on Vimeo.
Wilmington Bike Polo rules and what-not:
The b.windle modern interpretation
Play others as hard as they play you. There is a difference between playing aggressive and playing mean. We want people of all skill levels to learn, have fun and come back for another game.
Courtesy/Sportsmanship. If you wreck someone with a sketchy or questionable play, why not tap-out with them or at least wait and make sure they're ok? If the other team has a mechanical issue it's courteous that a member of your team steps out of play until the issue is resolved. The most important thing to remember is that polo is a game. It's ok to play hard and take it seriously but at the end of a match you want to be able to shake hands and say "good game" to the opposing side. Trash-talking is fine as long as all parties involved are having a good time (see above re: fun).
Like contact is allowed. (within reason, as described below)
Bike-on-bike contact:
-T-boning or purposefully crashing into people at high speeds is frowned upon. No one wants to stop playing because of broken equipment or broken bodies.
Body-on-body contact:
-No pushing/grabbing with hands, punching or kicking. A general way to think about this is that you can push with your arms or legs, as long as they remain on the handlebars or pedals.
Mallet-on-mallet contact:
-Baseball or giant swings at other players mallets are frowned upon. We want to keep equipment working as long as possible and an errant or wind-up mallet check may damage bikes, break mallets and could even cause serious injury to another player.
It is considered poor sportsmanship to make aggressive contact with a player who is not near the ball or receiving a pass. Example: A little love-tap of the mallet (hay buddy!) or light brushing body contact is ok. Checking the mallet out of that players hand or crashing them into the wall is not ok. Someone who is playing goalie and posting on a mallet is fair game for mallet checks.
Footdown rule. A player that lets his/her foot touch the ground during play must return to a predetermined location (usually the sideline at half-court) and tap their mallet to reenter play. They must not interfere with gameplay while doing this. It is courteous to say "foot down" out loud so that everyone can hear you. Other players may call it if you fail to do so.
Shots on goal/Scoring. In order to score, the offensive player must hit the ball across the goal line using the narrow end of the mallet - this is called a "shot" or "hit" - hitting the ball across the goal line with the wide end of the mallet is called a "shuffle" and will not count as a goal. When playing on courts with a net/goal cage a shuffled shot becomes possession of the defending team. When cones are used as goals, play continues as normal.
-Goal shots can bank off any object except human.
-When your team scores a goal, you wait back in your end for the other team (player or ball, whichever comes first) to cross half-court before engaging in play again.
Ball-jointing/ball-dragging. Dragging the ball with an open end of the mallet is allowed but it must be passed to a teammate or touched by a defender before it can be shot. Treated in the same manner as shuffling if a dragged ball enters the goal.
Games.
-2 vs 2 or 3 vs 3.
-Players randomly divided at the beginning of each game, with provisions for switching if player talent levels are vastly different.
-Each game starts with a joust. Someone says 3-2-1-polo, then the game begins.
-Games played to 5 points, redivide teams, repeat.
EighthInch.com Polo Mallet Review
I tested one of these bad boys tonight. Here are the highlights:
- Incredibly accurate shots!
- Concave sides
- Held the ball nice around turns
- Easy to shuffle, pass, and lift
- Easy to assemble
The end caps are a major improvement from using an open ended mallet. I could actually aim my shots in a specific direction. Usually I just shoot and hope for the best. Assembly was quick as I only had to drill one hole through the end of the shaft. Hardware included, but be careful not to strip the end cap screw holes. Also, I had to use the handle end of a ski pole. The trick is finding a ski polo one with a 19mm end. Once you do that, your in the money. Speaking of money the mallets cost $20.00 but you can get 3 for $50.00. In my opinion it was totally worth it. Now I shall rule the courts of Wilmington, that is unless Perry Z. comes to town and owns us all.
thanx
-Sam
Bike Polo – Memorial Day
Here are pictures from bike polo on memorial day
Watching it all happen from a safe distance
Nicole Suto takes a break on the pavement
Brian is denied access
Brian goes for the kill yo
Sarah is Feet Down
Bike polo our destiny
It had been raining all morning as we pulled up to a roller hockey rink in Newark, DE. Suddenly the clouds broke letting the sunshine pour through, as if on cue from from the gods of bike polo. We played hard making stellar shots from just inside half court (Windle the Warrior), banking the ball though rounderd corners (so much better than those right angled mouse traps) and crashing wicked wrecks (Sarah ran over me and hit me in the head with her mallet, on purpose) for almost three house in the sweltering heat. Just when it was all too much, a welcomed sprinkle from 3,500 feet came down on our heads, and then stopped. Cooled off and basking in the warm light with the smell of fresh rain in the air we reflected back on the highlights of todays game (Long Shot Sam's sliding rocket shot of victory). We talked for a bit, wrapped up the scene, and headed to our vehicles. No sooner than I turned the ignition the rain came pouring down, washing our tires marks from the hockey court. It would seem that an unknown force of positive and negative energy has passed through our lives setting the course for bike polo. The game of hardcourt bike polo has chosen us all to play, love, and feel the pavement beneath our balding tires. If you've yet to play, come join us for our next game. Place your premonitions aside and let this shared destiny work though your soul, so that it may blossom into the best time of your life on a bike.
Here are three images from todays game:
Hurray for hockey rinks
Our next game will be at the Death Rink of Doom and Desturction this Sunday the 23rd at 12pm. This is a nice court and we are excited about not having to dodge 8ft long trenches and old tennis netting. There are no right angles on this court! This means no more "ball in time out syndrome" every time someone takes a shot.
Here is a map of the location. I suggest parking at the Newark Shopping Center and riding over.
View Death Rink of Doom in a larger map
What is Hardcourt Bike Polo?
History
The traditional game, played on grass, was invented by an Irishman, Richard J. Mecredy, in 1891. That same year the first cycle polo match was played between The Scalp and the Ohne Hast C.C.. Towards the end of the 19th century the game reached Great Britain, USA and France. The first international match was played between Ireland and England in 1901. Cycle polo was a demonstration sport at the 1908 London Olympics with Ireland winning the gold, beating Germany.
Hardcourt Bike Polo
In recent years, an alternate form of the game known as "Hardcourt Bike Polo" or "Urban Bike Polo" has grown in popularity. In this less formal variation, teams composed of three to five players compete on tennis courts, street hockey rinks, or whatever other surfaces are available. The rules vary slightly by city.
Basic rules of play:
- In the case of a 'foot down' or 'dab' (touching the ground with one's foot) the player must "tap out" by riding to mid-court and hitting a designated area with their mallet. There is usually a tap-out located on either side of the court.
- In order to score, the offensive player must hit the ball across the goal line using the narrow end of the mallet - this is called a "shot" or "hit" - hitting the ball across the goal line with the wide end of the mallet is called a "shuffle".
- When your team scores a goal, you wait back in your end for the other team (player or ball, whichever comes first) to cross half before engaging in play again.
- There are three contact rules: body on body, bike on bike and mallet on mallet.
- An etiquette rule is that you play others as hard as they play you.
- We like to say that goal shots can bank off any object except human.
EighthInch Mallet Head Video
When we play
Where we play
Heart of Darkness
Death Rink
The Castle
