Category: NAH

Ruleset Update for the 2017 Season

Posted on by Joe Rstom

I am happy to present the 2017 NAH Ruleset for the 2017 Qualifying Season, NAHBPC and WHBPC. This ruleset is the most significant update since 2014 when NAH introduced version 4.3. Once again, this version ushers in a new delivery format and naming convention as well as a new process for collaborating and play-testing rules. I will first outline a short list of the most relevant changes, then I explain how it will be implemented and updated moving forward, and lastly I will explain how you can contribute to future efforts.

A PDF is available, but you can read the Ruleset on any device here: https://nahbpa.gitbooks.io/nah-ruleset-2017/content/

The 2017 Ruleset includes the following significant changes:

1. Delayed Penalties
Instead of an advantage being played out endlessly, the Referee will blow the whistle and assess the penalty at the point the team in possession of the ball carries it from the offensive half to the space in their defensive half behind their goal line. This is simply to prevent unnecessarily long delayed penalties and give the team who was penalized 50% of the court and a relief of pressure to make line changes and regain the advantage that was lost due to the penalty. We are going to test this in qualifiers, and make adjustments as needed before the NAHBPC.

2. High Sticking
– You still aren’t allowed to swing your mallet above your shoulders. You also aren’t allowed raise your hand above your shoulders. Additionally, if the Referee deems your back-hand, follow-through or scoop pass to be excessively dangerous they can give you a high-sticking penalty. However, if you are further than 10 feet away from an opponent you can raise your mallet straight into the air, or raise your hand straight into the air, to knock the ball down directly below the point you make contact with it. Passes are not allowed above the shoulders in this situation. We are going to test this in qualifiers, and make adjustments as needed before the NAHBPC.

3. Squad Rules / Tournament Rules
These used to be in the appendices, now they are integrated. Additionally, we have identified a transition area around the entrances of the court for substitutions and mechanics for penalizing illegal substitutions. Changes were made throughout the ruleset to accommodate this, from Timeouts to Penalty enforcement.

4. Interference and Obstruction moved into “Technical Penalties”
The penalties overlapped and were so similar, they are now in one rule and simply identified as “bike” vs “body” interference. There is also a mallet interference penalty to prevent off-ball mallet play which would include the goalie.

5. Crease Violation moved into “Technical Penalties”
Originally we had written that it was an automatic Minor Penalty. This has been updated to be assessed in relation to where the ball is on the court when the penalty occurs.

6. Rotor Guards, Handlebar Width
For safety, we’ve required rotor guards for NAH tournaments (do whatever you’d like in local pickup) and a maximum width of handlebars at 12″ (305mm) from the center of the stem, or 24″ (610mm) total. This is to prevent a player from using their bars to draw fouls or create unsafe close-quarters situations.

7. “Bike Contact”
Instead of 7 different rules we now have 1 for all bike contact, with definitions with each for reference, including a new “Pedal Contact” penalty.

8. Possession, Shooting, Scooping
We’ve added clarification surrounding ball possession, shooting and scooping to reflect more accurately how the game is being played and how players are interacting with the ball and one another on the court. We are going to test this in qualifiers, and make adjustments as needed before the NAHBPC.

9. Clarity and Efficiency
Throughout the ruleset we removed unnecessary language, added it where it was needed and did a complete overhaul of where rules were situated and how they were referenced. This is where the majority of the changes were made and you can look at the change log for actual progress

New Format & Version

We began developing the Ruleset on a new platform called Gitbooks that was created specifically for technical documents that require collaboration and version history. With this transition, we decided to end the numbering system (this would have been version 5), and instead move to a year-based numbering system and PDFs will have their date at the end (e.g. NAH_Ruleset_2017_v41317.pdf). This year you’ll have 2017, next year you’ll have 2018. It makes sense right? Additionally, there is a changelog of every single edit that is made, but the notable changes are always made by creating what is called a “branch” or “change request”. Anyone with editing access can create a new “branch” and after they have finalized their update, I can “merge” the change into the master document. There is also the ability to “fork” the ruleset to create your own. This will be useful for Europe, Australasia, and South America to move freely and  continue innovating or clarifying rules for how the game is played in their local championship series. Lastly, these “change requests” can be commented on by anyone for the author to gather feedback. Please email joe@nahardcourt.com if you’d like to learn more about contributing via comments, branches or forks. Major updates/change requests always have an update number marked in parentheses (i.e. #46, #45, etc.) and minor updates are simply logged by the section that was last edited. You can see the full list of incremental changes here: https://www.gitbook.com/book/nahbpa/nah-ruleset-2017/activity

Implementation Plan

The 2017 Ruleset is to be used in all Regional Qualifying Tournaments. Exceptions can be made, but must be communicated to the Tournament Director, Mark, for approval. Minor updates will be made prior to the NAHBPC, but entire rules will only be added or removed if something deemed completely necessary. Following the NAHBPC, we will coordinate with other organizing bodies throughout the world to update the Ruleset for the 2017 WHBPC in Lexington. Again, we hope there will be no major changes made to the ruleset unless absolutely necessary. After the WHBPC concludes we will go back into a rule development phase through November – February to develop new rules and continue refining this process. At this point we will invite contributors to propose significant rule changes and there will be public discussion and voting by regional reps or club reps as necessary.

Conclusion

I hope you are as excited about this update as we are and we hope you read it thoroughly. The new technology we are using should facilitate well-documented progression in the ruleset and we are hoping to combine it with a new communications system to facilitate discussion. Please email me at joe@nahardcourt.com with any actionable feedback or concern, or if you find any typos/errors. This is a work in progress, as always, but I feel this Ruleset is a significant step forward in helping the world bike polo community play a more exciting, competitive, safe and fun game.

Download the PDF
Contribute to the Ruleset

Cheers,

Joe Rstom

2017 WTF-FRST Scholarship Announcement

Posted on by Alias Tagami

wtf_logo

NAH is proud to introduce WTF-FRST (Women/Trans/Femme Financial Resource for Skills and Training), a scholarship to assist outstanding WTF players in attending tournaments! This fund was conceived of by Krista Carlson of LA Bike Polo, and founded by Sarah Livingston of Portland Bike Polo and Shannon Frey of East Van Bike Polo.  We are proud to be working with them to see this initiative born in this exciting year of North American bike polo!

For 2017, two scholarships will be awarded to up-and-coming players who wish to attend Fixcamp, and two will be awarded to players competing in either the NAHBPC or WHBPC. Applicants will be evaluated on their need, commitment, goals, and contributions back to the WTF polo community.

Fixcamp Development Scholarship (2 winners)

  • Applications are now being accepted until March 31: English | Spanish

  • Scholarship winners will be announced April 15.

NAHBPC/WHBPC Travel Scholarship (2 winners)

  • Applications for the NAHBPC/WHBPC Scholarship will be open from May 1 until May 15.

  • Scholarship winners will be announced May 30.

Our kick-off donation campaign will run through March 31, during which time we hope to raise $2000 for our inaugural scholarships.

Get involved!

  1. Follow the WTF-FRST on Facebook and Instagram

  2. Donate to the fund: paypal.me/nahardcourt

  3. Throw an event supporting the fund!

  4. Tell your WTF teammates, clubmates, and friends about the fund, and encourage them to apply.

  5. Join the selection committee. The selection committee will be made up of 3-5 WTF players from various regions, all of whom are ineligible to apply for the scholarship in 2017 or 2018. Contact genderinpolo@gmail.com for more information.

Here’s to a more gender diverse bike polo in 2017 and beyond!

If you have any questions about NAH outreach initiatives, please email jennifer@nahardcourt.com

If you have any questions about the WTF-FRST scholarships, please email genderinpolo@gmail.com

Posted in NAH

Lexington, KY to Host WHBPC 2017

Posted on by Alias Tagami

On behalf of NAH and Lexington BP, we are happy to announce that WHBPC 2017 will be hosted in Lexington, KY!

Mark your calendars and start saving up your money now!  WHBPC main event will be a four-day event during the week of October 2nd, 2017.  Additional pre-and-post events may be coordinated in the months to come.  NAH will be launching a WHBPC website for up to date details for travelers including information on suggested airports, dining, housing, and a daily schedule of WHBPC events.  We are working on finalizing the total number of teams, and the continental allocation of spots for the event.

The tournament will be hosted at Coolavin Park on three co-located courts.  All courts are 120’x60′ with full 4′ perimeter boards and symmetrical court entrances.  The park offers some natural shade and shelter, and the courts have lights until 11:00pm.  The park is adjacent to local food vendors offering diverse dining options within walking distance to the event grounds.

Designated player bike parking with controlled access will be setup for players as well as a player’s grotto.  First aid, refreshment, admin, and media tents will be strategically located around the courts.  To establish a more festival atmosphere surrounding WHBPC, a children’s area and lawn games area will provide activities for players and visitors who come to the park.

WHBPC will be streamed live.  Details on the stream will be announced on a later date.

Lexington BP is one of the most established clubs in North America, and has a long history hosting major polo events.  They have hosted NAHBPC in 2015 and NAH Bench Championship in 2014.  Lexington has also hosted Ladies Army and events such as Fixcraft’s Fixcamp.  The club has already been a major contributor to the bike polo community, and they are excited to welcome players from all over the world.

For questions, please contact Alias Tagami (alias@nahardcourt.com) or Mark Aseltine (mark@nahardcourt.com).

Posted in NAH

Introduction to Squad

Posted on by Mark Aseltine

Welcome to the 2017 NAH Tournament series. As you all know by now the NAHBPC and WHBPC will be carried out in squad format. Most of you have either played in this format, watched it, or know the general premise of it. For those who do not, we would like to take a few minutes to give a general outline of the game play in relation to 3v3.

If you’ve played bike polo before, most of this is going to look real familiar. There are a couple of things to get used to (like substitution rules and longer games with straight time clocks), but fear not, you got this. For the nitty gritty of game play, it is a good idea to read over the NAH 4.5 Ruleset Appendix C: Squad Rules and keep your eyes peeled for the NAH 2017 ruleset drop (coming soon!), but here is the general outline.

How a squad game works

The name “squad” is a bit vague, but all you need to know is that in 2017 it will be played with a 5 player team. 3 players are on the court at once, and they can substitute players on and off as needed throughout the duration of the game. Players can substitute on and off during live play (provided they don’t influence play while there are 4 players on the court), or after a stoppage (after a goal, or when the ball leaves play). The general rule of thumb here is, if you are coming onto the court from the bench, you can’t be involved in the play until your teammate is off the court (both players involved in the change must be within 10’ of the gate during the change).

Length of a squad game

5v5 games are longer than the standard 3v3 tournament game—running anywhere from 30-60 minutes as opposed to 12 or 15 minute games. This adds a new facet of energy management as well as dynamic line options to an already tactical game. Usually squad games run as ‘straight time’, i.e. the clock does not stop after goals or other stoppages in play (excluding timeouts or injuries) until the last 2 minutes of a game. Team timeouts, and injuries that stop play, should still stop the clock. For the purposes of gameplay, this means that after a stoppage (a goal or any other whistle), the team with possession of the ball cannot cross half until the defensive team has crossed back into their half and signaled they are ready to play, or until 15 seconds have elapsed (whichever happens first). Functionally this means that teams have time after a goal to substitute and get set, but not endless time, as after 15 seconds the offensive team can cross even if the defensive team is not set. This rule also applies to the defensive team as well, as they can begin attacking the ball carrier after 15 seconds. Referees should count down the last 5 seconds after a stoppage in play to warn both teams. Alternately, the referee may ask both teams if they are ready and then signal the game ‘live’ again. When there are 2 minutes left in the game, the game clock will stop on the whistle. The same 15 seconds of safety rule still applies, and the game clock should resume after the 15 seconds are up or when play is ‘live’ (whichever occurs first).

Official rules surrounding substitutions and game clocks can be found in the 2015 Ruleset – Appendix A – Tournament and Game and Format, but will be rolled into the new NAH 2017 ruleset for this season—to be voted upon prior to the qualifying season in April.

How and why should a region run a squad qualifier

In terms of scheduling a tournament, one of the advantages of squad is that it allows for much more streamlined (and accurate) game time scheduling. Because the games run as straight time, tournament organizers can schedule their games with a high degree of confidence. For players, this means an end to the need to be ready to play on 10 minutes notice for hours at a time. Longer games give on-deck teams much more advance notice to be prepared to play at their allotted time, and the 5 player team means no game needs to wait until everyone arrives to the court before beginning. Because squad tournaments involve fewer teams (even if the same number of players participate as in past years), organizers may choose to schedule all their games for the seeding portion of the tournament in advance as a round robin or group play. Traditional swiss rounds ranking also works with squad format.

Court infrastructure specifics

If your courts have more than one door onto the playing surface, each team can be assigned a specific door to change through. If the doors are not equally situated (i.e. one door has a significant tactical advantage over the other), organizers can stipulate that teams change ‘benches’ at the halfway point in the game. If the court has only one usable entrance, several options are available. At the organizer’s discretion, they may determine that both teams can reasonably share the access point in such a way that no team gains an advantage over the other (i.e. blocks opposition substitutions). Alternately, they may determine that this is not possible and only allow substitutions on stoppages of play. Organizers should consider all possible changes in advance of the tournament (both tactical and due to mechanical/injury) when making this determination.

How to practice/scrimmage and assemble teams long-term

Our vision for 5v5 moving forward is that you will find teams of 6 or even 7 people that can travel, and then you would stick with these players over the long term. Instead of having a team identity that is centered around 3 players, you will have a team identity related to a city, state, other identifying factors. If you travel with 6 people, you can dress 5 players each game, and the 6th player can act as a captain to call out line changes and keep track of stats and act as an objective play-caller. 6 people on a team also gives you the option to practice against your own teammates, in a non-competitive way to promote teamwork and skill building. You can try different lines and different strategies outside of the casual “pick-up” environment. You can also travel to other cities within your region for scrimmages with this team and continue to keep your roster fluid. This ensures there is a mechanism to include newer players amongst your club’s “top players”. Further, as 3v3 tournaments continue to thrive across North America, you can send any grouping of three to each event, even two teams at one event with a group of 6.

NAH recommended path of action

As in the past the NAH is giving the regions full control over their Qualifier. With that said we would like to give regions and their Representative a guide to follow. This guide will act as a baseline to work from and any changes from this guide should be agreed upon by the region’s members and clearly stated and shared with everyone in the region. Further, dates, locations, registration information and any deviations from this guide must be sent to mark@nahardcourt.com a minimum of 8 weeks before the Qualifier so that we can publish this information to the NAH website. The guidelines are as follows:

Hosting a squad format qualifier

  1. Follow the current NAH ruleset (2017 coming soon)
  2. Qualified teams should take ⅗ of that team to NAHBPC or else their spot shall be forfeited to the following team.
  3. Regional reps are responsible for delivering names of successful teams to the NAH Tournament Director (date TBD pending NAHBPC).
  4. Regional reps are required to make very clear to the region how teams will qualify for the NAHBPC.
  5. Qualifiers must be open to outside regional players, but Regions have the option of making restrictions on this by making the first two weeks “in region only registration” followed by registration being open to all regions.
  6. An “in region team” is a team that has at least ⅗ players from within the region, and “out of region” team is one that has a minimum of ⅗ players from out of region.
  7. Regions are responsible for collecting their own registration fees.

Squad is Here!

Posted on by Mark Aseltine

Happy New Year from the NAH!

In 2017, the NAH will be hosting the WHBPC and will be welcoming polo players from around the world. We have already begun preparation for the upcoming competitive season which for us means hosting the NAHBPC and the WHBPC, along with administrative support to the regional qualifiers. The bidding process for these two major events has already begun. We will soon be collecting and announcing the cities who will be hosting the regional qualifiers.

In the meantime we have been working very hard to address issues that our community currently faces: Growth, inclusion, and competition. We have several new things coming at you in 2017. A brand new website, a new pilot program to help small clubs host tournaments and regions grow their competition field. But one big announcement to begin the new year…

Squad is here. The time has come.

In 2017, both the NAHBPC and WHBPC will be held in the 5v5 Squad format. This is something that the community has been experimenting with for several years now. Europe has just recently come off their continental cup which was a huge success in Italy, and Fixcraft PHBP tournament fostered a great deal of enthusiasm with players. The NAH is very pleased to say that we will be the first to take this format tothe the world stage.

These changes will help solidify bike polo as a world class team sport. It will allow the community to use multimedia outreach for sponsorships, partnerships, and local support with far greater success. The format allows for so many important changes to make the game into a true team sport. Allowing teams to create flow and strategy within a game, which is much longer than your average 12 minute game. It allows organisers to create even more comprehensive schedules, volunteers such as referees and goal judges will have a clear schedule for working and will aid in their time management as we continue to have player/ref conflict. The longer games and more flowing game play allow engagement from a spectator. These changes are very welcome from both an organization standpoint and also a spectator’s standpoint when considering involvement in the game.

This doesn’t mean that 3v3 is over or “dead.” It only means that the NAH believes that the Squad format is the exciting shake up opportunity that is needed in 2017.

In the upcoming weeks we will be awarding a host city for both the NAHBPC and the WHBPC and with that we will know the number of days and courts and will be able to announce how many teams each region will be awarded. Until then we would like to begin working with regional reps and members of the international community to help facilitate and discuss this change. 2017 will be a year of experimentation for everyone and we will do our best to help facilitate where needed throughout the year.

As in the previous year, the NAH is putting no obligation on the regions on how they qualify teams. Regions will know the date to send team lists to the NAH, but beyond that, we leave it to the regions to decide how to manage their qualifier tournaments. Stated more explicitly, regional qualifiers do not have to be held in the Squad format.

e.g., A 3-player team wins the ESQ, and then finds 2 additional players to form their 5-player squad for the NAHBPC.

Other polo organizations in Asia, Europe, South America, and Australasia are under no obligation to make their continental championships Squad format leading into the WHBPC.

e.g., A 3-player team qualifies at the EHBPC, and then finds 2 additional players to form their 5-player squad for the WHBPC.

With that said we will be releasing further documentation in the coming weeks with detailed information to aid in the transition for the organisers of all of our qualifiers and suggestions to our global polo community regarding the WHBPC. This document will include sample tournament layouts for a variety of scenarios. It will also include rule revisions for squad and how to manage a squad event with a court ill suited to line changes on the fly.

This allows for some flexibility for both the regions and players while still keeping us on track for the NAHBPC and WHBPC.

Happy New Year!

Please contact Mark Aseltine (mark@nahardcourt.com) with any questions regarding the 2017 tournament series.