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Awarding of Flags - Rule Chage

9 Oct 2025

APF POLO RULES, October 2025

The following Rule will become effective immediately. Changes highlighted in bold.

50 AWARDING OF FLAGS

A flag may be awarded in addition to any penalty awarded, for the breach of any rule but will usually be awarded for dangerous play, unsportsmanlike conduct or persistent breach of the rules. Where a flag is awarded for unsportsmanlike conduct after a foul, the penalty shall be moved up the field. The umpires must agree that a player should be awarded a flag and, if not in agreement, consult with the referee whose decision shall be final. The umpires must obtain the acknowledgement of the player(s) awarded the flag and their team captain(s). Once a yellow flag has been awarded it is possible for the player(s) to be awarded a technical foul, should the officials agree that a second yellow flag in that instance is not an appropriate punishment.

A) Red Flag.

1. A player may be awarded a red flag at any stage, including for a first offence, and shall be awarded a red flag if he has either not obtained the permission of the umpires to leave a game before the final bell or for an offence after the final chukka has ended. A red flag shall count as two yellow flags for accumulation purposes.

2. A player awarded a red flag shall be sent off for the rest of the match. After 2 minutes of playing time, the sent off player may be substituted. If the player has been awarded a red flag for leaving the game before the final bell without the permission of the umpires, he may not be substituted.

3. A player awarded a red flag shall be automatically suspended for the next match of the tournament and the rules for a team change shall then apply. If awarded during or after the last match in the tournament, the suspension shall apply to another match or matches of equivalent standing as decided by the relevant State Association where the incident occurred.

b) Yellow Flag and Sin Bin.

1. A player may be awarded one yellow flag for an offence or, if the offence or the demeanor of the player is considered deserving of sin binning, two yellow flags for one offence.

2. A player shall be sin binned if he is awarded a second yellow flag as above or if he has either already been awarded one or started on a yellow in that game. A player may be sin binned several times within a chukka and/or game.

3. The player who is sin binned under these provisions shall go to a location as designated by the host club (the sin bin) or return to the pony lines if permitted by the umpires, where they shall remain for two minutes of playing time and must not interfere with the game in any way.

4. The referee or timekeeper will fly a flag during this period and as soon as it is lowered the player may re-join the game once he is in an on-side position. This may run across two chukkas or into the next match of that tournament.

5. The umpires and the referee must agree that a player should be awarded a single yellow flag, or two yellow flags.

c) Accumulation of Yellow Flags. If a player accumulates four yellow flags across games, the player will start the next four matches on a yellow flag or matches as decided by the relevant State Association where the incident occurred, if those matches are not due to be played. Any yellow flag awarded during those games shall result in:

1. A sin bin, and a player may be sin binned several times within a chukka and/or game;

2. A further two games of equivalent status starting on a yellow. The player concerned shall continue to start on a yellow until he has provided to the relevant State Association details of the games played (date and tournament) and confirmation that no further flags have been incurred, signed off by the host club.

3. Yellow flags will carry over across all levels and tournaments for that calendar year. For example: If you have accumulated 4 yellow flags you will start games at ANY LEVEL on a yellow flag.

d) Flags after Whistle.

In respect of conduct after the final chukka has ended the umpires may award a yellow card, double yellow or red card.

e) Reporting

a. A report with details of the incident shall be completed by the umpires and referee for a red flag and a statement by the player shall be obtained by the club and submitted to the State Association and APF as soon as reasonably practicable.

b. All reports of yellow flags are to be emailed/messaged to the APF and State Association reporting the date awarded, tournament, player, team, card awarded, reason for the card.

A record of flags will be recorded on the APF website and only reset at the end of that year (being 1st Jan calendar year)

rther two games of equivalent status starting on a yellow. The player concerned shall continue to start on a yellow until he has provided to the relevant State Association details of the games played (date and tournament) and confirmation that no further flags have been incurred, signed off by the host club.