Start moving the ball and passing BEFORE you cross the midline

A typical polo game (tournament or pick-up) almost always starts the same: one offensive player sits with the ball close to the midline waiting for the ref’s call to cross (see gif). Once they get the call, the player crosses the line and the game begins.

Now technically, starting gameplay at the midline works just fine and is how most teams start. It’s a tried and true method of getting the ball rolling (har har har). But this opening style becomes predictable and I think other and better ways exist for offensive teams to start gameplay.

Instead of starting near the midline, work with your team to start from your goal’s crease (or maybe even behind! *gasps*) and begin play from there: moving the ball, passing and getting your team and your play to speed before crossing the midline.

Why start from the crease?

First, the defense will find it harder to figure out WHO is going to cross with the ball if you start your play deep in your half of the court passing and moving the ball. If you start right at the line, or close to it, they can tell who’s bringing the ball over and can more easily set their defense. Second, the defense is stationary waiting for you to cross. Take advantage of these defenseless sitting ducks. Learn to cross, while already making a play with your team, at speed! You’ll blow by those poor defenders waiting at the line.

Is starting deeper in your defensive zone always going to work and always going to be the best choice? Nope. Part of your job is to figure out how to make this work for you and your team and when it’s most appropriate. You might come up with something even cooler than what I’ve suggested in this post.

The goal here is to get you thinking and reflecting on why we do what we do in bike polo. What other ways might we create opening offensive plays to add variety to the game and break up a team’s predictability? Remember, bike polo is a new sport, we’re still evolving and growing. You’re creativity and experimentation helps us all develop and play better.

What to expect when practicing

Be prepared to feel weird and “off” when trying this offensive start for the first time. The first couple times you practice starting deep, you and your team will flub the ball, flub the pass, you’ll not really know where to position yourself or someone will cross before you expect and you’ll get all discombobulated. Starting your passing/plays and movement from deep in your side of the court feels, well, alien, but the feeling is normal and part of the learning process! So don’t give up just ’cause it doesn’t “work” the first couple times you try it. Keep practicing.

Acknowledgments: Big thanks to my best bbs and teammates Tyler and Bruce (Cardboard) for getting this in my head. We don’t always practice what we preach but we out here tryin’!