Swinging at airborne balls

Submitted by lucky on March 14, 2010 - 5:48pm

Rules

However the ball gets airborne; scoop passes, deflections, rebounds, slapshots, etc. I would say it's fine to stick your mallet up or out to try to stop it. I would then say it is not OK to swing at it. It seems much more likely that you'd hit another player in the face than to make that one-in-a-million alley-oop shot.

To revue: Go ahead and try to stop a flying ball by putting your mallet in it's path. Please do not try to add to or change the momentum of that ball by swinging your mallet around the same height as Cap'n Jake's face.

Discussion?

March 14, 2010 - 7:56pm

Julian be PUFFIN

Seattle

i agree with what your saying. i also think that some of our rules should be ruled like soccer so that if you were close to another player while swinging in such a way to put that player in danger you would be penalized. if around no one its ok.

March 15, 2010 - 12:30pm

lucky

I disagree. Soccer has refs and a huge field. We've got 6 people in a cage chasing a little red ball.

I don't think you should ever swing your mallet around (parallel to the ground, winding up for a shot is different) above your bike. Nor should you have a rule that could be argued after the fact i.e. "I didn't think there was anyone else around, so I swung at the airborne ball. Sorry I hit that guy in the face, I guess I'll go tap out when the game re-starts."

For me this is a Rule #1 issue. Don't create danger for your fellow players if you can avoid it.

Wanna buy some polo stuff?
http://www.fixcraft.net/stcago

March 14, 2010 - 10:00pm

capt. jake

Milwaukee

my wife siad she is jealous of the color of my eyelid she wants an eyeshodow in the same color

--
www.mkebikepolo.com

March 14, 2010 - 9:59pm

capt. jake

Milwaukee

--
www.mkebikepolo.com

March 15, 2010 - 9:35am

emoxfag

Flour City Hardcourt Polo

capt. jake wrote:

ohhhh that is nice. you could blend it up a little, maybe with a softer lavender hue and it would be quite striking.

March 15, 2010 - 10:03am

Sveden

Minneapolis Hardcourt Bike Polo

Forget hitting balls out of the air, lets discuss that shelving situation! That shit looks dangerous.

Minneapolis Bike Polo dot Com

March 14, 2010 - 11:02pm

messmann

Seattle

i think that a mallet in any way should not go above the handlebars or High sticking in any case, weather its to much of a follow through on a swing or to knock the ball out of the air. Things happen so fast on the polo court, that one might think no one is around, just then someone is.

Messmann
bikepologuru
seattlebikepolo
since 1998

March 15, 2010 - 6:57am

pete

Portland Bike Polo

The problem with this is that people have drastically different handlebar heights..

Pro-friendly bike polo!

March 15, 2010 - 10:33am

hurricanejosh

Edmonton Bike Polo

pete wrote:

The problem with this is that people have drastically different handlebar heights..

in hockey the rule is goal height. now we just need a goal height.

March 15, 2010 - 10:54am

#10

Rob_G

Chicago

Does anyone have handlebars as high as Jakes eye?

I really think swinging at anything over your own top tube is real bad form.

Even trying to poke one or knock one down from up high is just unnecessary risk that probably wont help you much.
Use your hand or don't try to touch it, you're more likely to hurt someone than you are to score at that point.

You'll see. Unless you drilled out your eyes because they were too heavy.

March 15, 2010 - 11:07am

#11

ALONleinad

As someone who's had his face busted open twice by a mallet I wholeheartedly agree.

May 27, 2010 - 10:59pm

#12

messmann

Seattle

really...were not talking feet here.

Messmann
bikepologuru
seattlebikepolo
since 1998

March 15, 2010 - 1:04pm

#13

Tim A

COMOPOLO

So, who was the culprit that smacked cap'n in the face?

www.comopolo.com

March 15, 2010 - 1:39pm

#14

Rob_G

Chicago

Birthday boy.
But apparently he got his later on.

You'll see. Unless you drilled out your eyes because they were too heavy.

March 15, 2010 - 1:58pm

#15

capt. jake

Milwaukee

just for the record... i agree mallet swinging at balls throguh the air(unless you are donkey punching then the head is not going further than your arms reach) is a dangerous and unnecessary move. I am not upset at chris...shit happens. but yes we all need to look out for general safety.

--
www.mkebikepolo.com

March 15, 2010 - 2:29pm

#16

BoozeKruse

COMOPOLO

In sports where people could potentially get hit in the face with something hard, athletes generally wear face protection.

Why should our shit be any different? Yes, we should really watch out for each other's heads in the game, but shit will always happen. Physical law of some sort. Gotta start thinking about wearing some serious gear if you want some serious protection.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
fixcraft.net

March 16, 2010 - 12:33pm

#17

timtim

Portland Bike Polo

I think people are gonna go for the air ball regardless, the main thing is to not take a full swing at it. if you can knock it down with a deflection great but no big swings in the air.

Yo Dawg I heard you like redundancies so we got a PIN number for your PIN

March 16, 2010 - 12:35pm

#18

lucky

'Swhat I'm sayin'.

Wanna buy some polo stuff?
http://www.fixcraft.net/stcago

March 16, 2010 - 3:33pm

#19

Timmm

COMOPOLO

I'm agreeing with the consensus on this. I think having a clear cut rule about it will quell the urge to hack down a ball from mid-air. Also, I've been hit in the body and face with mallets from over aggressive mallet hackers. If you want to stick check me, fine, but don't bring it above your bars to do so.

March 16, 2010 - 8:21pm

#20

BoozeKruse

COMOPOLO

MY SOLUTION!

Hosted by imgur.com

After playing in Chicago this weekend I decided to step it up a bit. Softball face mask mounted to any old bike helmet. Cheap and easy. Swing whatever you would like at my face.

Edit: Okay, don't swing one of those small diameter mallets at my face.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
fixcraft.net

May 27, 2010 - 8:01pm

#21

Mr.Carrillo

Barcelona

This is something I was discussing the other day.
Airborne game is getting more and more common, and quite frankly, I don't care much for it; if you can do it and you like it, then go ahead. What I find to be a ticking bomb is people trying to swing at the ball like it was baseball.
I've been smacked in the face with mallets from normal shooting gone wrong and it sucks, but it's all part of the game and accidents happen. I'm really concerned with people attempting to whack the ball in mid air though.
Case in point:

This is one of the most spectacular goals I have ever seen (and been scored against), but I could see how wrong such a move could turn.
Should we all just start wearing masks and stop being pussies or should we ban this move? (The swinging, not the loab). And if swinging mid-air is to be banned, where do you draw the line for "mid-air".... (handlebar height is too arbitrary, so screw that)

*Somebody please think of the children!!*

May 27, 2010 - 11:05pm

#22

messmann

Seattle

I think that the swing should be banned. lobbing the ball is okay and should be ruled that it has to hit the ground before making a goal/pass/ move. this means not knocking it out of the air with your mallet. If it hits you helmet, bike, boards, etc wait for it so contact ground then continue play. I love the passing option with the lob pass, but not the chance to be malleted in the whatever.

Messmann
bikepologuru
seattlebikepolo
since 1998