Polocrosse Australia is excited to announce the release of the updated Australian rule book, which will come into effect on 1 January 2025, alongside updates to the National Umpiring Committee. These changes reflect our ongoing commitment to fostering fairness, consistency, and inclusivity across our beloved sport.
Key updates to the rule book
The updated Australian rule book marks the first review since 2019 and includes key changes aimed at aligning with international standards and ensuring clarity for all players, coaches, and umpires. Highlights include:
- Clarification on doubling up in teams: Providing greater consistency in team composition.
- Rule 46 – Misuse of spurs and whips: Any misuse will result in the removal of both spurs and whips for the remainder of the tournament for the player and their horse. This is particularly significant for competitions where players use more than one horse.
- Rule 55d – dropped or broken racquets: The wording of this rule has been updated to align with international polocrosse rules.
This review involved close collaboration with State chief umpires and the National umpiring committee, including two rounds of feedback to ensure the updates reflect the needs and expectations of the polocrosse community.
The rule book is available for download as an A5 booklet on the Polocrosse Australia website. The rule book remains at all times the property of Polocrosse Australia and copies of the downloaded rules here are strictly not for sale or re-print. If you have a request, please contact Polocrosse Australia on neo@polocrosse.org.au.
Meet the National umpiring committee
Polocrosse Australia welcomes the newly updated National umpiring committee, whose appointments will run through to the end of the 2026 National Championships in Darwin:
- Paul McGrath as Australian chief umpire
- Colin Parkinson, Charlie Grills, Erin King as committee members
- Sally McGrath and Jordan McGrath as administrative support
We also extend our heartfelt thanks to Phil Day and Richard Murrell, who are stepping back from full-time roles on the committee but will remain available in an advisory capacity.
Goals of the National umpiring committee
The committee has a renewed focus on key areas to strengthen and grow umpiring in polocrosse:
- Rule book education: Ensuring consistent understanding and application of the updated rules across Australia.
- State umpire exchange program: Reviving this initiative to encourage collaboration and development across states.
- Women in umpiring program: With only 34% of umpires currently being women, this program aims to support and encourage greater female participation in umpiring.
Looking ahead
We encourage all members to familiarise themselves with the updated Australian rule book ahead of the 2025 season and to take advantage of the opportunities offered by the National umpiring committee’s initiatives. Together, let’s continue to build a vibrant and inclusive polocrosse community!
To download the updated rule book, visit our website.