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get ready for arena poloThe Texas Arena League hosts a series of winter polo tournaments across the Lone Star State, allowing teams to compete in four different events at various locations. Teams accumulate points for End of League awards, with priority entry given to those participating in all events.
In 2023, the league introduced the Armadillo Division, which in 2025, is expanded to a second location featuring additional games over two weekends with its own points and awards system. Participation in all events is not mandatory, but teams playing in all locations receive preference for available spots, maintaining a competitive and engaging series. |
texas arena league FLIGHTS
our classic DIVISION
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our armadillo DIVISION
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entry fees
TAL Classic $450 per team per event for TAL Classic.
Full season entry fee can be paid in advance and receive discount in electronic entry system. Checks must be received before bowl in of the first game. B Flight, 0-3, 3-6 and 6-9 goal will be 4 chukker games. C Flight will be 2 chukkers. |
Armadillo $900 per team per weekend for Armadillo Division.
Full season entry fee can be paid in advance and receive discount in electronic entry system. Checks must be received before bowl in of the first game. B Flight, 0-3, 3-6 and 6-9 goal will be 4 chukker games. C Flight will be 2 chukkers. |
C Flight $75 per player per game for C Flight.
Full season entry fee can be paid in advance and receive discount in electronic entry system. Checks must be received before bowl in of the first game. B Flight, 0-3, 3-6 and 6-9 goal will be 4 chukker games. C Flight will be 2 chukkers. |
rules and tournament conditions
All games will be played under 2025 USPA arena rules.
In case of tie game at final horn, points for TAL will stay as tie; if match is a USPA tournament, then a shoot-out with one player per team will decide the winner for the USPA tournament results.
THERE WILL BE NO NET GOALS IN 2025.
Tied teams on W/L/T will go to a 1 player shoot-out to decide Bracket or End of League standings.
No individual player handicap may exceed the upper handicap limit of the event. (i.e. no player with a handicap above 6 goals may play in the 3-6 goal flight.) All horses are required to have current coggins that meet State of Texas requirements. Current annual vaccinations strongly recommended.
Alternative Rules used for 2025:
3-6, 6-9, and 8-12 will use Continuous Play with chukker break for horse change.
B&C Flights, 0-3 and 0-4 will have throw-ins after a goal is scored.
Buzzer-beater
2-point Penalty 4s
Spot hit Penalty 2s
Instant Replay available at umpires' discretion.
Texas Arena League has received a USPA variance to arena rule 2f. Sale and lease horses ONLY will fall under this variance. If you are trying horses, leasing horses or selling horses, you must declare these horses prior to the TAL event. Please fill out the horse entry indicating sale and/or lease horses.
If you purchase or sell a horse based on participation in Texas Arena League, please notify us at manager@texasarenaleague.com as records for this metric are required for the variance.
If the Host Tournament Committee or umpires feel that someone is using this variance in an unsportsmanlike way or contrary to its purpose, then Arena Rule 2f will be upheld.
USPA rules will apply to all Equine Welfare aspects including Body Condition Score, labored or unsound mount, drugs and medications, etc.
Participants/players will be expected to help with assigned duties of timer/scorekeeper, 3rd man and/or arena lining. Any team's player not showing up for duties or trading with another player for duties or hiring someone to do duties will result in a fine for the team representative.
Fines will be $50 for timing/scoreboard/third man duties and $100 for umpire duties. Players who repeatedly fail to show up for duties or fail to find a replacement will be found to have behaved with Unsportsmanlike Conduct and will be penalized accordingly.
All USPA tournaments will count toward National Arena Amateur Cup points.
In case of tie game at final horn, points for TAL will stay as tie; if match is a USPA tournament, then a shoot-out with one player per team will decide the winner for the USPA tournament results.
THERE WILL BE NO NET GOALS IN 2025.
Tied teams on W/L/T will go to a 1 player shoot-out to decide Bracket or End of League standings.
No individual player handicap may exceed the upper handicap limit of the event. (i.e. no player with a handicap above 6 goals may play in the 3-6 goal flight.) All horses are required to have current coggins that meet State of Texas requirements. Current annual vaccinations strongly recommended.
Alternative Rules used for 2025:
3-6, 6-9, and 8-12 will use Continuous Play with chukker break for horse change.
B&C Flights, 0-3 and 0-4 will have throw-ins after a goal is scored.
Buzzer-beater
2-point Penalty 4s
Spot hit Penalty 2s
Instant Replay available at umpires' discretion.
Texas Arena League has received a USPA variance to arena rule 2f. Sale and lease horses ONLY will fall under this variance. If you are trying horses, leasing horses or selling horses, you must declare these horses prior to the TAL event. Please fill out the horse entry indicating sale and/or lease horses.
If you purchase or sell a horse based on participation in Texas Arena League, please notify us at manager@texasarenaleague.com as records for this metric are required for the variance.
If the Host Tournament Committee or umpires feel that someone is using this variance in an unsportsmanlike way or contrary to its purpose, then Arena Rule 2f will be upheld.
USPA rules will apply to all Equine Welfare aspects including Body Condition Score, labored or unsound mount, drugs and medications, etc.
Participants/players will be expected to help with assigned duties of timer/scorekeeper, 3rd man and/or arena lining. Any team's player not showing up for duties or trading with another player for duties or hiring someone to do duties will result in a fine for the team representative.
Fines will be $50 for timing/scoreboard/third man duties and $100 for umpire duties. Players who repeatedly fail to show up for duties or fail to find a replacement will be found to have behaved with Unsportsmanlike Conduct and will be penalized accordingly.
All USPA tournaments will count toward National Arena Amateur Cup points.
TAL TOURNAMENT CONDITIONS
Teams in 0-3, 3-6, and 6-9 must play at all locations. Armadillo 0-4 and 8-12 must play both weekends. Players may get substitutes as necessary and as per USPA rules.
B and C Flight teams may play at any number of locations and weekends.
Tied games will stand as tie for Texas Arena League points but will go to a one player shoot-out to determine winner for USPA tournaments.
All flights and divisions will be played as a Series of Events per USPA Tournament Conditions.
Continuous Play will be used in 3-6, 6-9 and 8-12 goal.
All flights and divisions will use spot hit Penalty 2, 2-point Penalty 4, and Buzzer Beater alternative rules. All tournament conditions and arena rules can be found at the link below.
Classic Division C-Flight is intended for new and beginning players all participants must be -1 and a new player to competitive polo - 2 chukker games.
B Flight is the next step after C Flight no player rated above 0 handicap may play B Flight.
Armadillo C Flight is 2 chukker games and is a B/C hybrid for -1 players.
All players must be USPA members.
All horses must have current coggins on file with the league.
All players in USPA tournaments will receive National Arena Amateur Cup points per NAAC rules/conditions.
If a team that wins at any event does not continue to the next location, the team that was beat (or second place in a round robin) will advance in the single elimination tournament format. Texas Arena League points will stand for the win-tie-loss in those games.
Tournaments and Draws
USPA tournament draws conducted live on the Texas Arena League Facebook.
More information on tournament formats will be posted closer to playing dates.
B and C Flight teams may play at any number of locations and weekends.
Tied games will stand as tie for Texas Arena League points but will go to a one player shoot-out to determine winner for USPA tournaments.
All flights and divisions will be played as a Series of Events per USPA Tournament Conditions.
Continuous Play will be used in 3-6, 6-9 and 8-12 goal.
All flights and divisions will use spot hit Penalty 2, 2-point Penalty 4, and Buzzer Beater alternative rules. All tournament conditions and arena rules can be found at the link below.
Classic Division C-Flight is intended for new and beginning players all participants must be -1 and a new player to competitive polo - 2 chukker games.
B Flight is the next step after C Flight no player rated above 0 handicap may play B Flight.
Armadillo C Flight is 2 chukker games and is a B/C hybrid for -1 players.
All players must be USPA members.
All horses must have current coggins on file with the league.
All players in USPA tournaments will receive National Arena Amateur Cup points per NAAC rules/conditions.
If a team that wins at any event does not continue to the next location, the team that was beat (or second place in a round robin) will advance in the single elimination tournament format. Texas Arena League points will stand for the win-tie-loss in those games.
Tournaments and Draws
USPA tournament draws conducted live on the Texas Arena League Facebook.
More information on tournament formats will be posted closer to playing dates.
point system and team arrangements
The following policies regarding team players and team points will apply to all flights. Player/team appearances in one flight will not affect the standings of the other flight for players/teams that participate in both flights.
* All entries for 2025 must be through the new electronic system designed by Visage.Jobs
* Entries required for teams, individuals and horses, including proof of negative coggins test and signed liability waivers.
* Unique team names are required for entry
* Once a team name has been entered in TAL event, the points accrued for the end of season awards will stay with that team name regardless of the players that participate on the team.
* Each team must designate a team representative upon team entry that will be responsible for determining the players that participate on that team for each TAL event.
* The awards given to teams at the end of the season will consist of three prizes. Team representative must decide how to split the awards if more than three players participated on the team.
* Sportsmanship, Galvin Agency MVP and Nutrena Best Playing Pony will be awarded for each game in B Flight, 0-3, 3-6, 6-9, Armadillo 0-4 and 8-12 and receive points for final awards.
BPP winners with Jockey Club TIP numbers will be considered for Best Playing Thoroughbred awards.
BPP winners that are American Homebreds will be considered for Best Playing Homebred Award.
TIP and Homebred information must be submitted in the horse entries to be considered for these awards.
* All entries for 2025 must be through the new electronic system designed by Visage.Jobs
* Entries required for teams, individuals and horses, including proof of negative coggins test and signed liability waivers.
* Unique team names are required for entry
* Once a team name has been entered in TAL event, the points accrued for the end of season awards will stay with that team name regardless of the players that participate on the team.
* Each team must designate a team representative upon team entry that will be responsible for determining the players that participate on that team for each TAL event.
* The awards given to teams at the end of the season will consist of three prizes. Team representative must decide how to split the awards if more than three players participated on the team.
* Sportsmanship, Galvin Agency MVP and Nutrena Best Playing Pony will be awarded for each game in B Flight, 0-3, 3-6, 6-9, Armadillo 0-4 and 8-12 and receive points for final awards.
BPP winners with Jockey Club TIP numbers will be considered for Best Playing Thoroughbred awards.
BPP winners that are American Homebreds will be considered for Best Playing Homebred Award.
TIP and Homebred information must be submitted in the horse entries to be considered for these awards.
awards
* Player Prizes - U.S. Polo Assn.
*8-12 Goal Flight Armadillo Division - Team Winner, Runner Up and 3rd Place
* 6-9 Goal Flight - Team Winner, Runner Up and 3rd place
* 3-6 Goal Flight - Team Winner, Runner Up, 3rd Place and 4th Place
* 0-4 Goal Flight Armadillo Division - Team Winner, Runner Up, 3rd Place and 4th Place
* 0-3 Goal Flight Classic Division - Team Winner, Runner Up, 3rd Place and 4th Place
* C Flight - Team Winner, Runner Up, 3rd Place
* B Flight - Team winner, Runner Up, 3rd Place
* Catena Sportsmanship 3-6 and 0-3 Classic
* Sportsmanship 6-9 Goal (Sponsored by Jose Velez - Polo InterActive)
* Sportsmanship Armadillo Division (Sponsored by JD Polo)
* Sportsmanship Runner-up (Sponsored by U.S. Polo Assn.)
* Galvin Agency MVP 6-9, 3-6, 0-3, B Flight, C-Flight, and 8-12, 0-4, C Flight Armadillo Division
* Nutrena Best Playing Pony 6-9, 3-6 and 0-3, B Flight, C Flight, and 8-12, 0-4, C Flight Armadillo Division
* Best String 0-4, 8-12 Armadillo and Classic, 0-3, 3-6, 6-9
* Best Playing Thoroughbred 0-4, 8-12 Armadillo and Classic, 0-3, 3-6, 6-9, Overall (Sponsored by Jockey Club Thoroughbred Incentive Program)
*Best Playing American Homebred
* Spirit of Patton Award (Sponsored by Patton Legacy Sports)
* Best Team Player (Sponsored by Royal B Threads)
* Most Improved C-Flight, B Flight, 0-3 Goal, 3-6 Goal, 0-4 Armadillo (Sponsored by Polo Training Foundation)
* Best Presented (Sponsored by Murrellphoto.com)
* Interscholastic/Intercollegiate Alumni Award (Sponsored by USPA I/I Program)
* Best Offensive Player (Sponsored by Aubone Mallets)
* Best Defensive Player (Sponsored by Casablanca Polo)
* Players' Choice Competitor
* Fan Favorite (winner at each location/event)
* Horsemanship Award (Sponsored by Jackrabbit Tack)
Awards will be determined on a point system.
Wins will be worth 3 points, ties 2 points, and a loss 1 point.
For TAL points, ties will remain. A one-player shoot-out will be conducted only to decide which team is the winner for USPA results.
After the final games are played, the team with the most points will win the Flight, the team with the second most points will be runner up. In the event of a tie between two or more teams, TAL will use win/loss record of the games between the tied teams. No net goals will be counted in 2025 - tied teams will go to a one-player shoot-out
MVP, Sportsmanship and Best Playing Pony at each game will be decided by a group consisting of no less than the 2 umpires, third man and timer/scorekeeper of the game. Additional members of the deciding group may include other individuals who have observed the entire game.
Select awards are voted on by spectators, players and/or committee and not subject to points.
*8-12 Goal Flight Armadillo Division - Team Winner, Runner Up and 3rd Place
* 6-9 Goal Flight - Team Winner, Runner Up and 3rd place
* 3-6 Goal Flight - Team Winner, Runner Up, 3rd Place and 4th Place
* 0-4 Goal Flight Armadillo Division - Team Winner, Runner Up, 3rd Place and 4th Place
* 0-3 Goal Flight Classic Division - Team Winner, Runner Up, 3rd Place and 4th Place
* C Flight - Team Winner, Runner Up, 3rd Place
* B Flight - Team winner, Runner Up, 3rd Place
* Catena Sportsmanship 3-6 and 0-3 Classic
* Sportsmanship 6-9 Goal (Sponsored by Jose Velez - Polo InterActive)
* Sportsmanship Armadillo Division (Sponsored by JD Polo)
* Sportsmanship Runner-up (Sponsored by U.S. Polo Assn.)
* Galvin Agency MVP 6-9, 3-6, 0-3, B Flight, C-Flight, and 8-12, 0-4, C Flight Armadillo Division
* Nutrena Best Playing Pony 6-9, 3-6 and 0-3, B Flight, C Flight, and 8-12, 0-4, C Flight Armadillo Division
* Best String 0-4, 8-12 Armadillo and Classic, 0-3, 3-6, 6-9
* Best Playing Thoroughbred 0-4, 8-12 Armadillo and Classic, 0-3, 3-6, 6-9, Overall (Sponsored by Jockey Club Thoroughbred Incentive Program)
*Best Playing American Homebred
* Spirit of Patton Award (Sponsored by Patton Legacy Sports)
* Best Team Player (Sponsored by Royal B Threads)
* Most Improved C-Flight, B Flight, 0-3 Goal, 3-6 Goal, 0-4 Armadillo (Sponsored by Polo Training Foundation)
* Best Presented (Sponsored by Murrellphoto.com)
* Interscholastic/Intercollegiate Alumni Award (Sponsored by USPA I/I Program)
* Best Offensive Player (Sponsored by Aubone Mallets)
* Best Defensive Player (Sponsored by Casablanca Polo)
* Players' Choice Competitor
* Fan Favorite (winner at each location/event)
* Horsemanship Award (Sponsored by Jackrabbit Tack)
Awards will be determined on a point system.
Wins will be worth 3 points, ties 2 points, and a loss 1 point.
For TAL points, ties will remain. A one-player shoot-out will be conducted only to decide which team is the winner for USPA results.
After the final games are played, the team with the most points will win the Flight, the team with the second most points will be runner up. In the event of a tie between two or more teams, TAL will use win/loss record of the games between the tied teams. No net goals will be counted in 2025 - tied teams will go to a one-player shoot-out
MVP, Sportsmanship and Best Playing Pony at each game will be decided by a group consisting of no less than the 2 umpires, third man and timer/scorekeeper of the game. Additional members of the deciding group may include other individuals who have observed the entire game.
Select awards are voted on by spectators, players and/or committee and not subject to points.
