International Chovken Federation
Chovken players, coaches and match officials
A Chovken competition depends on more than the riders on the field. Captains, coaches, referees, goal judges, timekeepers, jury members, veterinarians and organizers all have defined responsibilities for fair play and horse welfare.
Players and team structure
Under the current ICF rules, the standard on-field team has four players. A competition's organizing committee may use squads of five, and the rules cover substitutions and player eligibility. A player may represent only one team during a tournament.
Chovken athletes need riding control, awareness of space, accurate mallet technique and the ability to make decisions at speed. Those skills are developed through structured training with attention to both the rider and the horse.
The team captain
The captain represents the team in formal communication during a match. The ICF rules identify captains as the players authorized to seek an explanation of a referee's decision.
That role does not give the captain authority to overrule officials. It creates a clear communication channel so questions can be handled without disrupting the match or encouraging disputes from multiple players.
Coaches and team preparation
A Chovken coach prepares riders for tactics, positioning, restarts, discipline and safe interaction with horses. Coaches also help teams understand tournament requirements, equipment rules and the responsibilities that apply before and after a match.
Professional preparation should include welfare monitoring and cooperation with veterinary staff. A sporting result never overrides a decision that a horse or rider is not fit to continue.
Referee and President of the Jury
The referee supervises play and makes match decisions under the rulebook. The President of the Jury has wider competition responsibilities defined by the event rules, while the referee manages the immediate flow of the game, restarts, infringements and penalties.
Some searches use the word umpire, but the ICF rulebook uses referee. This page keeps the official terminology while explaining the common search variant.
Goal judges and timekeeper
Goal judges assist with decisions about whether the ball has passed between the goalposts, while the referee makes the final decision. The timekeeper manages official match time and follows the rules for stopping and restarting the clock.
These roles are essential in a fast mounted game. Clear signals, consistent procedure and good positioning reduce uncertainty for players, spectators and tournament staff.
Veterinary and horse-welfare responsibilities
The ICF rules require vaccination documentation and allow horses to be excluded when disease, dangerous behaviour or exhaustion makes participation unsafe. Leg protection is compulsory, and harmful equipment is restricted or prohibited.
Veterinarians, officials, coaches and riders share responsibility for welfare. A referee controls the match, but responsible preparation begins well before the team enters the field.
Teams, rankings and published records
ICF scoreboards publish event standings, match results and team placements. They should not be described as a permanent global player ranking unless the federation has formally published such a system.
Readers looking for national teams and competition results should use the official scoreboards. This page explains professional roles; it does not invent athlete profiles, certifications or rankings that have not been officially released.