a. A team consists of four players. The Organizing Committee of the Competition (Committee) may
decide to play the match in squads of five players.
b. The team and players must be qualified for the Tournament by the Committee, which takes into
account the athletic level of the players and team and the fulfillment of formal requirements.
c. After the announcement of the results of the draw of teams and groups and the composition of the
teams performing in the Tournament, the Team once entered in the competition may not withdraw
from the games, except in extraordinary situations approved by the Committee. Deviation from this
rule constitutes a grave violation of the rules and is grounds for disqualification of players and the
team.
d. Only players who are members of an affiliated club; or a club belonging to a Sports Association
recognized by the International Chovken Federation may participate in matches and tournaments. This
provision is intended to ensure that tournament games are played by players who are guaranteed by
the authorities of the club, association or other organization to know and understand the rules of the
game.
e. Players can only play with their right hand.
During the Tournament, a player may only play on one team. National teams must consist of players of that
nationality of countries they represent.
Substitutes must be qualified for the Tournament, and the team must remain qualified after any substitution of
a player. If a player has been penalized with removal from the field and the team needs to make another
substitution after replacing him with a reserve player due to injury or indisposition of the player, any registered
player may enter the game.
A player who has participated in one or more matches of the tournament but is unable to continue playing may
be replaced by a substitute. This rule also applies to a situation in which a player from the basic squad was
unable to participate in earlier matches and was replaced by a substitute.
During the match, a team may introduce a substitute at any given moment, but it must be registered in the
protocol and communicated to the judges.
The Committee, for the sake of tournament games, may allow any qualified reserve player (including those
previously playing for another team in the same tournament) to play, provided that:
• The Committee considers that there is no other player who can act as a reserve.
• The Committee trusts that it is dealing with a bona fide change of player.
• The team must remain eligible for the tournament after the change, and in particular, respect the
eligibility restrictions of the tournament.
In high-profile matches, team captains will agree to this.
In exceptional situations, the Committee may allow any player to play (Except for national teams competitions)
1. Spurs that can injure and cripple horses are prohibited. Wheels or spikes must be blunted, their total
length must not exceed 3 cm, and if they are bent, the bend must be directed downward.
2. Boots and knee pads must not have buckles that can damage the horse, the horse's equipment, shoes,
pads or pants of other competitors.
3. The whips must not be longer than 120 cm. Playing with a broken whip is forbidden.
4. All players must use protective helmets equipped with a triple point strap during the game.
5. All persons on the chovken field must use protective helmets during the game or training.
6. The use of electronic or public address communication devices by referees, players and coaches is
prohibited during the game and training.
7. Players' jerseys must have numbers no less than 22 cm high and in a contrasting color with the color of
the jersey material.
8. If, in the opinion of the Committee, the colors of the opposing teams' jerseys are too similar, which
could lead to confusion or make it difficult to follow the game, the team drawn second or lower in the
standings will be asked to change the color of their jerseys. Every team must have two sets of
different-colored jerseys.
9. Smoking on the chovken field is prohibited.
Players under the influence of alcohol, drugs or doping agents may not be allowed to play.
a. Horses of any size can play chovken.
b. Horses blind in one eye are not allowed to play.
c. A horse that does not react to aids and is not controllable, as well as a horse with behaviors that are
dangerous to other horses and competitors, may not take part in the game. The decision on this matter
shall be made by the Committee at the request of the Judge.
d. It is not allowed to continue the game on horses that have traces of blood in their mouths
e. Horses with infectious diseases are not allowed to enter the field.
f. In medium and high level competitions, a horse can only play on one team.
g. All horses participating in the competition must have a vaccination certificate.
h. During a match, a horse may play two halves, that is two 15-minute periods. A break of 10 minutes
must take place at halftime of the match.
i. Horses showing signs of exhaustion or arousal beyond measure must be withdrawn from the game.
j. Any medical procedures on horses during the match may only be performed by veterinarians.
a. The use of protectors on all legs is mandatory.
b. The use of eye flaps or other forms of limiting the horse's field of vision is prohibited.
c. Horseshoes must be free of hackles, snow nails with the exception of the studs of the outside of the hind
leg horseshoe, which must, however, be removed after play and for transport.
d. The use of bit-less and hackamore type bridles is prohibited.
e. Horses of judges should be equipped with a tack for chovken. They may have loose tails.
f. The bit at its thinnest point must not be thinner than 6.35 mm.
Horse owners and competitors are obliged to take care and proper care of their horses. Cases of brutal
treatment of horses should be reported by witnesses to the Committee, which will take appropriate measures,
in extreme cases including disqualification of the competitor or team.
a. The competition host will appoint a minimum of three competent persons, who should not have a
personal interest in the outcome of the competition, to form the Competition Organizing Committee
(Committee). The Committee shall be responsible for conducting the competition, securing the
functionaries and equipping them with the necessary equipment for their functions, setting the
competition schedule, conducting the draws and resolving any disputes when the judges are unable to
do so. The Committee's decisions are final and cannot be challenged by competitors or teams.
b. Players and teams may not challenge the choice of referees or the dates of the games set by the
Committee.
c. Issues related to horses and players can be reported by the judges to the Committee after the game.
a. Compliance with the rules during the game is supervised by one Referee (Umpire) on a horse and
observing the game from close range, and a President of the Jury observing the game from an
elevation placed on the side of the field halfway along its length. The Referee's decisions are final. In
case of doubt, the Referee can consult the President of the Jury, Goal Judges, or the Chovken VAR
system.
b. The players may not in any way influence the decisions of the Judges, demanding, for example, that
fouls be whistled. The decisions of the Referee may not be questioned by the players. The only persons
authorized to obtain from the Referee an explanation of the decision made are the Team Captains.
c. It is a good custom to exchange comments on the course of the match between the Referees and the
Arbitrator at halftime.
d. The competence of the Referees and Arbitrator to make decisions is limited in time to the duration of
the match. Disputes arising before or after the match shall be resolved by the Committee, whose
decisions shall be final.
e. The Committee may impose an obligation on teams to provide horses for the use of the Judges.
a. Goal Judges should be appointed to referee important matches, one for each goal. Their task is to
confirm to the Umpires that a goal has been scored and to possibly help resolve issues arising from
play near the goals, if the Umpire asks for consultation. The final decision as to whether or not a score
is scored rests with the Referee (Umpire).
b. If a goal has not been scored, it is the duty of the Goal referee to mark the place from which the
defending team will start the game, which he does by laying the ball at the place where the ball
crossed the end line of the field, but no closer than 1.5 m from the goal or the sideline (band).
c. The goal judge should:
1. have protective headgear
2. wear different color than the playing teams
3. know the general rules and regulations of the game
4. stay within 10 meters of the endline
5. make sure that all auxiliary equipment such as a chair, bicycle, ball boxes and others are no closer
than 27 m from the end line of the pitch
In all matches, a Timekeeper (timekeeper) should be appointed, who may be assisted by the person managing
the Scoreboard.
a. The Club organizing the games will ensure the presence of an ambulance with qualified medical
personnel for the duration of the game. In the case of practice and intramural games, the Club will
provide access to rapid medical assistance called by telephone, the number of which must be made
known to the players. In both cases, the relevant medical services should be notified prior to the game
of the likely need for intervention.
b. During matches and practice games, the Club will ensure the presence of a veterinarian or his
availability on call. The veterinarian should be notified prior to the game of the probable need for
intervention.
a. The dimensions of a full-size pitch, i.e. one on which a match can be played in a four-player lineup, are
in the range of 85-150meters in length and 35-70meters in width.
b. The distance between the goals should not be less than 85 meters, each goal is 4 meters wide. The
center of the goals is determined on the longitudinal axis of the field. A infield area is marked next to
the goal.
c. The goal posts should be no lower than 2 m and light enough and lightly fixed to give way easily and
safely in the event of a collision.
d. If the pitch is surrounded by bands, their height must not exceed 27.5 cm.
e. The goal infield is a Dead Ball zone. No player, or horse can hit or touch the ball in this area or a
penalty will be awarded to the opposite team
The diameter of the ball is 10 to 12 cm, and its weight is about 220 g.
The safety zone is the area around the playing field extending about 8 m from the sidelines (if no boards) and
about 10-30 m from the end line of the field. No one except the playing players and Referees are allowed in the
safety zone. Swapping of horses or equipment must take place outside the safety zone.
a. The winner is the team that scored more goals,including in the result points awarded as Penalties
(Penalties).
b. The essence of the game is the desire of both teams to win. If the referee determines that the game is
a sham and the desire to win of either team is insincere admonishes the team and if this does not
result in a decision to send a request to the authorities of the Club, Union or other organization
performing its functions to disqualify the team and players
c. A goal is considered scored if the ball passes between the goal posts at any height.
a. A match consists of 2 halves of 15 minutes each. The halftime break in the middle of the match is 10
minutes. If overtime is required, the overtime game shall be preceded by a break of 5 minutes. The
over time is 5 minutes if after this time the game continues with a draw then penalty shooting will be
executed
b. The game may not be interrupted during play except as described in chapters L. 2. a; M. I. and M. 2.
c. Stopping the game. The game can be stopped in one situation:
1. When the game time is no longer measured and the timekeeping clock stopped. The referee gives
the timekeeper the signal to stop the clock with his whistle.
d. A penalty shot dictated after the signal indicating the expiration of playing time in the first half is
enforced at the beginning of the next half, except in the case of a tie in the last half. In that case, the
penalty kick is enforced immediately and if the game is tied after its execution, play must continue for
another 20 seconds.
To start the game, the referee flips a coin in the presence of team captains at the center of the field. The team
that won the coin toss starts from the center of the field. All players must remain on their sides of the field till
the ball is touched for the first time by the commencing player. The commencing player is aloud to play the ball
once communicated by the referee.
The teams switch sides in half time. (The resumption of the game after the change of sides is carried out in
accordance with Rule F.1.
If the ball leaves the side lines (or barriers) of the field of play, the resumption of the game takes place in a
manner of a from the spot penalty for the opposite team.
a. When the ball is knocked out of bounds by the attacking team, the game is resumed by the defending
team from the place where the ball went out of bounds (but no closer than 4 meters from the sideline
or band) and the goal post) after the referee's command play! (hit-in). All players of the attacking
team must be outside the 11m line. The players of the resuming team may position themselves freely.
b. The team resuming the game should do so without undue delay and in any case at the urging of the
referee. Delay of play by the team resuming the game may be punished by depriving it of the right to
resume the game. In such a case, the referee shall put the ball into play by making a throw according
to the general rules described in para. E I from the place where the ball went out of bounds. Teams
line up on both sides of the line of flight, which the ball left the field. The defending team sets up
closer to the goal
When the ball is knocked into the final out-of-bounds by the defending team, either directly or as a result of a
bounce off the defending player's horse (and even after a possible bounce off the side band or goalpost a
Corner penalty is awarded to the attacking team.
If the referee stops the game with the whistle, the ball cannot be played and its possible Play by the players is
considered null and void until the command "play!" is given. The time between the stoppage of play and the
command "play!" is included in the playing time.
a. If the referee signals a foul at the same moment when the goal falls:
1. A goal is not recognized if a foul was committed by the attacking team and the Judges' verdict
confirms that a foul was committed.
2. A goal is recognized if the Referee whistled a foul, but after consultation with the other Referee or
Arbitrator, deemed the foul not to have been committed; or if the foul was committed by the
defending team regardless of whether the subsequent consultation of the Referee and Arbitrator
confirmed the commission of the foul by the defending team.
b. If the Referee signals a foul at the same moment that the ball goes beyond the end line of the field of
play, and as a result of consultation between the Referees and the Arbitrator the foul is declared null
and void, the resumption of the game shall be a Penalty Kick 6 (corner) or the resumption described in
para. E 7 (hit-in).
a. If the ball is damaged the referee at his discretion shall stop play (preferably in a neutral situation for
the course of the game) to replace the ball and resume play in accordance with paragraph. F.5.
b. If the ball broke at the time of the shot on goal, the goal is considered scored If a larger piece fell
into the goal. If the referee has doubts in such a situation, he may proceed at his discretion, i.e.
recognize the goal or not.
c. If the ball broke during the execution of a penalty kick, the referee shall order the execution of the
penalty kick to be repeated, unless the Referee's discretion, the goal should be recognized.
A player in possession of the ball may play it only with a stick. A player may block the flight of the ball with any
part of the body, but not with the hand. It is forbidden to intentionally catch the ball in order to "transport" it. If
the ball gets stuck in some part of the horse's harness, equipment or the player's clothing, in such a way that it
cannot fall immediately, the referee shall stop the game and resume play from the place where the incident
occurred.
Once started, the match should be played to the end. If, for reasons beyond the control of the players and
organizers, the game must be interrupted (darkness, a break in the weather) the game should be resumed at
the first possible time determined by the Committee. The resumption of the game shall take place from the
place, at the score and at the time, which accompanied the moment of interruption of the game.
The referee may not stop the game and dictate a penalty kick if, in his judgment, stopping the game and
dictating a penalty kick will be less beneficial to the fouled team than continuing the game.
It is forbidden to drive a horse in a way that endangers other riders and to ride dangerously, in particular:
a. Colliding at an angle that endangers riders and horses.
b. Riding in a zigzag in front of another rider in a manner that forces the rider to slow down or stop or
otherwise exposes another rider to a collision and fall.
c. Leading a horse over the legs of another rider's horse.
d. Driving toward another player in a manner intended to frighten him and force him to change direction
or miss a strike, even if no foul was formally committed.
e. Continuation of pushing after crossing the end line of the field is prohibited.
Players should use whips and spurs in moderation and without exaggeration. Whips may only be used when the
ball is in play. For using the whip before the start of the game or after a break in play has been whistled, the
referee shall dictate Penalty Kick 5b.
a. It is forbidden to hit, hold or push an opposing player with the hand, head, arm or elbow. Pushing with
the arm is allowed as long as the elbow is adjacent to the body.
b. A player who intentionally strikes another player or his horse with his hand, whip or stick shall be
removed by the referee from the field of play without the right to introduce a substitute player, and
the relevant disciplinary committee shall be notified of the incident
a. Hooking with the stick of the opposing player is not allowed
b. It is not allowed to hit horses and riders with a stick.
c. It is not allowed to use the stick in an unsafe manner; for example, making a full swing strike after the
ball is thrown by the referee
d. hitting the ball after the referee's whistle
If any player's helmet falls off his head, the referee shall stop the game to allow the player to put on the
helmet. This should be done as soon as possible, but only when stopping the game does not favor either team.
a. The game is stopped immediately in case of the following damages.
1. Broken tether
2. A broken martingale if it drags on the ground;
3. Broken rein if the horse is equipped with only one pair of reins
4. Broken or lost fangs
5. Untied or loose bandages on the horse's legs.
b.The game does not stop in case:
1. Broken whip
2. Broken stirrup or sling;
3. A broken or lost bridle chain;
c. If the game is stopped to repair the equipment, the player may replace the horse.
a. If a player falls from his horse, the referee shall stop play when the ball is in neutral, unless, in the
opinion of the referee, the fall has caused serious injury or injury to the player, or that, as a result of the
fall, the player is at risk of injury or injury if play continues, in which case he shall stop play
immediately. What is and what is not a fall is decided by the referee.
b. A player without a horse cannot participate in the game in any way..
c. If a player is hurt or injured, he is given 15 minutes to return to the game. If the player cannot continue
after this time, the game shall be resumed with a substitute player, unless Penalty No. 8 applies.
However, if the player later proves capable of playing, he may return to the game.
d. In case of an injury or suspected injury of an internal type (e.g., concussion) or of a psychological
nature (shock), the following procedure is followed:
1. The referees or, in their absence, the most experienced player on the field - the Senior Player, will stop
the game and call for medical assistance for the player.
2. A player who, by the decision of the doctor present at the competition, has not returned to play, may
not participate in the games until after a week, unless, he presents a medical certificate confirming his
fitness to play.
3. If medical attention during the game is not possible, the Referees or the Senior Player will decide
whether the player can or cannot continue the game.
4. If, as a result of an accident resulting from a foul, a player is incapable of further play and, in the
opinion of the Referees, the foul was exceptionally violent, dangerous or premeditated, penalty No. 8
shall be imposed on the fouled team. The fouled team has the right to choose whether it wishes to
impose penalty No. 8 or bring a substitute player into the game. Penalties 1, 2 or 3 are imposed
independently.
a. If a horse is injured as a result of a fall or other incident, the Judge shall stop play immediately. If the
horse's equipment has been damaged in a way that, in the opinion of the Judge, endangers other
horses or competitors the Judge shall stop play immediately.
b. Lost horseshoe. The competitor may ask the referee to stop play at the next break in play for the time
necessary to replace the horse.
c. The Judge shall make sure that the horse is in good condition after the fall by ordering the horse to be
re-trotted. If, as a result of the accident, the horse cannot leave the field on its own, the Judge is
responsible for using the most humane way to remove the horse.
play by imposing a penalty on the fouling team. Depending on the type or degree of danger of the situation
caused by the foul, the Referees shall decide on the type of penalty.
If the Referee considers that one or both teams are committing offenses too frequently or deliberately,
the Referee may punish the fouling team(s) with penalties more severe than those normally applied to
individual or typical cases of misconduct, for the purpose of and until the game has calmed down and the
players' attitude has improved.
technical fouls.
Technical personal fouls such as:
1. Disrespect and insult of Judges and/or functionaries
2. Unauthorized disputes with Judges or functionaries
3. use of vulgar language and swearing
4. Demanding the Referee to dictate a penalty. Attempts to force the Judge's decision should be punished
as follows:
• penalty for the first attempt
• harsher punishment for another attempt
• exclusion of the player from the game until the end of the half for another attempt
• exclusion of the player from the game until the end of the match for another attempt
A player who leaves the field of play during a game without the permission of the referee shall be
banned from participation in games organized by the club or association for a minimum period of one month,
unless he demonstrates to the relevant authorities of the club and/or association an excusable reason for such
conduct, which the relevant authorities shall confirm by an appropriate decision.
a. Preparation of mounds involving changes in the surface of the field or damage to it in order to position
the ball in a more convenient position for the penalty shot is prohibited. Only the player taking the
penalty shot may set the ball for himself to shoot.
b. Any touching of the ball with the stick after the referee's command "game!" is treated as the execution
of a penalty shot.
c. A player may give up a strike for a re-run no more than once. If a player of the opposing team. It is not
permitted to hit the ball between or into the legs of the horse of the opposing player.
d. No defensive player may be behind the player taking the penalty shot (behind the spot from which the
penalty shot is taken)
If, in the opinion of the Referee, a player has committed a dangerous foul or has committed a premeditated
foul in close proximity to his own goal with the intention of saving his team from losing a goal, a point shall
be awarded to the fouled team. Play shall be resumed by the referee from the spot where the foul was
committed in accordance with Rule F.5.
a. Penalty hit taken from the spot opposite the goal from a distance of 11m or at the discretion of the
Captain of the team taking the penalty kick from the spot where the foul was committed. The entire
defending team must be behind the field's end line, but not in the light of the goal until the ball is struck
or attempted to be struck. The players of the team taking the penalty hit must be behind the 10m line or
the spot from which the penalty kick is taken.
b. If, in the opinion of the referee, a goal should have been scored as a result of a penalty hit, but this did
not happen as a result of unauthorized behavior of the defending team (setting up in the goal or driving
into the light of the goal or crossing the end line of the field before striking the ball) the team taking the
penalty hit is awarded a point, as if a goal had been scored.
Penalty hit taken from the center of the field. The entire defending team must be between the ball and the
end line of the field, but no closer than 11m from the ball. The players of the team taking the penalty kick
may position themselves freely.
a. Free throw taken from the place where the offense was committed, but no closer than 4 meters from the
band or sideline. No one from the team that committed the foul may be closer than 4m from the ball.
The players of the team committing the foul may position themselves freely.
b. Free throw taken from the center of the field. No one from the team that committed the foul may be
closer than 4m from the ball. Players of the team taking the penalty kick may position themselves freely.
Free kick taken from the corner on the end line of the field of play where the ball left the field of play. The
players of the team committing the foul may position themselves freely.
a. If the team that has been penalized with a penalty or free hit does not comply with the rules governing
its behavior when the fouled team enforces Penalties, the fouled team shall be given the right to
repeat the free hit or penalty, provided that no goal was scored or awarded as a result of the first
execution
b. In the event of a delay by the fouled team in executing a penalty hit or free hit, which delays
execution despite the referee's signal, the referee shall resume play in accordance with Rule F.5.
a. The behavior of the horse is described in point. B. 1. c is the basis for the Judge's decision to disqualify
the horse from further play. The organizing committee, at the request of the Judge, will decide
whether the horse may be allowed to play further games or disqualified for a longer period of time
b. Deficiencies in the horse's equipment (point B. 2.) are grounds for removal of the horse from the field
until the reasons for removal are removed
c. Penalty No. 9. c. Deficiencies in the player's equipment (point A. 3) are grounds for removal of the
player from the field until the reasons for removal are removed
The Referees may, in addition to other penalties imposed on the team, exclude from the game a player
who has committed an extremely violent, dangerous or premeditated foul, or whose attitude endangers the
safety of the game. It is at the discretion of the Referees to decide whether the player will be excluded
until the end of the half or the end of the match.