In modern pato, two four-member teams riding on horses fight for possession of a ball which has six handles, and score by throwing the ball through a vertically positioned ring (as opposed to the horizontal rim used in basketball). A closed net, holds the ball after goals are scored.The winner is the team with most goals scored after regulation time.The ball is made of leather, with an inflated rubber chamber and six leather handles. Its diameter is 40 cm handle-to-handle and its weight is 1050 to 1250 g The player that has control of the pato must ride with his right arm outstretched, offering the pato so rival players have a chance of tugging the pato and stealing it. Not extending the arm while riding with the pato is an offense called negada (refusal).
During the tug itself, both players must stand on the stirrups and avoid sitting on the saddle, while the hand not involved in the tugging must hold the reins. The tug is usually the most exciting part of the game.
Pato is played competitively and also by amateurs, mostly in weekend fairs which usually include doma (Argentine rodeo). Its status as the national game of Argentina has been challenged by soccer, which is much more widespread. While virtually the entire population of the country are avid soccer fans and players, it is estimated that 90% of Argentinians have not seen a pato match, and there are only a few thousand players of the game.However it is defended as the national sport because pato is a completely indigenous game, while soccer was imported from England.
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