Tip 17 - Player Number Three, Greatest Attributes: Playmaker. Field Leader.
“The Quarterback”
June 27th, '05

In the highest levels of polo, you have four ten goal players who are each able to dedicate their talents to the positions that they are playing on the field. For the rest of us, there is usually a considerable mix of talents within a team. The result is that the more experienced players on the team usually fall in the Number Two and Three slots. The Number Four and Number One Positions are traditionally reserved for the developing amateurs. In almost any level of play, the Number Three position is often the most experienced player on the team, and sometimes of greater ability. This player has the gift of being able to see the field and adjust to the never-ending changes of the play situations and player positionings. This player, while on the run through a melee, or diving in to get possession of the ball, is simultaneously viewing the “field” and formuating a strategy for the next offensive attack, or even making adjustments in the current offensive attack. They know their teammates, their opponents, the horses, and the abilities. They combine all of that information with the current layout and positioning of the field and formulate a strategy, often times, literally, while they are on the run. This player is also usually highly skilled at taking penalty shots, specifically number fours and number fives. The greatest skill behind a penalty shot is to be able to loft the ball accurately.  Two of the greatest Penalty hitters in the game of polo were Bennie Guitierrez and Roy Barry. Both of those players could consistently add six or seven goals, each game, on penalty shots alone. The top quarterback in polo have the ability to hit the long high ball accurately, making them very effective with the number four penalties and allowing them great placement for their number five penalties. They may also hit the open goal penalties, but some times you will see a different player on the team take the open goal penalties. A number three who has a high percentage of conversion on penalty shots will most often also have a high percentage of wins.

Photo: Julio Zavaleta
Photographer: L. Bremner

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