April 11th, 2006
The Arena Committee has some difficult tasks ahead of them over the next few months. There will be a survey for members and clubs in an attempt to find out how many USPA members actual play Arena Polo and how many just have an Arena Handicap. Presently there are 1,791 USPA Members with Arena Handicaps, 1.296 are Handicapped at 1 or less (495 handicapped at 2 – 9) plus 573 students including both the I-I program and Adult Students (new players). This appears to say the efforts should be to support low goal polo since 75% are rated 1 or less.
While this sounds great, over 59% appear to be involved with Arena Polo in some way. But the Arena Committee feels that the handicap process is not a true indication of how many USPA members are actively involved with Arena Polo. The handicap process is such that many players have received an Arena Handicap for a variety of reasons, actually play arena, started in the arena moved to grass & kept a arena handicap because they could. Players often have both since they might play Arena again someday. It is also Club policy to issue both. These are some of the issues that we hear about. It has been suggested that USPA only issue one handicap with the USPA Membership and that the player should choose Outdoor or Arena. If both are needed or requested than both would be issued, but a method of control needs to be in place. One thought was charge a fee for the second handicap ($15 - $25). That was actually proposed to the Board of Governors and defeated. Suggestions are welcome because lots of people do not feel the present method gives an accurate indication of how many actually play Arena Polo.
There is an email address arena@us-polo.org for direction communication with the committee
The survey of USPA Clubs was to see how many actually play arena polo, size of the arena, indoor or outdoor, covered, season, arena only or both, and where located. Responses to these questions can assist the Arena Committee on where to focus their efforts and how to accomplish something to help the Arena Clubs grow and prosper.
Clubs will be contacted about hosting USPA Circuit and/or National Tournaments. What is available, cost, benefits and application process will be explained. This coupled with promotion of Umpire Clinics will give Clubs the chance to give their members more than the normal run of the mill tournaments and hopefully put some extra spice into Arena Polo.
I still have 2-3 more brands of Arena Balls to test. Looking for comments on different brands used, where they are purchased, approx. cost, durability, how long you or your club have been using that brand? Would you be willing to give that brand an endorsement on the Arena News Web page?
The USPA Collegiate National Championships will take place at Cornell University’s Oxley Equestrian Center, April 3-8 th. Including the 30th Anniversary National Women’s Intercollegiate Tournament
Men’s and Women’s teams from around the country will compete for the top prize in Collegiate Polo. The teams are:
Men
Cornell – Ithaca, NY
UC Davis – Davis, CA
Texas Tech – Lubbock, TX
Texas A&M – College Station, TX
UVA _ Charlottesville, VA
Washington State – Pullman, WA
Women
Cornell – Ithaca, NY
UConn – Storrs, CT
Colorado State – Ft. Collins, CO.
UC Davis – Davis, CA
Oregon State – Corvallis, OR
UVA – Charlottesville, VA
Yale – New Haven, CT
April 12-15, 2006, The Interscholastic National Championship will take place at Brushy Creek Polo Facility operated by the Polo Training Foundation. The Brushy Creek facility is located 12 miles south of Fort Worth, TX.
Teams: Culver, Eldorado, Maryland, Margritaville, Midland, Nor Cal, Toronto.
The USPA Arena Committee has a webpage setup under News on the USPA Website, this will be used to try to communicate to the members what the Arena Committee is doing - will try to update monthly, there is a email address arena@us-polo.org for direction communication with the committee - the first message is a overview of what the Committee has set as goals/issues to address - your comments are welcome, if you have ideas or issues send a email to the committee and it will be answered.
