What makes this fourth of July especially patriotic for me this year is looking out my window at dusk to watch all of the Team USPA players end a long intensive day of coaching and playing in 100 degree heat by helping each other take out their remaining sets and singles. A long time ago, during my first high goal season in Palm Beach, I learned a simple, yet valuable, saying from Charilie Muldoon’s head groom, Octavio Pasten, “Uno mano lavan la otra, y los dos lavan la cara” and to me, today was a prime example of one hand washing the other and with both, you can wash your face.
Today was the culmination of three intense days of play and instruction. Several other young players (USPA Young Player Outreach) were invited to the participate in the coached game alongside our Team USPA members and two pro’s per team as well as mentors on the sidelines, pushed these players into a new level of play. The amount of information that was directed at these young players was immense. During the tape review with Tommy Wayman, Charles Smith and Owen Rinehart, I chuckled to myself when these mentors commented to Lucas Reid of Idaho, about the failed attempt he made on Julio Arellano during the game. The magnitude of the Team USPA program hit me full force when I realized that a ranch kid from Idaho who never played 6 outdoor chukkers in his life was playing against our highest rated American player and then having three Polo Hall of Fame award winners give him the low down on what play he should have been making! It was astounding!!
Tomorrow they will be back on the fields of the famed Flying H Polo Club, they will be hosted by the Beal family at their polo ranch in Sheridan. The mentors will be sharing their wisdom and the kids will be exposing their weakness’ and in the end, the result is a greatly improved player who will raise the level of play no matter which club he or she ends up playing for.
The overwhelming generosity of the program supporters like the Johnstons, the Beals, Jimmy Newman, Charles Smith, Owen Rinehart, Hector Galindo, Julio Arellano, Tommy Wayman and all others involved is incalculable and the gratitude that exudes from these young players cannot be mistaken.
To see photos of the Sheridan Clinic visit www.facebook.com/teamuspa.