Did you know that for all the complaining about Pro Umpires may be right? The USPA and the polo clubs pay these men very well to do a good job and they should. Teams cost at least $500,000 in most places there is good polo. Did you know that the top officials make $ 90,000 + a year to do their job? That’s the way it is and they pay very few expenses. They earn a generous salary and also are compensated for their housing, car, horses are often provided by the clubs and flights to and from clubs. If you want to get in this program contact Peter Rizzo or Rick Sears. If you are a 3-goal pro and your name is not Del Tour than the professional umpires are making much more money than you. This is a very good way to make a living if you like polo and if you don’t have a problem with traveling a lot. The rest is up to you. It is not a job that everyone can do, but it is like being a pro, you will know soon you whether you are or are not umpire material.
The reason I wrote this article is that people who are involved in sports get irritated at the refs. and umpires. Often they are volunteers or just good guys helping out. That is how it used to be in polo. That was part of each players job. This is not the case anymore. Polo umpires are being paid to do a job and they must also be accountable for it.
Umpires can be penalized if they screw up and thats the way it should be. The problem now is that you cannot fire someone because there is no replacement. If there was a pool of certified umpires to draw from then the competition would improve the umpiring. It would be easier to replace those umpires who are not doing a good job. This is similar to polo pros who are slacking. They are shown to the door and another player is brought in to replace him.
Just remember it’s just like a job. You will work. If you work and do a good job you will be rewarded. Think about it. If I was not an antique I would say umpiring is so much easier than being a pro. You don’t need your own horses, no grooms, no tack, no truck or trailer, no feed, shoeing or vet bills. WHY NOT umpire?
See ya