USPA ASSISTED POLO CLINICS
Submitted by Denny Geiler
Governor of the Pacific Coast Circuit
Polo Clinics come in many styles and types. It can be an umpire clinic which not only instructs on the rules for both arena and outdoor polo but can also result in USPA umpire accreditation. The USPA/PTF will send Steve Lane to be your professor or the teacher can be a local, USPA accredited umpire. The clinic can be as short as one morning or last two days. For umpire accreditation the clinics must last long enough for the applicant to be observed and rated by the USPA accredited umpire.
Another popular clinic is polo strategy. Billy Sheldon has been a very popular instructor of arena polo strategy clinics on the west coast. His experience in the US Arena Championship and other USPA tournaments as well as international tournaments make his clinics instructive and entertaining. Carlos Galindo performed a number of outdoor clinics in the northwest that helped to improve the quality of the polo in the region and to attract new polo members.
A polo hitting clinic is something that every polo player can receive benefit. Who doesn’t want to hit the polo ball just a little further or with a little more angle. These skills can truly improve everyone’s polo. Often times video is used to really break down the elements of the polo swing.
Polo Clinics can be profitable to the host club. Not only do they assist the members of the host club, most often polo players come from other clubs in the region. The Polo Training Foundation will reimburse up to 50% or $850.00 of the approved clinic costs. Reasonable participation fees can be charged; what better way to make a little money for the club? Contact PTF for details on reimbursement at 888-PTF POLO or dscheraga@polotraining.org