MEMBER NOTICE:
Applications for the USPA Team USA program are now available on the USPA Website.
Team USA is a program designed and funded by the USPA to identify USPA members who meet the qualification standards to be provided additional opportunities for training and mentoring by experienced world-renowned instructors and professional players.
Team USA applicants can be male or female and must be at least 18 years old and no older than 23 years old. The applicant must be handicapped by the USPA at a minimum handicap of 0 goals for women and 1 goal for men. An applicant must provide written recommendations that he or she has the ability to be handicapped higher if provided the necessary training, mentoring and playing opportunities. Only completed applications will be accepted.
The main concept of the Team USA training and mentoring program is to identify aspiring young players based on completed applications and strong, valid recommendations. All submitted applications will be subject to an evaluation and selection process that will identify 12 applicants who will attend a 3-day training event in Wellington, Florida, February 18-21, 2011.
The training event will feature various advanced polo seminars, mounted and unmounted, conducted by high-goal pros and/or former high-goal players covering a variety of topics and skill acquisition. The instructors will also be tasked with evaluating the group and selecting potential applicants to be mentored for a period of time by a high-goal professional player (logistical and scheduling details would have to be negotiated).
All applicants, even if not selected for the Team USA training and/or the mentoring events, may be considered for future USPA training events. In addition, all applicants will be asked to provide information for the USPA database (if they have horses, transportation, are available to play or work, when, where, etc). This database of young American players will provide a networking tracking system that will be promoted by the USPA to the polo community. This will be a useful tool for team sponsors creating teams that include American amateur or professional players. (Please note: Team USA is not intended as a means to become a professional polo player. More importantly, it is to serve as an identification, training and mentoring program that will include learning and playing opportunities to increase individual handicaps. Team USA is also designed to offer a polo networking system for young American players.
In future years, Team USA plans to host and manage playing and networking opportunities such as the Junior East-West series and FIP funded competitions where a young Team USA versus teams representing other countries.
Team USA Application Criteria 2011
1. Applications for 2011 will be accepted beginning on August 15, 2010 and will not be accepted any later than October 15, 2010. Selections will be announced no later than December 1, 2010.
2. Applicant must meet all application requirements and be available to attend the Team USA clinic and try-outs February 18-21, 2011 in Wellington, Florida (Travel and accommodation expenses included).
3. Applicant must have reached their 18th birthday by January 1, 2011 and not have exceeded their 23rd birthday by January 1, 2011.
4. A hand written letter stating why applicant would like to be selected for Team USA must accompany application form.
5. Recommendation letters and DVD of the applicant playing are strongly encouraged.
6. All applications should be mailed to:
Team USA
c/o USPA Chairman Tom Biddle
P.O. Box 1102
Aiken, SC 29802
For more information, contact Kris Bowman at kbowman@uspolo.org or 800-232-USPA.
