Team USPA has a whole lot of American high-goal boots to fill. Declining numbers in American players with ratings above five goals tell that story. There is hope on the horizon and the 150+ applications from young American players from across the United States, ages 18 – 25 vying to win a spot in the Team USPA Program prove it to be so. The goal of the program is a simple one; keep young American players connected to the sport of polo and help them reach their maximum potential as players. Period.
Owen Rinehart former 10 goal player coaching Team USPA Blue 1 Ty MacCarty 2 Jorge Estrada 3.Pedro Lara 4.Jesse Weaver. Photo by Cecilia Steel.
The program will feed them the essentials necessary to win respect from their competitors, elevate them in the public eye, provide them with polo business skills and if that isn’t quite enough, they will have direct access to every successful high goal star our country has to offer.
These players will be educated players and umpires before they reach 3 goals. They will learn the value of networking and mentoring others along the way. They will have knowledge of how to train a green horse, provide essential veterinary care, and prepare their string for competition. In fact, they can even talk about current events and the majority will have a college education. Polo on every level will be the beneficiaries of these new young players.
The program has added 12 players this year to bring the total to 34 members. While some members are attending college or graduate school and only participating in the program during the summer months, others are being mentored by our high goal veterans like Adam Snow, Hector Galindo, or Owen Rinehart. Some Team USPA players have already had the chance to play with high goal operations such as White Birch and Grants Farm. All 34 are required to become certified umpires. No two paths are the same, yet they all lead to one common destination and that is to leave a living legacy to follow for all polo players to come.
Kris Bowman
USPA National Club Development Director
703-362-7656 Cell