Speak it does not matter someone has an idea that will make the game a game again and we need to hear it. Polo is going the wrong way fast and I am sure it can be fixed we just need the plan that people will get on board with . WE CAN DO IT ! However we need to hear your ideas, I will publish them one way or another ID you or not your call, lets just hear them.
Things I want to know : What works for you ? Is the problem: Cost Horses Players Conditions
I know for a lot of People I have talked to it is cost and time is it really worth it ? As you know it is expensive anyway you do it and more and more you may pay but not often really be part of the play . This is why I like the ideas of Javier Tanoria . To me he changes the game immediately to what it was and why people played it so much . First Polo is the only sport you are a sponsor and part of the team on the field and in the flow of the game . Today many are still on the Team playing but not really , as they seldom get in the play and one major thing most Pros do not understand is if you can afford to play Polo you sure can afford not to and that is exactly the reason Teams are falling so fast across the World today, they are leaving. This is why Javier’s ideas change the game . At all levels Players playing 4 chukkar Polo have 4 horses 6 chukkars 6 horses that’s it . You think this will not change game ? It will everyone has to be involved or you will never win or even have a chance . This means the low goal player and Patron become very involved it also means cost will be cut by 40 % 1 groom 1/2 feed smaller stabling bills,feed,shavings accommodations shoeing,vet all of it from 15 horses to 8 it will make a huge difference. It will become a team game again also some simple things he says make so much sense cut out throw inns except to start. You score knock in like most practice games you miss they do . You knock it out they take a hit from there . IT WILL MAKE A DIFFERENCE AND A GOOD ONE SO QUICK I AM SURE .
Then for US POLO take care of the young Americans who may want to play as Pros or Patrons . Give them a chance to play some may soon be Patrons and some maybe come Pros but they will be Americans and they will bring much more interest to the local games and following . 3 Americans on all teams must be 4 goals if not American up to and including 20 goal . Above that 2 Americans on all teams unless all foreign players from same Country . I know we will hear crap we cannot have 26 goal polo, who cares we have very few now anyway and will get worse lets make it so everyone can play and not leave to UK or the Dominican. We are losing to much not to change we have some great venues still and we do not want to lose them . Joe Casey at Palm City Polo and Port Mayaca Polo both seem very interested in building Polo from the ground up but most Polo in Fl. is looking for big time in on the East Coast of South Fl. That is probably the way it should be with Gulfstream and Boca gone it is IPC and Grand Champions handling the Big stuff on that coast . West Fl has Sarasota and Ocala at the Villages working hard for the sport . Polo can survive and it will but we need it to grow and the only way that can happen in todays world is educate and schedule . Today’s world is not get on a horse grab a stick and haul ass they want to have lessons and look correct and that is fine that is the way it is . LA Polo learned that 30 years ago and built a huge following and contributed more Patrons than any program ever in the USA . Now though with those Patrons being at least 30 years older ( WE HAVE VERY FEW) this why I think the USPA should look at that model and Tom Goodspeed is still around as well as Bill Walton and Joe Henderson and use them for sound boards to make it happen again . I think the idea of college Polo is fine but the problem is 98 % of people in college Polo come from Polo people we need new people to grow the sport . The idea we might someday be like Argentina or Chile is absurd there young people grow up in family’s that play Polo and have the means to do it every day and are able to go to school and college and still play at home or near by . Here that will not happen worst of all Patrons and Families in the game usually do not push there children to do it and do not let them in the better games when they can play because polo is a game they want to win and they never get the chance to play as a rule because when they do they get the wrath of the pro and that is the end of there Polo. The Polo world has changed here now the last real group of high goal pros got help from Patrons and the former high goal pros like Wayman,Barry’s,Smith,Smicklas,Carney, Siebers. Galindo ,Rinehart,Azzaro and many others but that was 30 years ago and now we have maybe 5 under 45 and 6 goals or more. We have to make it an environment where young People want to play with friends and peers they grew up with they will bring new people to the sport not bringing in 90 % foreign players no one relates to them and they are not here to help our youngsters because they do not have to they bring there own instead . That is why the UK went by us 10 years ago they are protecting there young and that forces the pros to use them and now many are pros themselves. This will also provide interest for people who might want to try the game as they can relate to there own much easier than hiring a foreigner who is here a couple days a week and only for a couple of months and has nothing in common with them . This is where I think the USPA can do something help Schools for Polo Centers and protect our people. I see no down side on trying AT ALL .
MY THOUGHTS
Protect American Youngsters and we have a lot of brilliant young players now. But if they do not get to play they will just go away.
Change a few rules to cut cost. If money no object to some start there own league, see how many stand up to do what John Goodman did.
Create schools in a few centers sponsored in part by USPA take a look at Houston they seem to have a great setup. Pick 4 centers to start with and see what happens . We have some much better media today than when the LA Center was kicking out 12 Sponsors ever 2 years at several levels . Patrons and new people are going to come from these and we will still keep our Polo people in the game .
LETS HEAR YOUR IDEAS
see ya