June 12-13, 2013
Over the two day clinic 16 junior players attended the junior clinic hosted by the St. Louis Polo Club. For some of the juniors it was their first time holding a mallet, but many others had experience playing outdoor chukkers. The two-day clinic met at 10:00 each morning and continued until 3:30 with a break in the middle for lunch.
On the first day clinic participants met and completed the obligatory paperwork, with new players registering with the USPAs First Year Free program. After all forms were signed players participated in and informative discussion of the rules and history of the sport before picking up mallets and reviewing/learning the basics. For such a great range of players it was helpful for the most experienced players to return to basic principles and review the mechanics and technique involved in the polo game. This refresher course was helpful to many of them, who had inquired during the paperwork/getting to know you portion of the clinic that they were struggling with their swing. The older players also mentored then newest students and helped them to hold the mallet and learn the game.
After a quick lunch break and lots of water players mounted up to spend time doing Calvary drills, practice hitting in a relay race, and play a game of sharks and minnows. All the mounted portions showed that the participants needed a refresher on polo seat and the benefits of using the knee and thigh as a base, as opposed to the lower leg. Players also struggled with rein length, having a hard time understanding how to correctly adjust the reins. After the Calvary drills where the participants practiced rating their horses while employing the proper polo seat, many of them were exhausted, but no matter they all powered through the hitting relay- mixing experienced and new players to move the race along. There the kids learned the benefits of not going faster than their experience allowed and saw how it was important to take their time and be accurate, rather than rush and miss the ball entirely. Finally they played sharks and minnows- stopping and turning to avoid the shark and make it back to the safe zone. Kids stopped thinking about everything they had been told all day and without the pressure of the ball, put what they learned into effect. After many or rounds, there was a tie to win- the youngest player and the newest player had shown all the others up and no one could catch them.
On the second day a quick session with foot mallets where the ride-off, hooks, and man-line-ball was reviewed players were shortly ready to mount up again and after another hitting drill on the near side backshot they were ready to join in the coaching scrimmage. With the newbies going first they successfully navigated their first chukker and fouled only when it was unavoidable. Both teams tied in the end and all shook hands with great smiles. The second group all wanted to show off their polo skills and where overzealous when it came to judging the play. Players quickly realized that, like with the relay race, accuracy and technique would win out and in the end would help them score the goal. The newer players asked good questions throughout the more experienced chukker and learned many things from the fouls and plays.
All the players had such a tremendous time playing and while attending the clinic they inquired when they could play polo with their peers again. IBoth kids and parents are interested starting an Interscholastic team for the Fall 2013 season. The I/I magazines were a huge hit, everyone was excited to see the list of colleges and universities where they would be able to continue to play polo. The clinic was initially successful and hopefully, with the addition of a set schedule St. Louis Polo Club will be able to field an interscholastic team, and even a NYTS tournament in the near future.
– Liz Holson
USPA Junior Polo Instructor
