By Amanda Hersey
It seemed like the only day it has rained all season in Wellington, FL was the first day of the Team USPA February Clinic – and it brought true meaning to the phrase “when it rains, it pours.” As half of the key Team USPA staff Amanda Hersey and Justin Powers drove to Palm Beach International Airport to pick up the newest members of the program, program leaders, Kris Bowman (Director) and Charles Smith (Chairman), were on the phone frantically trying to salvage the previously flawless weekend agenda that was now field-less due to the torrential downpours.
The seven fresh new faces at PBI, were assured that rain or shine their clinic would not be affected by this minor setback and thanks to the help of Bob Daniels, Sugar Erskine and a lot of flexible mentors it was even better than we originally planned for. On the first day of the clinic the 7 new members gathered for media training session with the national PR Firm for the USPA, French West Vaughn. During the training session, the players learned how to answer questions for the media and how to ensure the message they are sending is being received correctly. Members of Team USPA are ambassador for the sport of polo wherever they go, on and off the field they must always be prepared to educate the public on our beloved sport.
Following the media training, lead mentor and coach Adam Snow gave his lecture Achieving 10. Snow’s discussion focused on the mental strength required for competing at a player’s maximum potential. He stressed the importance of making certain that a player is prepared for everything that is within a player’s control and not to focus on the elements of the game that are beyond a player’s control. The aspiring young players soaked up every word spoken by the former 10 goal polo superstar.
Saturday was supposed to be the first day of coached practice, but due to the rain plan B came in to full swing as the Team USPA members loaded up the cars and headed over to the Isla Carroll arena. Mouths were agape upon entering the gates of International Polo Club, as most of these young players had never played outside of their home clubs across the country. In the arena, each of the players got a lesson on how to school a polo pony with none other than lead mentors and coaches Charles Smith, Owen Rinehart, and Charlie Muldoon. Over lunch, professional umpires Dale Schwetz gave a presentation to the group on umpiring from a player’s perspective, a skill that all Team USPA members are required to learn.
On Saturday afternoon the clinic continued on at the Pony Express facility where Charles Smith and Kris Bowman went over the basics of proper bitting and bridling, emphasizing that the horse will tell you what bit is right so listen to your horse. After the presentation, the players suited up for a penalty shot skills and drills session with the coaches and mentor Tommy Biddle. Fellow Team USPA members Mason Wroe(3) and Nick Snow(4) took a break from their 20 goal season to come help out the new crop of talent with their swing. The learning continued that afternoon with a mallet demonstration by Nano Perez and into the evening with a Strategy Review with Charlie Muldoon and Adam Snow over dinner.
On the third day, the new 7 members were able to put their newly acquired knowledge to the test with coached practice chukkers at Pony Express with Charles Smith, Adam Snow, Owen Rinehart and Charlie Muldoon. The players were split in to two teams with Wesley Bryan substituting for our 8th new member, Matt Baker who was unable to attend due to a recent knee injury. Smith and Muldoon each worked with a team from the ground while Snow and Rinehart were coaching on horseback, interrupting the play to offer instruction and insight as often as needed. After practice the group attended the 3 o’clock Sunday game at IPC to watch a 20g Ylvisaker tournament game where they were honored in front of a packed stadium as the official 2012 members of Team USPA. Following the game, program mentors and the 13 Team USPA members that are working in Wellington for the season joined the new members for a barbeque at USPA Umpire Coordinator, Tom Hughes’ barn. 20 out of the 39 members of Team USPA came together and shared their polo stories. Camaraderie is something that the program generates and is part of what makes it unique. The relationships that many of these young players develop through Team USPA will stay with them throughout their entire lives. It is common practice to switch teams so frequently that a player may never get the chance to become true teammates, Team USPA has changed that for its 39 members, allowing them to be part of a steady team regardless of who they are playing with at any moment.
The weekend came to a close on Monday with a match game at Jan Pamela. Red Armour started the day for the players with his Polo 101 Lecture, covering the basics of polo which he believes is the foundation of every player’s game. The match game was umpired by mentors Hector Galindo and Owen Rinehart while members of the Florida polo community scouted the talent from the sidelines. The clinic wrapped up with a presentation on budgeting for polo by Justin Powers and then the players said their goodbyes and were shuttled to the airport.
The rain did not stand in the way that is for sure! The Team USPA February Clinic was a great success with even more knowledge being passed down from mentor to player than ever before. We hope you get a chance to share the field with one of the 8 new Team USPA members, look out for Lucas Reid, Tiamo Hudspeth, Sterling Giannico, Matt Baker, Stephanie Massey, Kareem Rosser, Todd Thurston and Zach Grob at your home club.