Hpa's Vision for Polo

The HPA’s ‘vision for polo’ documents all the proposed changes that the HPA are working towards over the next 5 years, covering topics from handicapping, to foreign relations and development.

I am currently staring at a 7 page document, catchily titled ‘An HPA Consultation Paper Developing a Vision for Polo over the next 5 years - adapting the sport and responding to the key challenges polo faces today’.

And… it seems to make a lot of sense.

You weren’t expecting that, were you? No, its not flawless, but the issues raised are very real ones, and the solutions suggested, while vague at times, are realistic and, at face value, seem workable. Not everyone will be a fan of all of it, I am not, and I know of people who would be less pleased, but life is about compromises, and this ‘vision’ seems to strike a good balance that I could see inviting more people into the game, reversing polo’s decline. The document sets out 6 key areas in need of adaptation, which are as follows.

Growing the game

The HPA recognises and accepts that the sport has slipped into decline, with membership and patron numbers slipping by 20% from 2008, and current membership numbers hanging around 2700. Although they aim to bring people into the sport at all levels, the main aim is of course at grass-roots level. This initiative is being met by producing a growth committee headed by MHF Polo. This will see a number of clubs joining forces to market the game, using a number of channels including social media to promote opportunities to experience and watch the game. The HPA also plans to work more closely with SUPA to reduce the number of players giving the game up after leaving full time education. 0 goal and 2 goal national leagues will also be set up with regional heats followed by national semi-finals and finals to giving more purpose to low goal polo, while a new categorising system of amateurs and pros will provide amateurs with more opportunities by enforcing that at least 1 amateur besides the patron is needed in teams up to 8 goal.

Handicapping

Perhaps likely to become one of the most controversial elements of the vision is the section and handicapping. While the new regulations offer up more opportunities to English amateurs and low goal pros, many foreign players may lose out with the new system, and existing teams of pros and patrons be broken up, a disadvantage to both parties. The proposed regulations are a extension of the current measures taken to keep low goal polo open. Currently there are limits on the highest handicap a single player can be in low goal tournaments, and a limit on the combined handicap of the two best players on the team. This is set to be further restricted with both maximum handicaps being decreased throughout the low goal levels. The aim of this is to improve the standard of polo by spreading the handicap more evenly throughout the team, reducing the emphasis on one player. However many pros over 3 goals would oppose this kind of change as many may struggle to find enough games in the higher goal levels to support themselves.

Elsewhere limits have been set on handicaps for foreign players, where they can only play 1 goal below there highest international handicap, and, if under the age of 18 must play off there highest international handicap. This helps to make polo fairer by avoiding situations where these players have a unrealistically low handicap due to playing infrequently in the country.

The HPA are also adamant about implementing their controversial system which debuted to a … mixed reaction last year. This sees the -2 handicap purely as a introductory handicap, and almost all players are moved up to -1 after their first year playing. This is meant to decrease the disparity in the low handicaps, but would require a shift in tournaments held, as now the standard for a particular level, say 0 goal, would be lower as everyone has higher handicaps.

Development

The HPA Development committee is proposed to be more heavily structured as new levels, U14, U18, U21, U25 and sen implemented. This would also give the committee more direction as each level can be tasked with improving a certain as players game. This program would also support teams of these players participating in VL tournaments, helping the play and get noticed in more important tournaments.

The HPA also aims to set up a mandatory vocational program to support player who drop out of education at 16 or 18 to acquire a real qualification.

New patrons would also be able to be supported by the program, allowing them to improve to a level where they can pla chosen tournament standard.

Behaviour and Animal Welfare

This is another area where the HPA are continuing to further their current agenda, implementing new rules such as the carding system and regulations on whipping. These regulations are also likely to be extended to foul language, spur use and horse management. In particular bad language and unpleasant behaviour is set to be clamped down on in order to make the game more appealing to new players.

Investment in umpire education is set to continue, in the aim of improving the standard of umpiring and clamping own on these issues.

Foreign Relations

The HPA is keen to remain open with other polo governing bodies, however it accepts that there is uncertainty, mainly due to Brexit which could hurt the relationship with non British players. The HPA also sees that implementing rules to prioritise English players over their foreign counterparts may sour relationships, but this system only mirrors that which Argentina and the USA already implement.

The HPA also want to confirm a rolling 3 year schedule of international events, allowing better organisation of team, and more importantly, sponsorship and promotion. This should help the success of each of these international events, boosting polo’s popularity.

Commercial and Governance

Although vague, it is obvious that the HPA aims to establish a Commercial Activities board, in charge of licensing, sponsorship and events, in order to more effectively raise the revenue needed to to implement many of the afore mentioned plans.

Furthermore the overall governance of the HPA is set to be modernised with the aim of streamlining decision making processes.

Verdict

This outline for the future of polo is not for everyone, yet it seems to accept that the greatest problem polo faces is its reputation with the outside world, as this has the ability to bring new members, sponsors and spectators to the game, giving it a new lease of life.

Everything from the more traditional style of the development system to the handicapping designed to prioritise amateur players to the animal welfare regulations is geared towards an influx of new, and therefore low goal players. This may annoy or even inhibit the ability of established patrons and pros to enter teams and continue as they have done for many years. Yet the HPA obviously feels that in order to combat the decline of the sport, these measures are required. And I agree.

STOP PRESS

The HPA has recently released some feedback on their ‘Vision for Polo’ document. On the whole this is positive, yet there are a couple of minor alterations people have put forward. Almost all of this is focused on the, predictably controversial, handicapping section.

The -2 handicap is still aimed as being an introductory handicap, although this idea is taken further as a -1 should be moved up to a 0 goal handicap as soon as they are safe, understand the rules and have contributed to a team which has reached the finals of a tournament. This continues the realigning of the -2s and -1s seen last year upwards through the 0,1 and 2 goals handicap to avoid the ‘bottleneck effect’.

Elsewhere U-turns have been made on both the 22 goal handicap and the regulations regarding under 18 players from abroad. Now the separate 22 goal handicap looks set to remain solely for the 22 goal high goal, rather than also being expanded to include 18 goal games, and under 18 year old players will be included in the wider regulations forcing foreign players to play a maximum of 1 goal lower than their highest international handicap, when originally it was proposed they would have to play off this, maximum handicap.

Somewhat unsurprisingly, major criticism has also been levelled at the further handicapping regulations set to be introduced for the lower goal games. People dislike the upper handicap

limits set for each level as it makes life more difficult for high level pros. An alternative proposition for all tournaments from 2 to 10 goal would see all the minus handicap players effectively play of 0 gaol handicap, as their handicap is not subtracted from the positively handicapped teammates. This automatically limits the highest handicap a player can have for a certain level as they can’t add -2s and -1s to their team to balance out a higher handicapped pro.

Apparently this would make it simpler to understand while maintaining current standards of play at each of the handicap levels. However surely this could stunt the development of minus goal players as it would be entirely pointless for a team to include these players when they may as well use a 0 goal player. Therefore they would get fewer games and less of a chance to improve.

Finally the suggestion has been made to get rid of half goal handicap goals and simply award full goals in all games. This would make the game easier to understand for casual fans who are not accustomed to the handicapping system while handing more advantage to lower handicapped teams.

The HPA continues to request any thoughts and comments on the paper, as it aims to build a vision for polo which the majority of players can benefit from and work towards.