Photo by Kaylee Wroe
USPA UMPIRES LLC WITH CONTRIBUTIONS FROM MAGGIE MITCHELL Polo has exploded in the USA over the last decade. In addition to the big polo clubs, private polo fields and a growing group of players in training mean that the demand for professional umpires is also growing. USPA umpires have experience playing all over the world—Argentina, England, France, Spain, Chile, New Zealand, Jamaica, Dominican Republic, Canada, and of course, the USA—and bring that breadth of polo experience to each game. USPA’s umpire training program takes polo players through four levels of certification, culminating in the top P4 rating. In addition to the certification program, the USPA also offers ongoing professional development opportunities. “We are consulting with experts from other fields to equip our umpires with the skills and tools they require to excel,” says Fergus Gould, USPA’s Western Regional Umpire Director.“Our goal is to create a group of highly skilled and motivated umpires to officiate at all levels across the country.” Umpires LLC also supports the development and testing of new technology used to create an added level of accuracy to calling the game. New technology
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is also being developed to improve communication across the umpire teams and improve organization at the field level; it will eventually centralize game and player statistics across the USA. In addition to training and organizing polo officials, USPA Umpires LLC is constantly recruiting new umpires. Umpire and traveling clinician Robin Sanchez has a full schedule reaching out to smaller clubs across the country to offer umpire certification and run clinics—as well as to look out for new recruits to add to the roster.
THE UMPIRES USPA Umpires LLC’s 30 umpires have decades of polo experience under their belts. Under the LLC’s umbrella, they have found a new way to contribute to their favorite game—only on a slightly different team. On the field, they grow to trust and respect each other, and a real bond has formed among the officials. Houston Polo Club is fortunate to have USPA Umpires officiating to keep the level of play on our fields consistently some of the top polo in the country. Meet three of our umpires.
