Polo Valley – Winter Sun & Polo School

Polo Valley & Sotogrande International School (SIS) have partnered to create the first elite polo academy in the world

Winter Sun & Polo School Polo Valley & Sotogrande International School

Without the right coaching or and Sotogrande International School (SIS) opportunities it can be very have partnered to create the first elite polo difficult to reach a high level academy in the world. This is an opportunity in polo, which is exactly what for promising athletes aged between 14 and academic partners of the Sotogrande Polo Academy programme – Sotogrande International School – have been doing for years with their elite tennis and golf the Sotogrande Polo Academy is determined 18 to combine world-class education with to change. Recognising the importance of daily polo training in order to facilitate the investing in the future of polo and creating dreams of passionate and ambitious students pathways for future generations, Polo Valley who wish to become professional polo players. In a niche industry where there are unknowns for new families, SPA offers a roadmap and system to provide assurance and confidence that their child will benefit from the global opportunities, jobs, lifestyle and network this sport and community have to offer. All whilst gaining an outstanding and internationally recognised education, where students understand the importance and discipline of training towards elite level sport from a young age. This kind of focused and personalised approach to education is something the programmes, successfully propelling student athletes into scholarships at top institutions and their sporting careers. Finally, polo players can have the same opportunity.

The academy has only four spaces per category, accommodating for the training of both Junior (14 to 16-years-old) and Elite (16 to 18-years-old) Champions for up to four years, with over twenty hours of physical and theoretical polo training provided per week at Polo Valley (located just 15 minutes from SIS) alongside a specially designed academic programme at Sotogrande International School.

Throughout the program, students will learn a vast range of skills depending on their level. From the students with no experience at all to those already playing confidently, they will learn a range of skills including how to ride, swing technique, tactics, strategy, strength and fitness, theoretical lessons, rules and umpiring qualifications, horse care, team management, the business side of polo, people skills and possibly most importantly – horsemanship. As well as the technical skills and those that are taught, there are also important softer skills they will glean through being in the working environment, on the ground with the horses, the field with the players, the sidelines with the owners and in the midst of this industry that cannot be taught through text books.

This is an important initiative in an industry where qualifications are gained through experience and years of training and honing your craft. Polo and horsemanship are not learnt on paper. Now there is a rare opportunity for students to be able to develop in a real working landscape during their school time instead of fitting polo around their school.

The students will meet and network with people from all throughout the polo world during their time in the academy, receiving invaluable exposure to patrons and other professionals, all of which will teach them arguably more than many other sports can teach them about life and character development. Once they are ready to play professionally, Polo Valley will help to connect them with their first job and place them in tournaments to gain experience – everything is geared for their success.

Not only are the programme and facilities ideal for this type of initiative but the climate is absolutely perfect for all year round grass polo and endless outdoor activities with over 300 days of sunshine. All within an easy travel distance of just a 25 minute drive from Gibraltar airport and one hour from Malaga airport.

For anyone interested in finding out more, contact the team or join the trial week this February at Polo Valley to get a full sense of the programme and lifestyle.

The climate is absolutely perfect for all year round grass polo and endless outdoor activities

Sotogrande Polo Academy Programme Schedule: Junior Champions: 14:30 – 18:30 & Elite Champions: 09:00 – 13:00 Registration for September 2022 open Enquire now at www.polovalley.com