P O L O D E V E L O P M E N T, L L C
The best You! Improve your skills over the summer By Hayley Heatley
The long days of summer sun provide many hours of polo and horse fun for young players across the country. Take advantage of the extra time while school is out to improve your game through practices, drills, clinics and tournaments, and meet new players along the way. Rain can be a factor during the summer months, but there are plenty of ways to stay active and improve your game when the field is not available. For players looking to mix-up their usual summer polo routine, read on for fun activities for the summer season.
Participate in the National Youth Tournament Series Program. Qualifier tournaments are held across the United States and Canada throughout the summer, providing young players an opportunity to compete with and against their peers in a USPA Circuit event. The NYTS National Championship will be held September 8-12 in Chicago, Illinois. To participate in a qualifier tournament, reach out to your local club or visit uspolo.org for a schedule of events and eligibility requirements. Host a skills challenge at your club. Whether on foot or mounted, a skills challenge is a fun way to spend a day with fellow polo players. Foot mallet dribbling, long ball or penalty shooting accuracy competitions; a good, old fashioned foot race with a mallet; or foot mallet games are sure to provide a few laughs. Create a hashtag and challenge a rival team! Download the PoloSkilz’ Drills, Drills, Drills book from the uspolo.org website. Filled with ball handling and riding exercises from the country’s top coaches, the book illustrates practical ways to improve your practice time.
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Reach out to a local professional player or Team USPA alumni or current player and ask them to review a recent game tape with you. Having a new set of eyes on a game you are familiar with can offer a different perspective on your play and strategy. Research arena leagues or tournaments. Regional arena leagues offer highpoint awards, social events and camaraderie among local players. Join the I/I Polo Alumni Network LinkedIn Page. Designed for recent graduates, the LinkedIn page is a hub for informal meetups, job skill development posts and mentoring opportunities Organize a weekend meet-up with players from two clubs in the area. If you have access to a field or arena, organize a scrimmage or friendly white pants match. While playing for trophies is always a blast, a lot can be learned from practice games! Try practicing three set plays with your teammates and work on improving their execution on the field.
