2022 USPA Annual Report

United States Polo Association

[COVER] USPA Chairman Stewart Armstrong (right) & USPA President and Chairman of NPC Polo Operations, LLC Charles Smith at the National Polo Center.

CHAIRMAN’S LETTER

ARENA

ARMED FORCES COMMITTEE

BOARD AND STAFF DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE

CLUB AND MEMBERSHIP ADMINISTRATION COMMITTEE

CONSTITUTION COMMITTEE

DIVERSITY, EQUITY AND INCLUSION COMMITTEE

EQUINE WELFARE COMMITTEE

FINANCE COMMITTEE

HANDICAP COMMITTEES

HIGH-GOAL

Hope Arellano was the first woman to play for the USA in an FIP World Polo Championship. ©David Lominska

What an eventful and fulfilling three years we have just completed! I am immensely proud of what we have all accomplished across the full spectrum of the polo ecosystem, including youth polo, intercollegiate and interscholastic polo, arena polo, polo stimulus programs, polo development, excellence in officiating, bridges to higher and higher levels of competition, and the control over our future that owning the USPA National Polo CenterWellington (NPC) provides to our Association.

USPA Chairman Stewart Armstrong competed in the 2022 Gauntlet of Polo on La Indiana. ©David Lominska

The USPA is on the move. The Board of Governors, the member volunteers and the full-time staff have all come together as a team to make the most of our leadership opportunity. With the successes we have all shared over the past three years, including hosting the best FIP World Championship ever, I am enthused about the opportunity we have to achieve even more.

What we have accomplished thus far is to solidify the foundation under the polo ecosystem. We now have the infrastructure in place to build and maintain a broad base of players coming into the sport from the very young to the older and more financially stable. We have created demand for polo at all handicap levels and we have the polo schools necessary to continue attracting sponsors and amateurs to our sport. And we have taken control of our destiny by adding a permanent home for our sport at NPC.

We have no excuse but to succeed. All that remains is to build a pathway from the base of our ecosystem to the pinnacle - a means for young aspiring players to realize the dream of becoming a high-goal player. How we accomplish this objective is the subject of debate. One thing is certain, it will require that a horse culture be re-established in America that can support a career in polo. There must be a way for professional players to make money buying and selling horses alongside their polo careers. Each rising professional polo player needs a pipeline of affordable quality horses to replenish and improve his or her string, and a salary alone will not pay for such horses.

Several initiatives are worthy of consideration to help create this pathway. It may involve designing and administering an incentive program for breeders and trainers in the form of monetary prizes for Best Playing Pony awards. It may include developing a strategy to fund an American team in Argentina’s highest level of competition each year. Or it could even involve sponsors and other polo supporters helping the USPA establish a Regional Polo Center in Argentina to help American players of all levels improve their polo and become more established as a part of the Argentine polo ecosystem. Suffice it to say, there is no magic bullet to achieve the goal of creating a pathway from the bottom to the top of the handicap scale. Meanwhile, we need to execute on our purchase of the USPA National Polo Center – Wellington, to ensure we continue to create “demand for polo” as we have intended to do from the start. And further, we must keep a close eye on California’s winter polo center in the desert to ensure the permanence of an important Sunday Field for the West Coast.

As we consider and debate these ideas and initiatives, know that your leadership team is engaged and diligently trying to anticipate future needs while it is actively developing current initiatives. We are all working together to not just make polo better, as was the theme of my first term, but in fact to achieve excellence in polo through the new level of control we have over our future.

Now more than ever before, we need to make “excellence in all things polo” our abiding goal and continue to push ourselves to make our Association the best it can be.

Stewart Armstrong

The USPA Services Division acts as the central hub for administrative and operational tasks within the Association. Staff members are the key liaisons between the board, governors, committees, club delegates, members and employees. This focus on building relationships and open communication benefits the Association and helps create success for the USPA across several different avenues, such as tournament support, handicap support and committee relations.

2022 was packed with highlights. Two teams came together to play in the first Junior Open at the International Polo Club Palm Beach in an under-21 outdoor 12-goal tournament, and the U.S. Open Polo Championship had a record number of 20 teams. The National Youth Tournament Series Championship was played at La Herradura Polo Club in Santa Ynez, California. Youth players traveled from across the United States to reap the coaching benefits of former 10 goaler and Hall of Famer, Memo Gracida. The year culminated with the Federation of International Polo’s (FIP) World Polo Championship at the USPA National Polo CenterWellington, where the USA team won the silver medal.

The USPA continued to enforce the NOCSAE helmet mandate, which officially went into effect on May 1, 2021. All USPA members must wear a NOCSAE-compliant helmet in USPA events or club events at USPA clubs. The helmets currently on the market that pass the NOCSAE ND050 Standard Performance Specification

for Newly Manufactured Polo Helmets are the Armis Vera, Casablanca NEU, Charles Owen Sovereign and the Instinct Askari. These helmets can be recognized by an SEI/NOCSAE logo attached to the outside of the helmet which is not to be removed. The USPA

offers variances for new members who have not yet received their new helmet, members 13 years of age or younger whose head is not large enough for a currently commercially available helmet, players whose NOCSAE helmets were damaged

Port Mayaca’s Hope Arellano and Dutta Corp Show+’s Timmy Dutta in action during the Junior Open. ©David Lominska

and the replacement has not yet been received, members who own a Casablanca helmet with the magnetic clasp who are having it replaced, and players visiting from other countries who have not been USPA members before June 1, 2020. All available helmet variances can be viewed on the USPA website by searching for NOCSAE.

After several years within the Services Division, the communications department became its own division at the 2022 USPA Fall Committee, Board of Governors and Annual Member Meeting. Matt Baran will lead the new division as executive director of communications with the help of Communications Manager Cristina Fernandez.

For the first time, the USPA Fall Committee, Board of Governors and Annual Member Meeting was held at the USPA-owned National Polo Center - Wellington during the FIP World Polo Championships, where several changes were made to the leadership. Tony Coppola termed out of his position as president, Charles Smith was elected to the position for a three-year term and Chrys Beal was elected as secretary. Returning to their positions, Stewart Armstrong and Steve Rudolph both were elected to continue their rolls as chairman and treasurer. A governor-at-large election was held, and the following individuals were elected to the board for the first time: Dr. Mike Manno, Haley Bryan, Cindy Halle and Robert Orthwein.

Back for another year to support and incentivize USPA tournament play, the COVID-19 USPA Polo Tournament Stimulus Package (TSP) continued to drive positive trends under its new name, Tournament Support Program. Taking advantage of benefits, which included waived fees for the first

two USPA tournaments, over half of the 413 tournaments utilized TSP or the Prize Money Matching Program (PMMP). Requiring a minimum of four teams to qualify, TSP also directly resulted in a higher average number of teams in 2022 (4.6) as well as an increase in host clubs. In a record year for USPA tournaments, 95% of the clubs that hosted USPA tournaments utilized TSP or PMMP, including the Junior Open that was played with $10,000 in Prize Money Matching funds. The Junior Open competitors played full throttle in the inaugural match that will pave the way for more under-21 teams. Recognizing a need to develop more

polo in the 12- to 16-goal range, the Services Division created the Bridge to High-Goal Program (B2HG). Complementing the existing programs, B2HG generated even greater participation from players and clubs alike, and for the second year in a row, the polo community produced tournament records. TSP, PMMP and B2HG will all be extended into 2023 with the hope of another year of exponential growth at all levels, including outdoor, arena, women’s, military and junior polo.

American Mackenzie Weisz competing for Pilot in the 2022 U.S. Open Polo Championship Final. ©David Lominska

The Arena Committee continued to expand upon the progress and initiatives developed in previous years. The committee’s dedication to stimulating the growth of arena polo at all levels improved the quality and quantity of arena tournaments in 2022. With 97 USPA arena events awarded, arena polo continues to prosper across the country.

National arena tournaments remain a sensation around the county, and there was an increased demand and level of competition for USPA arena tournaments. Several national arena tournaments were among the most sought-after tournaments and the demand for hosting prestigious arena events has increased significantly throughout the country. For this reason, the Arena Committee and

board of governors have approved a new national arena tournament, the USPA Arena Bronze Cup, to be introduced in 2023. The national event will be played with an upper handicap level not to exceed 6 goals and a lower level of 0 goals.

The National Arena Amateur Cup (NAAC) assembled for a third consecutive year of competition at

Legends Polo Club in Kaufman, Texas. Showcasing players who have earned points competing in USPA circuit, sanctioned and national tournaments throughout the year, six teams vied for the NAAC Championship title. Blazing Saddles defeated The Trifecta 16-12 to capture the title.

Twilight Polo Club (Middleburg, Virginia) utilized the Prize Money

UCONN’s Madison Robicheau, Elizabeth Leudesdorff and Kylie Dalton embrace following their historic Division II Women’s National Intercollegiate Championship victory. ©David Murrell

Matching Program (PMMP) to support the most prestigious arena polo title in the United States, the U.S. Open Arena Polo Championship. Four competitive teams battled for the 2022 title, and $40,000 in prize money was awarded throughout the tournament. In the final match, Beverly Polo defeated Hotels at Sea 18-11 to claim victory and take home the $20,000 first place prize. Played as the subsidiary final to the U.S. Open Arena Polo Championship, Core Real Estate went head-to-head against Liberty Hall for the United States Arena Handicap title and $5,000 in prize money. Liberty Hall took home the 18-13 victory.

The late Hal Vita’s legacy was honored with the presentation of the 2022 Russ Sheldon Award. Created in 2015, the Russ Sheldon Award recognizes a USPA member’s outstanding contribution to arena polo. A true pioneer in the sport, Vita’s journey to polo began in 1962 when he and his wife Frankie bought a 22-acre potato field in Somers, Connecticut, with the vision to build an equestrian center that would one day act as the ultimate hub of all things horses. Vita began by constructing a small barn and later expanded it into Shallowbrook Equestrian Center. He launched his coaching career at the University of Connecticut and led the Huskies

ARENA COMMITTEE

to their first national titles in 1972 and 1973.

The future of arena polo is bright as the sport continues to thrive. Hundreds of spectators and players are drawn to the fast-paced and competitive game each year. Arena polo is prospering across the country and the Arena Committee is in constant pursuit of new ways to help improve and enhance the sport.

Rehan Kumble led The Trifecta with nine goals in the National Arena Amateur Cup final. ©David Murrell

The Armed Forces Committee (AFC) has been working over the past several years to increase USPA military tournaments and USPA membership, especially new active duty, and active reserve component military personnel members. Free membership has been offered to activeduty military players since 2016. Seven circuit military tournaments were held in 2016, the first year the events were available, making growth a focus for the Committee in subsequent years. The Committee’s hard work and dedication to the cause consistently raised that number to 31 in 2022.

Sarasota Polo Club (Sarasota, Florida) hosted the 2022 National Outdoor Commander-in-Chief Cup at the 12-goal level with four teams participating. In a thrilling match, Hillcroft defeated Whiskey Pond 11-5 to win the title. The 2022 National Arena Commander-in-Chief Cup was hosted by Army Polo Club (The Plains, Virginia) and featured four military teams competing for the coveted trophy. The final match saw a formidable Navy squad avenge their loss against Army, emerging victorious 12-10 to win the inaugural trophy.

The second annual Allied Services Cup was hosted by Texas Military Polo Club LLC (Poteet, Texas). Four teams entered at the 2- to 5-goal level, with Patton Legacy Sports ultimately defeating Polo InterActive 15-11 to capture the title.

The Committee continues to financially support Circuit and National Military Events each year through the Military Incentive Program. In 2020, the AFC significantly increased the number

Private First Class Zak Coleman in action during the final event of the Chapple Cup at Guards Polo Club in England. ©Tony Ramirez

of Circuit Events supported through this program and supported more events in 2022. The Armed Forces Committee also continues to support numerous Military Events and clinics throughout the country.

The USPA selected Colonel Marisa Tanner, U.S. Army Retired, for the 2022 General George S. Patton Jr. Award in appreciation for her work that has gone above and beyond the call of duty, creating opportunities for military members and their families to become involved in the sport of polo. She was presented her award at a Black-Tie Dining Out Dinner held at the Army and Navy Club in Washington, D.C., during the National Arena Commander-in-Chief Cup tournament in October. Colonel Tanner accepted the award and enthralled attendees with remarks about one of her challenging missions during the conflict in Iraq. She detailed how she sought to use the sport of polo as a means of bringing together Sunni and Shia factions of the new Iraqi Armed Forces that had been in severe conflict with each other.

On the international front, the Armed Forces Committee supervised the selection of a team comprised of active duty and active reserve component military personnel to participate

in the Chapple Cup Series of matches in England against British military teams in July. The U.S. team, led by team captain Lieutenant Colonel Amos Peterson, played at Druids Lodge Polo Club, Tedworth Polo Club, and won the United Services Cup against a hard charging British team at Guards Polo Club. The planned trip to Morocco in November that had been postponed previously due to COVID-19 issues was postponed again and is now set to be played in May 2023. The Armed Forces Committee also received an invitation to send a military team to Mexico on Mexican Armed Forces Day in February 2023, which was accepted.

The Armed Forces Committee also provided mounted military color guards at two major USPA Events in 2022: The U.S Open Polo Championship final in April and the XII Federation of International Polo World Polo Championship final that took place in Wellington, Florida. The Armed Forces Committee also assisted in organizing a flyover for the opening ceremony of the FIP World Polo Championship final by engaging a World War II-era P-51 Mustang fighter aircraft as a tribute to Lieutenant Colonel Thomas Hitchcock Jr., who was one of America’s most talented polo players to date. He gave his life as a test pilot while perfecting the Mustang, which became America’s premier fighter of the war.

The Committee assisted in organizing a World War II era P-51 Mustang fighter aircraft flyover for the opening ceremony of the XII FIP World Polo Championship final.

2022 National Outdoor Commander-in-Chief Cup Champions: Hillcroft - Vaughn Miller Jr., Mason Wroe, Nachi Viana, James Miller. ©Julio Aguilar

Ariel Mancebo was awarded the Allied Servies Cup Lieutenant Colonel Tommy Hitchcock Jr., Army Air Corps Most Valuable Player. ©David Murrell

The current Board and Staff Development Committee (BASDC) was established and approved by the Board of Governors in 2017 and onboarded a small and varied group of business-orientated individuals with ties to many USPA committees and sport of polo interests. Utilizing a management by objective spreadsheet the Committee tracks and follows up on matters brought forward and acted upon.

In 2022, the Committee reviewed and endorsed the board-approved process related to USPA staff annual salaries and bonuses; reviewed and approved changes to the Employee Handbook; presented and updated the USPA Governor’s Censure Policy, which was approved by the board; and reviewed the USPA Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee (DEI) and mission statement that was approved by the USPA board. The DEI Committee cited several new and ongoing programs and matches that are specific to DEI. The Committee considered Rules and Interpretations in Spanish, but found it was too costly. They reviewed and updated the BASDC Mission Statement. The Committee also reviewed SafeSport, DEI, Concussion, and other trainings. Finally, the Committee requested that the USPA provide an update of Organization Charts for NPC Hospitality Operations, Inc. and NPC Polo Operations, LLC.

The Committee requested the USPA recognize the efforts of all USPA staff working on the NPC project and understand staff is performing above normal tasks. The Committee also recommended professional training for USPA staff utilizing Bell Leadership Institute training, for small groups of employees, starting with Directors and Executive Directors. The program is a 360-degree dive into all aspects of one’s personality and mapping.

In 2022, BASDC members included Leighton Jordan, Chairman Elizabeth Brayboy, Zacharias Grob, Peter Rizzo, Sheryl Sick, Daniel Walker and Agapito Morgan.

The mission of the USPA Board and Staff Development Committee is to, on an ongoing basis, study and offer recommendations on the establishment and continuous improvement of an efficient, staff-driven organizational structure. The Committee shall provide advice and support to the Association’s Chief Operating Officer in USPA personnel matters and offer advice and support to the Association’s Chairman in all matters relating to USPA Board of Governors and USPA Limited Liability Companies development. The Committee shall study USPA mission statement objectives and make recommendations to achieve stated goals, correct deficiencies, and ensure consistency, continuity, and clarity in all areas of the Association.

SD Farms team owner, Sayyu Dantata, competed in the 2022 Gauntlet of Polo. ©David Lominska

CLUB AND MEMBERSHIP ADMINISTRATION COMMITTEE

Prior to the Spring Board of Governors, Committee and LLC Meetings, the Club and Membership Administration Committee conducted its annual review of existing USPA clubs to confirm their compliance with the requirements set forth in the USPA Constitution and By-Laws. The total list of clubs approved by the board included 212 Clubs (176 Active, 25 Provisional and 11 Affiliate), there were also six clubs terminated for noncompliance (Two Active, one Provisional, one Affiliate and two Associate). Throughout the year, a total of 10 new clubs applied for approval and were granted Provisional Club status.

Kelly Wells leads the pack riding Chalupa during the Eastern Circuit Arena Amateur Cup at Rebellis Polo. ©Nicole Cranford Photography

Kylie Beard and Kelly Wells posing on horses Butters and Uno during the Eastern Circuit Arena Amateur Cup at Rebellis Polo. ©Nicole Cranford

Photography

The Committee discussed the club application process and decided it would be best to revise the wording on the Club Application. Circuit Governors now endorse applications rather than approve them. Another topic of discussion was the process and approval of members listed on new club applications. It was decided that existing USPA members listed on a new Club Application should be required to submit a form confirming they approve of changing their club affiliation upon approval of the club. For new members joining the USPA and listed on a new Club Application, a Membership Application would need to be submitted with the Club Application and processed upon approval of the club. These processes are being finalized by the Committee and then will be approved by the Constitution Committee and Executive Committee.

220 Total USPA Clubs

188 Active 11 Affiliate

EASTERN CIRCUIT

Grayfields Polo Club

Andover, New Jersey

Morningside Polo Club

The Plains, Virginia

Rebellis Polo

Warrenton, Virginia

Go For Broke Polo Club

Rhoadesville, Virginia

NORTHEASTERN CIRCUIT

Kingswood Polo Club

East Kingston, New Hampshire

FLORIDA CIRCUIT

International Polo School

Wellington, Florida

GREAT PLAINS CIRCUIT

Windrush Polo Club

Little Rock, Arkansas

HAWAIIAN ISLANDS CIRCUIT

Waiki’i Polo Club

Kamuela, Hawaii

PACIFIC COAST CIRCUIT

Taqueada Polo Club

10 NEW CLUBS IN 2022: 21 Provisional

Gilroy, California

Folded Hills Polo Club

Gaviota, California

CONSTITUTION COMMITTEE

After making several significant changes to the USPA’s governing documents the past few years, in 2022 the Constitution Committee evaluated policies and monitored how the revised constitution and by-laws were functioning. The Committee met twice throughout the year, discussed various inconsistencies within the documents and proposed changes to implement in 2023.

CONSTITUTION COMMITTEE

Items that were discussed included clarifying language on when an elected governor takes office, allowing for virtual ballots to be cast for officer elections, as well as a circuit “checkup” timeframe. The Committee also assisted the Club and Membership Administration Committee (CMAC) on refining an administrative form for members requesting to change clubs. The Committee will continue to work on reviewing these various policies and will recommend changes to the board at the 2023 spring and fall meetings.

In 2022, Committee members were invited to join the second season of the Outside The Boards podcast, hosted by Danny O’Leary. Chip McKenney, founder of the Gay Polo League, spoke about the league, the inclusivity of the sport and how polo has impacted his life. Agapito Morgan and Dale Johnson discussed how they each became involved in the DEI committee and their own experiences in the polo community. The Committee continued to make connections with clubs, non-profits

and schools to engage populations with limited or no exposure to polo. New ideas and concepts have grown from the interactions and the group is continuing to work on promoting stories about diverse communities and people to the USPA membership. The group began engaging in strategic planning to explore how to shift the Committee’s focus from creating policy surrounding DEI initiatives to supporting the individual members and Member Clubs of the USPA in their DEI efforts.

© David Lominska

The Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Committee exists to explore and support initiatives within the polo community that promote the sport of polo to a diverse group of individuals, provide opportunities for new polo experiences and expand perception of polo to one that invites the involvement of all.

DIVERSITY, EQUITY AND INCLUSION COMMITTEE

Making his high-goal debut, Aspen Valley’s Vinny Sangaline represented not only his home club but the wider LGBTQ+ community as an openly gay athlete in the U.S. Open Polo Championship. ©David Lominska

The Equine Drugs and Medications Testing Program was back in full swing for 2022. A total of 110 horses were tested at clubs in three states; Florida, New York and California. Discussions were held throughout the year on the program and how to move forward. Since 2019, the program has been run completely in-house by the USPA. This includes scheduling all testing, purchasing supplies, contracting veterinarians and technicians, and overseeing all testing. It was decided that the Committee would like to increase the amount of testing, and to do so, additional assistance for the program will be sought in 2023.

The Committee resurrected the Kimzey Leg Saver Splint program in 2022. A great addition to any club’s equine first aid kit, the new program reimbursed clubs that purchased a splint for 50% of the cost. The equipment is used to help stabilize the leg of an equine athlete that is injured on or off the field during competition, so the horse can be transported to a veterinary clinic.

The 2022 Clint Nangle Award was presented to Dawn Weber at the USPA/PTF Awards Banquet, which was held during the Federation of International Polo World Polo Championship in Wellington, Florida. Weber was recognized as being a lifelong horse lover, always putting horses first.

Polo Pony at Santa Barbara Polo & Racquet Club (Carpinteria, California). ©David Lominska

The mission of the Finance Committee is to provide the USPA chairman and board of governors direction for the fiscal responsibility of the USPA. The Finance Committee has three primary responsibilities: management of the investment portfolio, oversight of the annual budget process and evaluation of proposed large expenditures.

The Finance Committee’s primary ongoing responsibility is managing the USPA’s investment portfolio. The Committee remains confident in the long-term viability of the USPA’s investment portfolio. The portfolio’s 10year return of 5.4%, which aligns with the investment policy benchmarks, is within the USPA’s conservative investment target of 5% to 7%. The Committee holds meetings during the year with Meketa Investment Group, the USPA’s investment advisors, to review current and future outlooks and to manage portfolio allocations and balances in accordance with the USPA’s investment policy. As part of overall investment management strategy, the Finance Committee balances and optimizes risks and returns to the entire organization on a global basis, including the continued health and growth of USPAGL, whose royalties are a primary source of funding to the USPA. On Dec. 31, 2022,

the portfolio balance under Meketa management carried a balance of $133,900,000 versus $205,400,000 the previous year. The $71,500,000 decline in the portfolio balance resulted from a 14.4% negative annual return of $30,000,000 plus $41,500,000 funding of the loan down payment plus closing costs for the $110,000,000 International Polo Club Palm Beach (IPC) property purchased in year 2022.

Annually, the Finance Committee participates in the USPA budgeting process by reviewing and evaluating the proposed annual budget prepared by the respective USPA divisions. The Committee endorses the final budget and presents it to the board for its approval at the Annual Board of Governors meeting. In November 2022, the board approved the 2023 USPA operating budget of $14,700,000 presented by the Finance Committee

for the United States Polo Association, Inc. (departments-Services, Media/ Communications and Corporate) and the USPA Umpires, LLC and USPA Polo Development, LLC.

During 2022, per the USPA Large Expenditures Policy, the Committee reviewed the financial aspects of properties considered for purchase. To determine if each proposed acquisition was financially viable, the Committee evaluated long-term operations for current and proposed USPA properties in relation to cash flow and investments held and managed by the USPA. The Committee provided its recommendations following procedures outlined in the expenditures policy. On June 7, 2022, the USPA purchased the former IPC property which is now known as the National Polo Center - Wellington.

National Polo Center - Wellington. ©Running Iron Creative

HANDICAP RATING BREAKDOWN

The three USPA handicap committees, outdoor, arena and women’s, reviewed handicaps for all USPA players per the USPA Handicap Policy. The Outdoor Handicap Committee held its meetings in March and September, the Women’s Handicap Committee held its meetings in March and October, and the Arena Handicap Committee held its meeting in October. Committees also approved handicaps of new and reinstated members throughout the course of the year on an as-needed basis.

During the annual review of the USPA Handicap Policy, only a few changes were established. First, the Arena Handicap Committee has decided to meet twice a year and utilize the handicap change lag the same way the other two commitees do. It was also decided that if a player’s outdoor handicap is raised and their existing arena handicap is lower than their new outdoor handicap, the arena handicap will automatically be equalized to the new outdoor handicap with a “T” until the player can be observed in the arena. This change is applicable to both mixed and women’s handicaps.

Marlan Farm’s Sierra Blevins during the USPA Women’s Arena Handicap at Twilight Polo Club (Middleburg, Virginia). ©Doug Stroud

Newly-elected High-Goal Committee Chairman Will Johnston began the year by appointing a new High-Goal Committee. Per the High-Goal Committee policy, there are two positions for high-goal team owners, and they were filled by Stephen Orthwein Jr. and Bill Ballhaus. The policy also calls for two positions to be held by high-goal players, Tomas Garcia del Rio and Pelon Stirling accepted these roles. The committee is also comprised of several individuals that represent other areas that affect high-goal polo: Tom Gose (Umpires, LLC), Mike Carney (Rules Committee), Chris Stratemann (Handicap Committee) and Jimmy Newman (High-Goal Club Manager).

The Committee met several times during the 2022 Gauntlet of Polo season. The group implemented an initiative to recognize the Best Playing Pony of each game of the U.S. Open Polo Championship. With the help of the Communications Division, each pony was awarded a prize and recognized on the uspolo. org website, as well as across USPA social media channels. The Committee also discussed ideas to attract more American players to compete in upperlevel tournaments. The Committee was a key force in reviewing and providing insight on the new “American Rule.” Additionally, the group provided feedback on the substitution rule revisions, especially as they related to injuries.

The Committee continued the practice from previous years and provided the teams in the U.S. Open Polo Championship quarterfinals with the opportunity to evaluate the umpires. Finally, the Committee agreed that the 2023 Gauntlet of Polo goal level and entry process will remain the same. The series will be played at the 18- to 22-goal level and teams will be allowed to enter each tournament individually or as a series. The Committee continues to operate as a liaison for high-goal teams to express their concerns with the game to the USPA and will continue upholding and building on this mission in 2023.

©David Lominska

SD Farms’ Pelon Stirling and La Indiana’s Mariano Aguerre fist bump during the Gauntlet of Polo. ©David Lominska

In 2022, the Horse Registry Committee completed horse catalogs for the Gauntlet of Polo, Pacific Coast Open and XII FIP World Polo Championship. In total, the catalogs included 1,291 entries. This past year’s dataset established three years of data (2020-2022) capturing players’ string information for top horses being played in the United States. In addition to the cataloging of horses, the Horse Registry Committee is exploring future opportunities in polo pony registration, including but not limited to: the promotion of American polo breeding operations; long-term development opportunities in the American Polo Pony industry; and recognizing equine achievements in the sport via a performancebased registration.

Keko Magrini’s Don Ercole Chelita. ©David Lominska

1,291 Total Entries in 2022

Ellerstina

Top Breeder

G-String Polo Ponies

Top American Breeder

Gauntlet of Polo

870 Horses Catalogued

77% Between 8-12 years old

85% Mares

16% American Thoroughbred

77% Argentine Polo Breeding

Silver Cup & Pacific Coast Open

248 Horses Catalogued

70% Between 8-12 years old

84% Mares

10% American Thoroughbred

88% Argentine Polo Breeding

XII FIP World Polo Championship

173 Horses Catalogued

71% Between 8-12 years old

71% Mares

11% Thoroughbred

86% Polo Bred

INTERNATIONAL COMMITTEE

In 2022, the International Committee focused on one premier event: the XII FIP World Polo Championship. The committee began preparing for this historic event when the USPA board of governors approved the budget and bidding process in 2019. The USPA was then awarded the event at the Federation of International Polo (FIP) General Assembly. Originally slated to be played at the Empire Polo Club (Indio, California) in 2021, COVID-19 forced postponement and relocation to Wellington, Florida, in 2022. Both the USPA and USPA Global Licensing met consistently leading up to the event to ensure that everything was planned meticulously.

The tournament format allowed for eight teams. Defending champion Argentina and the host country automatically secured spots. Per FIP rules, countries are divided into zones across the globe and each zone hosted a qualifier with the winner advancing to the 10- to 14-goal championship. Zone qualifiers began early in 2022, with Uruguay winning the first contest in Zone B, Mexico defeating Guatemala in Zone A, both Spain and Italy qualifying out of the large European Zone C, Pakistan besting India in the Zone E qualifier held in South Africa, and finally, Australia edging out New Zealand in Zone D.

In addition to hosting the event, the International Committee focused on the USA team selection and training. 35 players from around the country tried out for a spot by competing in 14-goal tournaments at Port Mayaca Polo Club (Okeechobee, Florida) in

early 2022. The short-listed players were then sent to play and train in Argentina with coach Julio Arellano. Those players came back to the United States in early October to leg up the J5 Equestrian horses that would be used for the event. The final starting team selected included Jake Klentner, Agustin Arellano, Nico Escobar and Lucas Escobar. Hope Arellano, Nico Diaz Alberdi and Joaquin Avendano were designated as alternates.

The International Committee worked closely with J5 Equestrian to secure 176 top-quality horses to be played by the teams. Adam Snow was appointed as the tournament Horse Master, tasked with evaluating and rating each of the horses. Before the draw, the horses were divided into eight strings of 22. Snow worked diligently in the month leading up to the tournament to complete the job and ensure every element surrounding the equine athletes was perfectly prepared.

The games were played at both Valiente Polo Farm and the newlyacquired National Polo Center –Wellington. The competition was fierce throughout the 10 days and the USPA relied on FIP officials to manage the tournament and ensure all tournament conditions were followed. After preliminary play, four teams fought their way into the semifinals. USA faced off against Argentina and Uruguay played Spain. After a disciplinary issue, the USA team substituted Hope Arellano in the semifinal against Argentina. Hope Arellano’s addition made history, as her participation identified her as the first woman to compete for the USA in an FIP World Polo Championship.

Both semifinal matches were fueled with passion and unwavering determination. USA edged out tournament favorite Argentina with

USA 250

Americans rated 2- to 5-goals

35

Players selected to tryout

7

Players selected to represent USA on the international stage

USA TEAM COACH:

Julio Arellano

ASSISTANT COACH:

Jesse Bray

2-GOALERS

Jake Klentner

Hope Arellano

3-GOALERS

Agustin Arellano

Joaquin Avendaño

4-GOALERS

Lucas Escobar

5-GOALERS

Nico Escobar

Nico Diaz Alberdi

a spectacular overtime goal scored off the mallet of Nico Escobar. Spain defeated formidable contenders Uruguay 10.5-7, leaving USA to battle Spain on U.S. Polo Assn. Field One at NPC for the championship.

The final took place on Sunday, November 6, and it was nothing short of incredible. USA and Spain were both fully charged and gave their all in front of a sold-out stadium of loyal fans from both countries. USA held the lead through the fourth chukker before Spain tied the score in the fifth and eventually forced overtime. An amazing penalty shot from Spain secured the gold medal and Spain’s first ever championship title. The USA team was awarded the silver medal, marking their second silver medal finish in the past three FIP World Polo Championships. The International Committee felt that the overall event was a true success, featuring top

horses, first-class facilities, and an exceptional performance from a young USA team.

In addition to the actual event, the International Committee worked diligently to offer a variety of activities to the visiting teams on their off-days, such as tennis, golf, a masquerade party, airboat rides and much more. Paired with gameplay, the event was perfectly balanced between fierce competition and genuine camaraderie amongst the eight teams.

Entering 2023, the International Committee has planned more events, including the Bryan Morrison Trophy, the historic Westchester Cup and other unique opportunities. The committee hopes to build on the success of FIP and keep international polo competition at the forefront of the Association.

USA’s Lucas Escobar on a breakaway during the XII FIP World Polo Championship final. ©David Lominska

8 Teams 10 Days

16 Total Games 69 Chukkers

J5 Equestrian was the sole horse provider for the XII FIP World Polo Championship supplying 176 top quality horses to the competing teams divided into 8 strings of 22 horses each.

©Chrissy Brahney

©David Lominska

In 2022, FIP history was made

Spain won their first FIP title

Hope Arellano was the first woman to play for the USA in an FIP World Polo Championship

USA took home their second silver medal finish in the last three FIP World Polo Championships

USA worked tirelessly in a physically and mentally exhausting bracket match to edge out Uruguay 7.5-7 in order to qualify for the semifinal round.

Most Valuable Player Pelayo Berazadi Rózpide celebrates following his golden goal.

FIP Tournament Scores

©David Lominska

Team USA: Assistant Coach Jesse Bray, Joaquin Avendaño, Agustin Arellano, Lucas Escobar, Nico Escobar, Jake Klentner, Team Coach Julio Arellano, Hope Arellano, Nico Diaz Alberdi. ©David Lominska

XII FEDERATION OF INTERNATIONAL POLO CHAMPIONSHIP: BRONZE MEDAL

XII FEDERATION OF INTERNATIONAL POLO CHAMPIONSHIP

Leading up to the tournament, all the horses were evaluated and ranked by FIP horse master Adam Snow.

Outdoor Rule 1.f (the American Rule) has been revised in numerous ways, most significantly to require that (1) a team sponsored by a non-playing sponsor must have at least two players who are both Registered Player Members, and (2) any substitute for a playing sponsor or a designated sponsor must be a Registered Player Member unless the team already has two Registered Player Members.

Outdoor Rule 2 has been revised to eliminate all injury exceptions to the requirement that no player shall play in any Event for more than one team. In parallel, Optional Tournament Condition XIII has been added, allowing Host Tournament Committees the flexibility to designate a handicap range (for example, 7-, 8-, 9-, and 10-goals) containing players who may be excepted from the new ban on injury substitutions from within the event.

Outdoor Rule 21 has been revised to (1) allow the Umpires to instruct a player (and only that player) to change horses if he or she says his or her

Professional Umpire Martin Pascual raises a yellow card during the Farmers & Merchants Bank Silver Cup. ©David Lominska

In 2022, the Rules Committee developed, and the Board of Governors approved, several significant rule and tournament condition changes. Prominent among them are changes designed to increase playing opportunities for Registered Player Members; promote equine welfare; strengthen the yellow and red card system; and allow for a “buzzer beater.”

horse is injured or distressed, even though the horse is not visibly injured or distressed; (2) explicitly allow the Umpires to use verbal cues to inform players of potential rule violations; and (3) allow the Umpires to call for a one-minute courtesy horse changes when heat or humidity is extreme.

Outdoor Rule 28.b has been revised to clarify that a player may not recklessly strike a ball during play in such a way that it may cause injury to another player, his or her or another player’s mount, a spectator, an official, or damage property. The new rule states that a player will be deemed to have recklessly stricken the ball into another player or that player’s mount if the player in possession of the ball either stops or reduces his or her speed to a slow canter or walk and then hits the ball into the defending player or his or her mount, provided that the defending player is not in the hitter’s right of way and is marking the hitter by being within two horse lengths of the hitter. On the other hand, a defender in the hitter’s right of way may be

penalized for putting himself or herself and his or her mount in a dangerous position to block the hitter’s shot.

Outdoor Rule 33 has been revised to state that the issuance of a red card will result in suspension for the remainder of the game, with no substitute allowed for the next four minutes of play, rather than two minutes.

Outdoor Rule 33.b(5) has been revised to add a regime for punishment of players who repeatedly receive yellow cards by suspending them for a game if they accumulate specified numbers of yellow cards, both quarterly and annually.

Optional Tournament Condition

XIV has been added, allowing Host Tournament Committees to use an alternative version of Outdoor Rule 14.b under which a ball hit prior to the second bell or horn, and prior to the Umpires’ whistle(s) officially ending the period, may count as a goal if it is not touched by an opponent or a teammate of the player hitting the ball and it rolls or flies between the goal

posts (a “Buzzer-Beater”).

The Arena Rules Subcommittee of the Rules Committee revamped certain penalty procedures and expanded the continuous play procedures in its ongoing effort to make the Arena Rules more explicit for the benefit of players, spectators and Umpires alike.

Through its representatives at International Rules meetings in England and in Argentina, the Rules Committee continued to collaborate with the Hurlingham Polo Association (HPA) and the Argentine Association of Polo (AAP) in a cooperative effort to improve and standardize the rules of polo, while keeping in mind that the USPA’s main focus is and should be on polo in America; that American polo has its own unique history and traditions; and that the vast majority of USPA members will continue to play and compete exclusively in America under the USPA Outdoor and Arena Rules.

Rules Committee Chair Thomas Gose presents at the USPA Fall Committee and Board of Governors Meetings.

The Safety Committee discussed a number of topics throughout the year in relation to polo safety. It was decided that an official Inclement Weather Policy be created for use by umpires and club managers to help determine whether or not the weather is creating an unsafe environment for players and horses. The Committee will be reviewing the policies of other equestrian and non-equestrian sports to create a policy specific to polo.

process allowing a player to return to play after sustaining a head injury. The Committee will review the guidelines provided by the American Academy of Neurology as well as consult the policies used within other sports. It was also suggested that the USPA require an EMT to be present at all USPA Events.

A connection was reignited between the USPA and the Virginia Tech Helmet Laboratory. Virginia Tech is currently conducting an extensive study regarding equestrian helmets and falls that occur in equestrian sports. The USPA will fund an initial study, which will evaluate the ability of various polo helmets to reduce the rotational acceleration during a fall, a factor that polo helmet testing methods do not account for currently. The study will

A rained out U.S. Open Polo Championship match. ©David Lominska

compare the performance of thirteen different polo helmet models that are currently on the market, including both NOCSAE-certified and other polo helmets. This study is intended to give the USPA and its members updated helmet safety information in a short time frame. The USPA Safety Committee is committed to its mission and looks forward to sharing the study’s results with the USPA membership as they become available.

Florida storm brewing during a U.S. Open Women’s Polo Championship match held at Valiente. ©David Lominska

NOCSAE helmets are designated with a small rectangular sticker on the back. ©David Lominska

NATIONAL TOURNAMENTS

Throughout 2022, there was an increased demand and level of competition for USPA tournaments, with 414 USPA tournaments awarded. The Tournament Committee focused on making timely decisions to recommend awarding National Events responsibly through careful consideration and deliberation. In an effort to preserve the history and tradition of the sport of polo and the most prestigious tournaments the USPA has to offer, an emphasis on tracking the success of National Events has helped the Committee make educated decisions.

The Committee met in April and October of 2022 to carefully discuss the awarding of 2023 national and sanctioned tournaments. USPA National Events are the most prestigious tournaments in the United States, and in order for clubs to be considered as a host site, the club must apply a year in advance. In April, 45 national and sanctioned event applications were considered by the Committee for 2022 and recommended to the board of governors for approval.

The Tournament Committee and the board of governors also approved revisions to the Tournament Support Program (TSP), Prize Money Matching

TOURNAMENT NAME

U.S. Open Polo Championship ®

USPA Gold Cup ®

C.V. Whitney Cup ®

U.S. Open Women’s Polo Championship ®

Butler Handicap ®

Monty Waterbury ®

North American Cup ®

National Twenty Goal ®

U.S. Open Women’s Handicap ®

Silver Cup ®

USPA America Cup ®

USPA Women’s Arena Open ®

Eastern Challenge ®

Western Challenge

Continental Cup™

Heritage Cup™

United States Arena Handicap ®

U.S. Open Arena Polo Championship ®

Regional Classic-Southwestern

Regional Classic-Southeastern

National Outdoor Commander-In-Chief Cup

Rossmore Cup

H. Ben Taub Memorial

Chairman’s Cup

National Inter-Circuit Championship

USPA Women’s Arena Handicap ®

National Arena Delegate’s Cup

National Eight Goal

Regional President’s Cup

Regional President’s Cup

Association Cup

National President’s Cup

Regional President’s Cup

Regional President’s Cup

Regional President’s Cup

Delegate’s Cup

National Sherman Memorial

National Arena Commander-In-Chief Cup

Allied Services Cup

National Youth Tournament Series Girls’ Championship®

National Youth Tournament Series Championship®

National Amateur Cup

National Arena Amateur Cup

National Arena Challenge Cup

HOST CLUB

THE FOLLOWING IS A LIST OF TOURNAMENTS RECOMMENDED BY THE COMMITTEE, APPROVED BY THE BOARD AND PLAYED IN 2021.

CITY/STATE GOAL LEVEL # OF TEAMS FINAL GAME

414 Tournaments Awarded

97 Arena 317 Outdoor

With the support of USPA tournament programs the Committee has seen a positive increase in the number of tournaments played, teams entered per tournament, players participating in USPA tournaments, host clubs awarded tournaments, and an overall improvement in the quality of tournaments. In 2022, 44 National Tournaments were played with an average of 5.5 teams entered per tournament.

(+20%)

55 Women’s Tournaments

31 Military Tournaments

(+111%)

19 12- to 16-goal Tournaments

Program (PMMP), Bridge to High-Goal Initiative (B2HG) and the Legacy Polo Series. These programs have been instrumental in the success of USPA polo played throughout the year and have supported more tournaments than ever before in 2022. With umpire benefits provided through B2HG, the Tournament Committee saw a 111% increase in the number of USPA tournaments awarded between the 12- and 16-goal level. TSP, which was created to help Member Clubs host USPA Events when the United States was emerging from the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, continues to be the most popular tournament program. In 2022, the USPA expanded TSP benefits to support more tournaments and clubs, and award more prize money than ever

Along with the improvement to current USPA programs the Tournament Committee and Board of Governors also approved the inaugural Florida Circuit 16-Goal Super Series to begin in 2023. The Series will be played across multiple regional clubs, with the Championship semifinals and final played at the National Polo Center-Wellington (NPC). The four tournaments that comprise the series will include the Joe Barry Memorial, Ylvisaker Cup, Iglehart Cup and

Continental Cup. The four winning teams will qualify to participate in the Florida Circuit 16-Goal Super Series Championship to be played April 5-9, 2023. A true testament to collaboration between Florida clubs, there is a shared benefit in this new endeavor, allowing participants to compete at their home club while also having the opportunity to play in front of a large crowd at NPC. In April, the Tournament Committee proposed a similar concept for an 8-goal series to be played in 2023, which was also approved by the Board of Governors.

The Tournament Committee is looking forward to another successful year of growth in 2023. The Committee will continue to carefully review the placement of national tournaments, preserve their prestige, promote involvement from USPA Members and Member Clubs, and stimulate the growth of tournament play at all levels.

BenSoleimani.com’s Luckitas Criado Jr. on a run during the Silver Cup. ©David Lominska

Tournament Stimulus Program/Prize Money Matching Program

95% of clubsthat host USPA tournaments utilized TSP or PMMP and there was a 20% increase in the number of prize money tournaments.

113 Clubs Enrolled

240 Tournaments

$583K Prize Money Awarded

13 Bridge to High-Goal (B2HG) Tournaments

Whitehall/Brookshire team sponsor Bill Lane during the Regional Classic-Southwestern at Brookshire Polo Club. ©Bobby Gerry

H. Ben Taub Memorial Champions: BTA - Kelly Beal, Mason Wroe, Steve Krueger and Whistle Uys, presented by Kitch Taub. ©Kaylee Wroe

Marking another strong year of growth for women’s polo in the United States, the Women’s Committee saw a 20% increase in the number of USPA women’s tournaments awarded throughout the year compared to 2021. A total of 55 USPA women’s tournaments were awarded in 2022, many of which were eligible for funding from the Women’s Tournament Incentive Program (WIP) and the Tournament Support Program (TSP). Of the 55 Women’s tournaments awarded, 37 were awarded TSP support and nearly 100% qualified for WIP support, with an average of four teams entered per tournament. Notably, more USPA women’s tournaments were played at the 16goal level or above in 2022 than ever before!

Rancho Arroyo/Luna Polo’s Audry Persano greets the crowd after the USPA Women’s Arena Open at Orange County Polo Club in Silverado, California. ©Josh Kizziar

To improve the standard of women’s polo played throughout the United States, the Women’s Committee proposed several changes to elevate the level of competition. After careful deliberation, the Committee endorsed raising the goal level of the 2023 U.S. Open Women’s Polo Championship from 18-22 goals to 18-24 goals also including a subsidiary tournament for qualified eliminated teams to be played on the handicap, if enough teams participate.

Presented by Eastern Hay and Icon Source, benefiting Susan G. Komen and hosted by Port Mayaca Polo Club (Okeechobee, Florida) and the International Polo Club Palm Beach (Wellington, Florida), the 2022 U.S. Open Women’s Polo Championship attracted five competitive teams and some of the top-rated players in the world. For the first time in

the tournament’s history, $40,000 in prize money was awarded, with $30,000 presented to the winning team and $10,000 to the runner-up. In their fourth consecutive U.S. Open Women’s Polo Championship final, Hawaii Polo Life defeated Blue Water 8-3 to take home the victory in 2022.

Houston Polo Club (Houston, Texas) successfully hosted the 2022 U.S. Open Women’s Handicap played at the 16-20 goal level in conjunction with the 8-12 goal Southwestern Circuit Women’s Challenge. Combined, the two tournaments attracted 12 teams. Four teams entered to compete in the U.S. Open Women’s Handicap and QR Jets defeated BCI/Alliant 2-1 to secure the coveted title.

Orange County Polo Club (Silverado, California) successfully hosted the 2022 USPA Women’s Arena Open on

the West Coast for the first time. OC Polo defeated Rancho Arroyo/Luna Polo 16-11 to capture the prestigious title. The $10,000 USPA Women’s Arena Handicap was played at Twilight Polo Club in Middleburg, Virginia. Marlan Farm defeated Five String Farm 17-11 to take home the win.

Known for her unwavering dedication to the sport of polo, Robin Sanchez was named the 2021 Louise Hitchcock Woman of the Year, an annual award presented to an individual who goes above and beyond to support women’s polo for the greater good, demonstrating a significant level of involvement and leadership. Walking R Holdings’ Rich Roenisch commissioned a bronze trophy based on Louise Hitchcock for the USPA Woman of the Year award. The Committee will also be having individual-sized awards made to present to past winners of the award.

2022 U.S. Open Women’s Handicap Champions: QR Jets - Sarah Wiseman, KC Krueger, Lily Lequerica, Grace Mudra. ©Kaylee Wroe

The Communications Division focused on its core mission of promoting USPA tournaments and clubs through several different lines of coverage, including livestreaming, social media, digital and print articles, the e-newsletter “This Week in Polo” and the bi-monthly POLO Magazine. In 2022, uspolo.org attracted over 822,000 unique visitors, reflecting an 18% increase spearheaded by the creation of news, interest articles and tournament detail pages. A small, yet far-reaching collective, the division welcomed two new members this year, helping to create greater sustainability within the department. USPA Editor and Publisher Gwen Rizzo officially joined the team after 27 years in the role, helping to transition the magazine from Polo Player’s Edition back to POLO magazine by moving the process in-house and redesigning the publication. Communications Coordinator Madelyn Blum, an Intercollegiate/Interscholastic alumna, joined as well, helping to disperse the workload and take on a large number of the writing assignments.

XII FIP World Polo Championship Promotion

Throughout 2022, a large effort and number of resources were dedicated to promoting the XII FIP World Polo Championship, which took place in October and November. Early in the

year, several articles, press releases and social media blasts began generating buzz for the global event. The department worked diligently to create on-site branding and signage materials in preparation to host the spectacle. In June, the USPA

acquired the National Polo Center - Wellington, the host site of the international contest. The department initiated paid social media and advertising, generating more reach and impressions through tactful marketing. There was also greater emphasis on graphic design, that ultimately produced some of the most enticing and eye-catching graphics the division has created to date. Thorough and detailed coverage resulted in an outstanding increase in social media reach and engagement. The number of accounts reached increased by 1,342% on the USPA’s Instagram account in October, and the number of total accounts engaged increasing by 1,008%. The department was able to capitalize on the FIP World Polo Championship to keep both members and polo fans well informed and grow the reach and following of the USPA’s social media presence.

The Division worked with video production company Running Iron Creative to create a four-part docuseries detailing event preparation, player stories and intriguing background information on the horses that made it all possible. Titled “The Sport of Horses,” filming took place throughout the year leading up to the event as well as throughout the duration of the tournament. The first episode was released on December 23, 2022. All episodes are now streaming exclusively on the USPA’s YouTube channel. The series will also begin running on ESPN in January 2023 and is slated to be broadcast on BEIN Sports in July of 2023.

USPOLO.ORG

Proposed in 2021, one of the division’s primary initiatives involved redesigning uspolo.org. Working alongside SunnyByte, USPA website developers, a new homepage was created that focused on highlighting the most important

tournaments and news in a visually appealing format. A video sizzle reel now draws prospective players and spectators to the homepage, encompassing the thrill of the sport in a 30-second clip. The new design focuses on upcoming tournaments with an emphasis on match ticket sales.

Another highly anticipated website development included the video page that will host livestreamed and on-demand games in 2023. Since livestreaming will transition back to the USPA Polo Network, thanks to the help of USPA partner International Polo Academy, games will be available free of charge on the website and across USPA social media channels, including YouTube, Facebook, Twitter and Twitch.

The division looks forward to continuing to improve and advance uspolo.org in 2023 as well as unveil the reconstructed website.

USPOLO.ORG (+18%)

822K Unique Website Visitors

Top Five Website Pages: Tournaments Search

Gauntlet of Polo Learn to Play

Player Search

349 Articles Created 128 Clubs Covered In Articles

Livestreaming

A case study was led early in the year to better understand livestream viewership behaviors and patterns. Taking all findings into account, the Communications Division, with the support of the Executive Committee and USPA board, determined there would be a significant decrease in the number of games covered in 2023. The decrease in quantity will allow the USPA to focus on improving the quality of the games offered. In 2022, 170 games were livestreamed. Great improvements were made to elevate the livestream experience by providing announcer scripts for each livestreamed game, ensuring relevant history and tournament information would be shared with viewers.

Livestreaming will therefore move back to the USPA Polo Network in 2023 and the number of livestreamed games is expected to be between 60 and 70. Quality improvements that will be available as a result of these structural changes include: real-time graphics and stats, player interviews, horse information and a dedicated coordinating producer.

Most Popular Reel

7.8M Views 146K Likes

FIP Promotion

1,146 Media Outlets Covering The Event

562M Total Reach

Social Media

To provide more thorough content, the Communications Division welcomed a social media specialist, who worked part-time throughout the year to grow the USPA social media following and reach. The work was highlighted by Instagram Reels which spurred exponential growth. The most popular reel drew an astounding 7.8 million views and 146,000 likes. In 2023, the Communications Division will continue this work by hiring a fulltime social media coordinator.

Social media influencers, put on hold during the pandemic, were an integral part of the summer and fall social media schedule. A creative way to introduce the sport to a new audience and create more overall awareness, the goal of influencer marketing serves to break down pre-conceived notions and showcase polo as a team sport unlike any other. Influencers are encouraged to highlight the powerful bond between the player and their horses, as well as the professionalism and inclusivity of polo. Five influencers were hired throughout the year, three of which were professional athletes, to spread awareness and tap into new demographics surrounding the largest and most prestigious USPA tournaments including the Silver Cup, Pacific Coast Open and XII FIP World Polo Championship.

The Communications Division also launched a new initiative to understand the social media patterns and behaviors of the 13- to 17-yearold age group. A small focus group participated in the first USPA Youth Social Media Insights Panel to discuss USPA social media content and initiatives. The division took these findings into account and began implementing more content identified by this age group.

USA’s Nico Escobar. ©Michelle Vantine Photography

Social Media

Total Followers Per Platform

Instagram

Twitter

5K YouTube

21.4M Impressions

723K Engagements

1M Impressions

5.2% Engagement Rate

5M Impressions

(+159%)

6.1% Engagement Rate

304K Engagements

(+142%)

3.4% Engagement Rate

64% of engagements and impressions were derived from reels. Reels had an average reach of 136K per post, while photo carousels had an average reach of 8K per post.

52K Engagements

5 Influencers hired with total following of 2.74M

Supporting the USA team, former Bengals wide receiver watched the XII FIP World Polo Championships and tried out the sport for himself with a lesson from Jesse Bray.

This Week In Polo

Weekly Email Blast to Members (+17%)

55% Open Rate

14% Click Rate

Email Marketing

Continuing to act as the primary bridge between the Association and the membership, the weekly member email “This Week in Polo” underwent a major redesign in 2022. The publication was expanded to include many new sections such as Association News, POLO Spotlight to highlight featured articles in forthcoming magazine publications, Trophy Stage to display recent USPA tournament winners across the country, Gauntlet of Polo, USPA Live to highlight livestreamed tournaments, and a monthly members survey to receive feedback and better tailor future newsletters to the interests of members.

The changes reinvigorated the publication, with the email open rate increasing to over 50%—a metric well above industry averages.

POLO Magazine

After 25 years as Polo Players’ Edition, POLO magazine reemerged in February 2022 with its original title and a fresh, new look. The redesign included updated fonts, higher-quality photos and a gold-embossed seal designating it as the official magazine of the USPA.

The magazine also transitioned to six bi-monthly publications in print and digital formats.

Gwen Rizzo joined the Communications Division full-time as USPA Editor and Publisher to better align the coverage and consistency of the publication with the division’s efforts. Rizzo was hired in 1995 by the magazine’s original founder and was promoted to editor and publisher of Polo Players’ Edition in 2004. Throughout the year, the communications team collaborated on in-depth story ideas,

for articles to complement more timely coverage found on other USPA platforms. Working with a professional graphic designer specializing in sports, several dynamic, colorful and visually pleasing covers were created. Each issue contained FIPrelated stories leading up to the world polo championship. Features included coverage of all the most prestigious high-goal, arena, women’s and youth polo events from coast to coast. In addition, USPA members and clubs were profiled, including

the USPA’s National Polo Center –Wellington, and a decade-by-decade recap covered the first 100 years of intercollegiate and interscholastic polo. Finally, the polo report section was retooled to include expanded coverage of national events along with a listing of circuit event winners.

National Polo CenterWellington (NPC)

In the process of the USPA’s acquisition of NPC, work was completed across several realms to ensure a smooth transition and begin growing the entity’s presence. A massive rebranding project was undertaken, working diligently to revamp the property to give it a new, reimagined feel. To achieve this, Gameplan Creative, a branding agency based in Chicago, Illinois, was hired. The agency will continue to help in redesigning NPC’s brand, including everything from on-site signage to social media assets.

On the digital side for NPC, efforts involved creating a website, overhauling the ticketing process and taking over NPC social media accounts. From the moment the USPA purchased NPC, work began on a revitalized website to offer information on the facility, upcoming tournaments and tickets. The temporary website launched in October, along with the ticketing process through a new software, Ticketsauce. In terms of social media, new methods were strategized to differentiate NPC’s presence from the USPA, and the division will continue using and building on those strategies in 2023.

The process of press credentials was undertaken in December. Applications were disseminated to media outlets, approved or denied and physical press passes distributed. The team will continue to manage this project in 2023.

Starting with the Polo Development Initiative (PDI), over $900,000 in grants were awarded to USPA member clubs, predominantly focused on capital improvements and infrastructure investment. From 2019-2021, PDI requests were predominantly focused on arena projects, but in 2022 the PDI Committee awarded many polo field project awards, including new field buildouts and irrigation projects.

The impact of four years [20192022] of PDI support focusing on infrastructure has been evident through increased utilization of the Tournament Support Program (TSP).

2022 was a banner year for the Intercollegiate/Interscholastic Committee, celebrating its 100th anniversary of I/I polo. Two highlights for 2022 were the broadcasting of the National Intercollegiate

Championship final on ESPN and the launch of the highly anticipated Division II collegiate nationals. The I/I community has a dedicated group of volunteers and staff tasked with laying the groundwork for I/I polo to continue well into the future.

Annually, the National Youth Tournament Series Championship is a highlight of Polo Development, and in 2022, the championship returned

Active Team USPA Member Mackenzie Weisz embraces his father after Pilot’s USPA Gold Cup victory. ©David Lominska

In 2022, the USPA Polo Development team continued to operate and improve upon programming that develops polo at the grassroots level, specifically youth polo and club development.

to the West Coast with Meghan and Memo Gracida hosting the NYTS Championship at La Herradura Polo Club (Santa Ynez, California). Their facility, hospitality, coaching and horsepower set a high bar for future NYTS Championship site locations. Outside of NYTS, 2022 saw continued strategic planning in the Junior Polo Committee.

In terms of Team USPA, the Committee has worked diligently to guide the program to a more focused approach to developing higher-rated American players. In 2022, Team USPA members and alumni had successful seasons and tournaments, especially in the Gauntlet of Polo, FIP World Polo Championships, and Argentina (specifically Hope Arellano making the Argentine Women’s Open final).

Robyn Leitner winding up for a full swing during the NYTS Qualifier at Aiken Polo Club (Aiken, South Carolina). ©Pam Gleason

The Club Development department of the USPA Polo Development, LLC is dedicated to supporting the development of the sport of polo at the grassroots level and beyond by identifying and sharing sustainable solutions, providing networking opportunities within the polo eco-system, and supporting clubs through the Polo Development Initiative (PDI).

$2.5M

2019-2022 PDI Program Total Infrastructure Investment $6.1M+ Estimated total project value injected into the sport of polo

Polo Development

Initiative

65 Awards

$13,800 Average Award

In 2022, the Polo Development Initiative continued its support of polo clubs across North America with reimbursable grants aimed predominantly at capital improvements and infrastructure investment at the club level. Over 65 applicants were supported in 2022, with the average award in the amount of $13,800. Of those, 59 infrastructure projects were supported injecting a total project value of $1,640,500 into the polo community. In 2022, the PDI process saw an increase in field-specific awarded projects, including polo field construction and improvements, electronic scoreboards, irrigation and polo field maintenance equipment.

Aside from the PDI program, the Club Development department continues to guide polo clubs, regional associations and circuits to aid in their development of the sport. Through PDI and club investment, USPA member clubs have significantly improved their facilities over the course of four years, which has supported the comprehensive utilization of other programs in the USPA, such as I/I, TSP and professional umpires.

Roseland Polo Club in Crozet, Virginia, was awarded a PDI grant for arena footing and irrigation. ©Jessica Downey

In 2022, the Intercollegiate/Interscholastic (I/I) program celebrated 100 years since the first intercollegiate championship in 1922, when Princeton University captured the inaugural victory. To kick off the year, the I/I program launched a commemorative logo, ran featured articles in POLO magazine highlighting the program’s history through the decades and geared up for the return of a full post-pandemic I/I tournament season. Team numbers are steadily increasing to pre-pandemic numbers, and 97 teams competed in 2022 with the launch of the Division I/Division II program at the intercollegiate level. The addition of a second division increased participation for lower seeded teams and boosted competition acrossthe country.

The 2022 Division I National Intercollegiate Championships were hosted by Virginia Polo Inc. (Charlottesville, Virginia). Coach Lou Lopez hoisted both the men’s and women’s trophies for the University of Virginia. The inaugural Division II National Intercollegiate Championships were hosted by Legends Polo Club (Kaufman, Texas) and was won by the University of Connecticut, coached by Anders Carlton, for the women, and Babson College, coached by Mark Tashjian, for the men.

The 2022 National Interscholastic Championships were hosted by Houston Polo Club (Houston, Texas), where the hometown team, Houston Polo Club, coached by Mark Prinsloo, took home the open trophy for the first time in the program’s history. Aiken Polo Club Coach Tiger Kneece raised

the girls’ trophy for the second year in a row with his team.

Heading into the 2022-2023 school year, the I/I Committee continued their work on the Summer Development Series, addressing issues and concerns and any potential rule changes for the upcoming season. Timeouts and substitutions were discussed, as well as adding an earlier time submittal for interscholastic scoresheets. In addition, the Committee added the USPA’s Youth Protection Policy to coaching requirements.

The Intercollegiate Player Clinic program was back in full swing in the fall of 2022 and 14 clinics were offered through reimbursement.

76 interscholastic students earned their polo varsity letter through the USPA’s Interscholastic Varsity Letter program. Student athletes can work

toward earning their varsity letter in polo by putting in 100 hours of riding and stick and balling, regular season game play, and tournament participation. Students earn a varsity patch, pin and bars for each eligible year, and are recognized on USPA media platforms as well as within their schools.

In its seventh year, the USPA Intercollegiate Polo Scholarship was awarded to six new student athletes, bringing the total number of recipients to 23 for the 20212022 academic year. Scholarship criteria are based on academics, participation and excellence in I/I polo. 2022 recipients include: Josie Dorsey (Texas A&M University), Marissa Carelli (University of California, Davis), Liliana Gonzalez (University of California, Davis), Lindsey Morris (Southern Methodist

1922 National Intercollegiate Champions: Princeton - Edgar H. Stabler, Alton P. Hall, William T. Fleming

University), Connelly Cashen (Colorado State University), and Alana Benz (University of Virginia). The award is auto-renewable for four years provided the students meet the eligibility requirements.

The I/I Start Up & Enhancement program, which offers funding and fundraising assistance, continues to be a very popular program. 14 intercollegiate teams received a funding grant to purchase new tack and equipment. New fundraising guidelines took effect in 2022, which included an increase in the funds available per team, and the addition of a two-tier model for the fundraising program that focuses on a more indepth proposal and a greater ROI.

The seventh edition of the Intercollegiate Club Catalog was published in 2022— a resource available digitally and in print that showcases each of the

INTERCOLLEGIATE/INTERSCHOLASTIC

34 USPA intercollegiate programs. Additionally, the Interscholastic Parent Handbook serves as a resource and introduction for families new to polo and can be customized to a club’s specifications.

launched the I/I Lifetime Achievement Award which was presented to Danny Scheraga, highlighting his efforts for years of service and dedication to the I/I program.

97 I/I Teams Competed in 30 Tournaments.

The I/I Service Award was presented to Sutter Buttes and University of California, Davis Coach Bonnie Magill. The award is presented to an individual who exemplifies the spirit of I/I polo. In 2022, the I/I program also

Equine Welfare continues to be at the forefront of the I/I program. All horse providers for I/I sanctioned events must submit a current health paper, documentation of any host site health requirements such as proof of vaccinations, and any legally required paperwork such as a proof of negative Coggins to the USPA prior to tournaments. An on-site licensed veterinarian also conducts a PreTournament Horse Inspection for each participating horse. The horses are checked for soundness and an appropriate body condition score.

The USPA’s Middle School Program, now in its ninth year, offered 10 tournaments across the country for

Lance Stefanakis celebrates a final goal to cement Houston Polo Club’s first Open National Interscholastic title. ©David Murrell

players from fifth to eighth grade. Clubs now have the option to host multiple middle school tournaments year-round.

The annual USPA I/I vs. SUPA Britain Intercollegiate Challenge Cup was put on hold due to travel constraints for both countries in 2021 and 2022, and will resume in 2023 in conjunction with the Bryan Morrison Trophy in England.

The ninth annual National I/I Alumni Tournament, the Feldman Cup, was hosted by Gardnertown Polo Club (Newburgh, New York) at the end of the year. Also on the alumni front, the I/I Program expanded I/I Alumni Networking Events to five in 2022 featuring major U.S. cities including Boston, Washington D.C., Denver, Los Angeles and Detroit. The events connect polo clubs with local I/I alumni.

To kick off the 2022-2023 I/I season, the I/I Program ran a “Win a Trip to FIP” competition for intercollegiate programs. Teams competed regionally in a variety of social media challenges for a chance to win a $500 gift card to an equine supply company of

UVA’s Maddie Grant hits a booming shot down the boards during the D1 Women’s National Intercollegiate Championship final. ©Oana Moore

2022 Division II Women’s National Intercollegiate Championship Winners: UCONN - Toni Moore, Madison Robicheau, Kylie Dalton, Rylyn Koger, Elizabeth Leudesdorff, Coach Anders Carlton. ©David Murrell

2022 Division II Men’s National Intercollegiate Championship Winners: Babson College - Coach Mark Tashjian, Leo Borja, Beto Aguilar, Austin Hamilton. ©David Murrell

INTERCOLLEGIATE/INTERSCHOLASTIC

Interscholastic Varsity Letters

their choice. Each of the regional winners then submitted an essay on the topic “What I/I Means to Us.”

A committee selected UC Davis as the winning team and the group traveled to Wellington, Florida, to watch the opening ceremony and USA versus Australia match of the FIP World Polo Championship. The team also attended a clinic hosted by the Palm City Polo Club (Boynton Beach, Florida).

U.S. Polo Assn. continued to support intercollegiate teams through the Brand Ambassador Program, which includes a monetary sponsorship and U.S. Polo Assn. branded apparel in exchange for authentic and brandrelated social media posting. In addition, Global Polo TV broadcast both of the intercollegiate national finals.

Overall, 2022 was an excellent year for I/I and the commitment to help grow the sport through the development of young players is driving positive results across the country.

23

2021/2022 Intercollegiate Scholarships

$92K Awarded in Intercollegiate Scholarships

The UVA women’s team congratulate Parker Pearce on their double championship titles. ©Oana Moore

University of Kentucky string at the National Intercollegiate Championships. ©Oana Moore

The Player Development Program includes the National Youth Tournament Series (NYTS), Young Player Opportunity (YPO) Grant program and Team USPA. Encompassing a range of abilities and ages, the three programs provide a variety of playing and training opportunities to young USPA members. The leaders of each program work with together throughout the year to identify new training and international playing opportunities, and discuss ways to improve the core programs of Player Development.

After restructuring the program in 2019, the Team USPA Committee has worked diligently to guide the program to a more focused approach of developing higher-rated American players. Setting a benchmark of a 5-goal handicap by age 22 and including only a smaller number of players in the program, the evaluation and goal-setting process has been at the forefront of the Committee’s work.

The Polo Development team looks forward to working closely with the polo community and various departments of the USPA to promote sustainable development of the sport.

Team USPA

The narrowed focus of Team USPA allows the program to support players during crucial years of development. The program has implemented a 12-player cap achieved through annual evaluations and review of each player’s progress toward their stated individual goals. Notable grant support this year included high-goal tournament opportunities in Argentina, including the Women’s Argentine Open. The Team USPA Committee meets regularly with members of the Junior, YPO and NYTS committees to discuss ways to maximize support for young players through the programs.

Young Player Opportunity Grant

The Young Player Opportunity Grant was established as a reimbursement program to provide funding support for youth players seeking a unique training or playing experience. The purpose of the program is to enhance the level of polo that is regularly available to the individual and encourage a thoughtful and creative plan toward helping a player improve his or her playing and horsemanship abilities. The YPO program supported high level training opportunities in the United States and Argentina.

National Youth Tournament Series Program

Players aged 19 and under competed at local tournaments hosted by USPA Member Clubs throughout the summer. Following the regional rotation, the NYTS National Championship took place on the West Coast. La Herradura Polo Club, located in sunny Santa Ynez Valley, California, hosted the four Open Division and four Girls’ Division teams with top-notch hospitality. The central location of the fields and barns gave players plenty of down-time to hang out and watch the other matches. A fun beach day excursion in Santa Barbara was also a success, allowing players to bond with one another.

10 Tournaments with 4+ Teams

55% Female Players

75 Teams Participated

277 Unique Players

357 Total Participants

Ever Ready’s Aurora Knox, Sophia DeAngelis and Francesca Felhaber. ©Kerri Kerley

Active Team USPA Member Timmy Dutta competed for Dutta Corp/Show+ in the Gauntlet of Polo. ©David Lominska

The primary role of USPA Umpires, LLC is to recruit, train and retain the very best umpires. Over the years, the responsibilities of officials have changed and will continue to change as the umpire program moves forward. With apt execution of field rules and technical procedures, safety for players and horses will always be paramount.

As the USPA’s representative at USPA Events and tournaments, umpires are also responsible for reporting equine welfare issues, enforcing the NOCSAE helmet requirement and managing penalties that extend beyond the end of a game. As the demand for experienced umpires increases each year, the program is relentlessly improving, in order to offer members highly trained and knowledgeable umpires.

Tournament Support Program (TSP)

When the country was hit with the pandemic in early 2020, the USPA sought to support and incentivize clubs and encourage play with USPA Events. The USPA created the Tournament Stimulus Program, offering clubs one free umpire, $2,500 in prize money, free trophies and waived tournament fees for two USPA Events per year. To be eligible, clubs were required to have at least four teams competing in the event. In

2022, the USPA renamed the program the Tournament Support Program. The revised TSP program included criteria for Member Clubs to receive benefits for a third tournament, if eligible. Umpires LLC officiated 199 USPA tournaments through the TSP Program in 2022.

Bridge to High Goal Initiative (B2HG)

New for 2022, the Bridge to High Goal Initiative was developed to support polo between 12 and 16 goals.

A level of polo which has been under supported in the United States. The plan of the program involved building a “bridge” from low goal to high goal that would support a safe environment for competition. Benefits of the B2HG program include three USPA Professional Umpires (two mounted and one referee) provided by the USPA at 50% of the regular cost to the club. Eligible clubs can receive up to $32,000 in support annually. Over $100,000 was credited to clubs hosting 11 tournaments in 2022.

©David Lominska

Professional Umpire Program

Throughout the year, clubs contract one or more umpires for their polo season through Umpires LLC. The demand for professional umpires continues to grow each year. In 2022, there were 30 professional umpires available to clubs. Umpires were sent to 121 USPA Member Clubs and professionally officiated 3,275 games.

Umpires LLC continuously seeks out potential full-time umpire candidates. In 2022, four new umpires were recruited for the professional umpire program. The umpire certification program was also reinstated after a two-year hiatus due to the pandemic. Arena and outdoor umpire clinics were conducted around the country.

All professional umpires attended an intensive two-day training camp from January 10-11 in Wellington, Florida. The detailed areas of focus include call consistency, rule comprehension, interpersonal communication, leadership, teamwork, game management, emotional intelligence and technology. Team building activities and guest speakers will round out the event. This is all geared toward enhancing the officials with an improved skill set in preparation for the 2023 season.

Technology plays an important role in the umpire program. All professional umpires wear a GoPro camera on their helmet. This tool assists Umpires LLC in resolving player disputes regarding calls as well as providing important feedback to both the umpires and the USPA on all game-related issues requiring video review and voice recording. Video capture and detailed statistical data services are provided to Umpires LLC by Dartfish. Dartfish analytics are generated from all

recorded games and in 2022, 512 games were recorded. Management utilizes this data to measure umpire competence and improve umpire accuracy on difficult calls.

The PoloSK app is in use as a scheduling tool for umpires and all USPA Member Clubs. The app texts the umpires with their assignment with all necessary game information and additionally keeps track of player’s yellow and red cards.

All professional umpires are members of the National Association of Sports Officials (NASO). The primary focus of NASO is to dispel unfair and malicious portrayals of referees and umpires and to shine a light on the strong character and positive accomplishments of the men and women who officiate sports. NASO brings together leaders and organizations throughout the world of athletics to discuss and analyze how to improve working conditions for officials. This summer, two professional umpires, the Committee Chair and a staff member attended the annual summit in Denver, Colorado.

Arena

The USPA Umpires, LLC provided umpire support at all levels of arena polo, including over 60 TSP tournaments, arena leagues (over 150 games) and all USPA national arena tournaments. Umpires LLC continues to strengthen and maintain 24 professional arena umpires.

Intercollegiate/ Interscholastic

USPA Umpires, LLC provided continued support to the I/I program. A full intercollegiate and interscholastic season resumed in 2022 coming out of the pandemic. Umpires LLC assisted with umpire support including regular season, preliminaries, regionals and

national finals. Additionally, Umpires LLC used Fall Fandango in Texas and Mustang Madness in California to identify new I/I umpires to put in the pipeline for the future.

Umpire Certification Program

The Umpires LLC rebooted the Umpire Certification program in 2022. With the pandemic taking a toll on clinics and recertification, the LLC along with the USPA put a new emphasis on recouping quality amateur umpires in the arena and on the grass. A series of Zoom calls were held during the summer, along with field and arena training with professional umpires across the country. 10 clinics were held at various clubs to cover all aspects of umpiring. Through these methods, the LLC has placed an emphasis on increasing the level of current certified umpires. Anyone interested in becoming a certified umpire must take the online test each year and be viewed by an umpire certifier or professional umpire.

©David Murrell

GLOBAL MOMENTUM

USPA Global Licensing Inc. (USPAGL)

remained strong, growing the U.S. Polo Assn. brand, and driving awareness of the sport of polo around the world through global broadcasts, events, digital, marketing and public relations initiatives. Through the end of 2022, U.S. Polo Assn. exceeded $2 billion in global retail sales for the first time ever while expanding its reach into more than 190 countries worldwide, with some 1,100 stores and 40 total brand sites in 17 languages, as well as 7 million social media followers.

USPAGL continues to promote the sport of polo through sponsorships, partnerships like ESPN, and charitable events. USPAGL also sponsored and promoted the XII Federation of International Polo (FIP) World Polo Championship and shared the importance of the USPA-owned National Polo Center - Wellington (NPC) to the authenticity of the brand around the world.

Sport

After nearly a year of planning, the FIP World Polo Championship, hosted by the USPA and U.S. Polo Assn., concluded in early November. The USA team won silver in the global competition after facing Spain in a thrilling sudden death overtime. Held at NPC, it was only the second time in the competition’s history that the FIP World Polo Championship was held in the United States. Palm Beach County was the ideal location for the global event, attracting South Florida’s

enthusiastic polo and equestrian community as well as passionate sports fans from around the world.

The 2022 tournament drew the attention of the global polo community to Wellington, Florida, “the winter equestrian capital of the world,” with the Opening Ceremony and USA versus Australia match, which were

broadcast on ESPN. As the result of a landmark deal that took place earlier in 2022 with Global Polo Entertainment, the entertainment and media subsidiary of USPA Global Licensing Inc. (USPAGL), the multi-faceted agreement with ESPN showcased many U.S. polo finals as well as the FIP World Polo Championship to a global audience.

USA’s Nico Escobar during the XII FIP World Polo Championship. ©Agustina Fonda

©Agustina Fonda

The partnership with ESPN expanded beyond FIP in 2022, airing a variety of top tournaments in the U.S. A deal has been signed for 2023, where ESPN will air seven of the top tournaments in the U.S. across the world’s top sport cable and streaming platform, for the first time in polo history. This is further testament to the growing interest in polo thanks to the marketing efforts of the USPAGL and U.S. Polo Assn. teams.

athletes with complete game attire, including performance team jerseys, white playing pants, polo shirts, caps and equipment gear bags, as well as a monetary donation. There was also a “Collegiate Content Contest,” where teams had the opportunity to win additional prizes for their creative social media posts. The collegiate season concluded with the one-hundredth anniversary of the National Intercollegiate Championship

consumer e-commerce websites throughout the world. USPAGL also played an instrumental role in expanding already established businesses, including technical and strategic guidance. In a year where many brands reported flat performance, U.S. Polo Assn. realized significant double-digit growth in online selling activities.

Other digital success stories include global brand site growth and digital intellectual property oversight. With nearly 40 websites in 17 languages, brand site traffic has seen tremendous scale, with over eight million views from nearly every country around the world. The brand was also recognized by several indexes as a top global performer, with acclaim again coming from Digital Commerce 360 as a top 500 global e-commerce brand, The Lead as a top 60 incumbent brand and Amazon Alexa Analytics via their global website popularity ranking.

Marketing

U.S. Polo Assn. once again outfitted competitive collegiate polo players through its nationwide Collegiate Partnership Program (CPP) for the 2022 Collegiate Polo Season. A total of 30 colleges signed up to participate, representing a record 48 collegiate teams, with 28 women’s teams and 20 men’s teams. The teams span from East Coast to West Coast and include small private and large public institutions as well as Ivy League and historically black colleges and universities. Through this program, U.S. Polo Assn. provided student-

(NIC), hosted at Virginia Polo Center (Charlottesville, Virginia) from April 4-9, 2022. The NIC aired live on Global Polo TV (GPTV), and the men’s and women’s finals aired on ESPN University for the first time ever. Efforts have already begun to launch the CPP again in 2023.

Digital and E-Commerce

During 2022, U.S. Polo Assn.’s digital story continued to materialize and evolve. USPAGL partnered with licensees launching direct to

Marketing continues to drive the business and expand brand awareness as global photo shoots provide sport-inspired and fashion content worldwide. Early in the year, the Fall/Winter 2022 global photo shoot took place in beautiful Lake Tahoe, chosen for the scenic coastline that provided a pristine backdrop against the autumn hues in U.S. Polo Assn.’s Fall/Winter 2022 Collection. 500 plus photos, print and digital marketing layouts, store window displays and videos were released to licensees to use globally in their respective markets for use across global brand marketing and social media platforms.

In addition, the 2022 polo player photo shoot took place in Wellington, Florida. The shoot featured professional

and college polo players, giving a fresh perspective on the message of authenticity. The photo and video content from the shoot enabled global licensees to showcase the brand’s connection to the sport within retail and advertising, setting U.S. Polo Assn. apart from competitors.

Product

USPA Pro, “built for players, by players,” was launched in 2022 with a limited selection of men’s and women’s apparel, as well as accessories, which will continue to build over time. With Pro Whites for women and men and a gear bag as initial offerings, the Pro Air Performance Hoodie has since been added to the one-of-a-kind collection. The FIP Collection of competing country t-shirts and silk scarves are also now available.

USPAGL was also proud to launch the brand’s first men’s fragrance, “USPA Since 1890,” at Duty Free in 2022. A photo and video shoot took place in Wellington, Florida, featuring three professional polo players. The collateral from this shoot supported TV broadcast airings, retail visuals and print advertisements, which have all driven awareness and sales for this exciting new product line.

USPA Life continues to progress with the evolution of the U.S. Polo Assn. brand using eco-processes and green innovations for specific product, while providing global licensees with updated messaging and materials needed to be consistent and successful in long-term sustainability initiatives. As part of this commitment, a partnership with Florida-based 4Ocean in 2022 achieved its goal with the removal of 60,000 pounds of trash from the world’s oceans. USPAGL is proud

to share that the partnership has since been extended and more than doubled, to pull 150,000 pounds of trash in 2023.

International and Store Expansion

Alongside global partners, U.S. Polo Assn. opened approximately 100 stores in 2022, with new stores in LATAM, Europe, China, India and the U.S. Highlights including the first store in São Paulo, Brazil’s Morumbi Mall, the Cheshire Oaks Designer Outlet store in London, England, and a 6,000 square foot store in Bergen Town

Center in Paramus, New Jersey, which is one of the largest stores globally. These stores are performing well, with some exceeding expectations.

Public Relations

USPAGL continued to build its diverse database of fashion, lifestyle and sport editors who helped tell the brand story and its authentic connection to the sport of polo. More than 35 press releases crossed the news wire by the close of 2022, with a variety of topics across the brand and the sport. Stories on the brand ran in Men’s Journal, Retail

& Leisure, Town & Country, Florida Trend, License Global, Grit Daily, Golf Central Magazine, New You, Harper’s Bazaar, Fashion Network, Chain Store Age, Authority Magazine and Polo & Lifestyle, to name a few. In addition, various U.S. Polo Assn. products were highlighted this year in Forbes, Reader’s Digest, Very Elle, New York Post and others. Florida Trend’s fourpage feature story highlighting the history, authenticity, and style of the classic sport inspired brand was a win for statewide business coverage.

With an eye-catching booth full of product and models walking the show and the palazzo, U.S. Polo Assn. made a huge splash in 2022, exhibiting at the largest menswear trade show in the world, Pitti Uomo, in Florence, Italy. While U.S. Polo Assn. has showcased product in Pitti for nearly 10 years, this was the first global PR activation for the brand, linked to the show. In total, earned media

coverage had a reach of nearly 500 million with 67 earned media stories across TV, print, digital and social, including the top-rated TV news channel in Italy and all major Italian sport media. Other coverage from the event included Fashion Network, Sportweek, Vanity Fair, NSS Sport and GQ, to name a few.

The Future

U.S. Polo Assn. has maintained its leadership position and grown in both revenue and brand awareness. U.S. Polo Assn. continues to look for avenues and partnerships to expand into new global markets and is actively working on exciting projects in new areas of business. Based on 2022’s record results, U.S. Polo Assn. remains optimistic about the business and goals, and plans to continue to build brand and sport awareness around the world.

Spain’s Pelayo Berazadi Rózpide prepares for a neckshot while USA’s Hope Arellano defends. ©David Lominska

Following the acquisition of the National Polo Center – Wellington (NPC), the USPA board of governors established the NPC Polo Operations, LLC as the entity responsible for overseeing all polo-related activities and procedures at the facility. Led by Chairman Charles Smith, the Polo Operations team worked diligently, with the LLC advisory board, meeting regularly to plan for the upcoming season. The Polo Operations board was committed to the pursuit of excellence in the sport of polo and incorporated this fundamental objective into every project and initiative.

NPC Polo Operations undertook several significant projects to improve the National Polo Center. Among these projects, one of the most substantial was the reinstallation of Field 2. Recognizing the importance of providing high-quality fields for the sport, the board contracted with H&J Contracting Inc. to collaborate with the NPC superintendent in designing and installing a premium polo field that would mirror the quality and experience of Field 1. With a commitment to excellence, every component of the field installation was carefully sourced to ensure the final product was of the highest possible caliber. The process was comprehensive, covering everything from selecting optimal grass sprigs to establishing the appropriate irrigation system and drainage solutions. The result is a field that will be an asset to the National Polo Center for years to come, providing players with a superior playing surface and spectators with an enhanced viewing experience.

Americans Peke Gonzalez (Iconica) and Jesse Bray (BTA) in the Joe Barry Memorial final. ©David Lominska

The field is expected to be fully operational later in 2023.

In close collaboration with the Tournament Committee, the Polo Operations advisory board recognized the need to create a welcoming and inclusive environment for local polo clubs to utilize the National Polo Center at all handicap levels. As part of this initiative, the concept of the Florida Circuit 8-Goal Super-Series and Florida Circuit 16-Goal SuperSeries was developed. Under this framework, neighboring polo clubs throughout the state were encouraged to host qualifying tournaments, with the winners advancing to the SuperSeries Championship at the end of the

season. The goal of this approach is to promote the sport of polo and create a sense of community among the local clubs. The tournament structure became an integral part of NPC’s inaugural polo calendar.

In addition to efforts in managing polo-related activities, Polo Ops also prioritized improving the overall appearance of the National Polo Center, beginning with a new fence, fresh landscaping and repaving of the entrance. A branding consultant was also engaged to conduct a comprehensive analysis of the site and suggest strategies to modernize and unify the look, which included the creation of a temporary NPC logo

and the implementation of cohesive signage. Additionally, Polo Ops also began a more sophisticated approach towards sponsor activations, with the aim of mirroring the Wimbledon concept. This involved developing a natural integration of sponsorships that enhances the overall polo experience.

The Polo Ops board maintains the commitment to excellence across all fronts and will continue to make modifications and improvements for the betterment of the USPA. The goal of the board is to ensure USPA and NPC members, USPA member clubs, spectators and players all feel they have a home at NPC.

©Global Polo Entertainment

NPC HOSPITALITY OPERATIONS,

At the end of the 2022 winter season, the USPA secured a permanent home for polo in South Florida with an agreement to purchase the core assets of the International Polo Club Palm Beach (IPC) in Wellington, Florida. The USPA acquired 161 acres including Fields one through five, the IPC grandstand, the Pavilion, the Mallet Grille, the Seventh Chukker, the USPA Clubhouse shop, the Outback Field, the Outback facility, and the IPC social club and its facilities, including a swimming pool, gym and tennis courts.

Renamed “The USPA National Polo Center –Wellington” (NPC), the club experienced a management transition and complete transformation, in this case, from the grass up. Working diligently over the summer and fall leading up to the 2023 season, The Polo Club at NPC experienced an allencompassing period of new beginnings.

After the USPA’s acquisition, renovations promptly began with much-needed kitchen upgrades at the Mallet Grille. At the forefront of the club, the kitchen and dining room were both in need of a facelift and remake in terms of function. The renovations took several months and were completed just prior to the 2023 season. The improved equipment allowed the culinary team to meet a higher standard of production and elevate the dishes being prepared and served to customers. The footprint of the Mallet Grille was altered to create a more intimate space for members along with a new service station area for wait and culinary staff. New design elements flanked the walls inside the restaurant as well as both outside areas. Overall, the ambiance was significantly improved by the redesign.

©Chrissy Brahney

Similarly, the tent area was enhanced to host larger and more compelling events forecasted for the winter season including wine dinners and the Speaker Series. The patio area was rebuilt providing members the opportunity to feel closer to the polo action. Lights were also added to the patio area permitting the option for night events. The pillars around the Mallet Grille pool were also refurbished to create a more welcoming walkway down the pool path and into the restaurant. While renovations are expected to continue for several years, the preliminary updates proved a great success with new and returning members and customers.

Following the 2021-2022 season, the club was comprised of 230 members under several different membership categories. Highlighting a 45%

increase, today, the club boasts 334 members and counting. The growth has not been solely based on incentivized membership offerings, but also the events and services the club provides have served as a catalyst for the boost. Anticipation surrounding upcoming events has spread throughout the community and reignited local passion for polo and the club and both membership and guest numbers rose in proportion to this enthusiasm.

In addition to physical updates, staffing experienced an influx of new energy. Scott Williams was hired as the new tennis instructor and brought with him a high caliber of clientele and the promise of a bright tennis future for the club. While the club works on expanding the tennis program, Williams has set the program up for success by organizing trips

to the Miami Open and multiple local tournaments around South Florida. The ability to compete with surrounding properties is important to members and an added incentive for new guests to join.

The promise of a brighter tomorrow is the theme for The Polo Club at NPC during the upcoming season. The staff worked to improve member experiences through membersonly events and an increase in wine dinners and Speaker Series events. At the heart of the club, member satisfaction has been the top-of-mind goal during the 2022 rebuild.

The USPA acquired 161 acres and the IPC social club and its facilities including a swimming pool, gym and tennis courts. ©LILA PHOTO

Clifton Yandell CENTRAL

CG CG

Joseph Muldoon EASTERN

CG CG

Leighton Jordan NORTHEASTERN

Stephen Orthwein Jr. FLORIDA

CG CG

Daniel Walker PACIFIC COAST

Michael Carney GREAT PLAINS

CG CG

Bill Kirton HAWAIIAN ISLANDS

CG CG

Sheryl Sick PACIFIC NORTHWEST

Billy Raab SOUTHEASTERN

CG

Jorge Vasquez MIDSTATES

Paul Jornayvaz SOUTHWESTERN

Stewart Armstrong CHAIRMAN

Charles Smith PRESIDENT

Steven Rudolph TREASURER

Chrys Beal SECRETARY

USPA Fall Committee and Board of Governors Meeting

Thomas Gose

Erica Gandomcar-Sachs

Cindy Halle

Dr. Michael Manno

Robert Orthwein

Peter Rizzo

Robin Sanchez

Julio Arellano

Haley Bryan

Liz Brayboy

Anthony Coppola

Cecelia Cochran

SERVICES

Mission Statement: Services division operates as the “hub” of all USPA functions; it maintains the administrative and operational infrastructure within which all divisions, LLCs, clubs and members participate. The services not provided by the LLCs for their operation are generally provided by Services in support of the LLCs and USPA.

Executive Director of USPA Services Division: Carlucho Arellano

Services Staff: Lindsay Greenway, Kaila Dowd, Beatriz Ferreira

ARENA COMMITTEE

Mission Statement: The United States Polo Association Arena Committee, as the successor of the Indoor Polo Association, is the primary advocate for arena polo in the United States. Through partners and programs, we develop and enhance national and circuit tournaments and arena leagues nationwide; expand the quantity and quality of national and international arena competition from the low goal to the high goal; and promote player and spectator awareness and engagement through promotion and special events to highlight arena polo as an exciting and competitive sport.

Committee Chair: Robin Sanchez

Staff: Bradley Biddle, Carlucho Arellano, Chris Green

Committee Members: Edward Armstrong, James Armstrong, Nicole Bankhead, David Brooks, Daniel Coleman, James Dodge, Dennis Geiler, Mark Gillespie, Tom Goodspeed, Karl Hilberg, Megan Judge, Louis Lopez Jr., Robert LynKee-Chow, Lisa Nousek, Daniel Scheraga, Mark Tashjian, Phil Van der Burgt, Jorge Vasquez, Charles Walke r

ARENA HANDICAP COMMITTEE

Mission Statement: The mission of the Arena Handicap Committee is to create the fairest competitive environment for the various arena polo formats of the Association by acting in accordance with the USPA Handicap Policy and with the highest standards of honesty and integrity in establishing an Arena Handicap in service to any Association Individual Member entitled to such Handicap.

Committee Chair: Tom Goodspeed

Staff: Lindsay Greenway, Carlucho Arellano, Chris Green

Circuit Arena Handicap Chairs: Joan-Carles Brugue (C), John Gobin (E), Carlucho Arellano (FL), Raeann Magill (GP), Ka’aina DeCoite (HI), James Armstrong (MS), Patrick Marinelli (NE), Sherry Sheldon-Gibson (PC), Brandon Alcott (PNW), David Brooks (SE), Robin Sanchez (SW)

At-Large Arena Handicappers: Bradley Biddle, Ali Davidge, Rodney Fragodt, Ronnie Hayes, Dale Schwetz, Toby Wayman

ARMED FORCES COMMITTEE

Mission Statement: The mission of the USPA Armed Forces Committee, in recognition of the great history and connection between the sport of polo and our Armed Forces, seeks to create opportunities to support and perpetuate the tie between the armed forces and the polo communities through the promotion of events supporting the military community and “The development of partnerships to increase military participation in the sport of polo.”

Committee Chair: Mark Gillespie

Staff: Carlucho Arellano

Committee Members: Stephen Cobb, Daniel Coleman, Dan Colhoun, Dean Daggett, Barbara Donahue, Jake Flournoy, Cody Goetz, Zach Grob, Allen Hoe, Joe Meyer, Pat Nesbitt, Marisa Tanner, Steve Walsh, Tony Yahyai, Madison Richardson, Andrea Logan, Todd Morelli, Mariah Smith, Nicholas Francoeur, Alexander Jenkins, Christopher Jones

AUDIT COMMITTEE

Mission Statement: The purpose and primary function of the USPA Audit Committee shall be to assist the Board of Governors of the USPA (the “Board”) in fulfilling its oversight responsibilities for (a) the integrity of the USPA’s financial statements, (b) the USPA’s compliance with any legal and regulatory requirements, (c) the independent auditor’s qualifications and independence and (d) the performance of the USPA’s internal audit function and that of the independent auditors. (From the Audit Committee Charter)

Five String Farm’s Marisa Bianchi and Rebellis Farm’s Anna Winslow-Palacios during the USPA Women’s Arena Open semifinals. ©Doug Stroud

DIVISIONS, COMMITTEES & LLCS

Committee Chair: Charles G. Stanislawski, M.B.T., C.P.A.

Staff: Susan Present, Chris Green

Committee Members: Habib Nasrullah, Tim Kelly

BOARD AND STAFF DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE

Mission Statement: The USPA Board and Staff Development Committee (BASDC) provides advice and support to the Association’s Board of Governors, Executive Committee and management, including the COO. The BASDC will offer recommendations or endorsements relating to the consistent use of generally accepted best corporate practices, policies and procedures. BASDC’s primary advisory purpose includes review Board approved HR policies and procedures; ongoing Staff professional development and succession; and Organizational Charts. When requested by Board or Staff leadership, the BASDC will provide feedback and recommendations regarding Board and Staff matters, questions, concerns and opportunities.

Committee Chair: Leighton Jordan

Staff: Bev Basist, Susan Present, Chris Green

Committee Members: Liz Brayboy, Zach Grob, Agapito Morgan, Peter Rizzo, Sheryl Sick, Daniel Walker

CLUB AND MEMBER ADMINISTRATION COMMITTEE

Mission Statement: The mission of the Club and Member Administration Committee is to review and evaluate all new club applications to ensure that the applying club complies with the current standards set forth in the Constitution and the policies approved by the Board of Governors. That these clubs are strong enough, have the growth potential and longevity to support the sport of polo and strengthen the Association by its membership and deserve the rights and privileges afforded to member clubs. It is also the committee’s duty to review and evaluate all existing clubs on an annual basis, to confirm their compliance with the existing rules and policies, in order to make recommendations to the Board of Governors on the status of member clubs in the Association.

Committee Chair: Steven Armour

Staff: Lindsay Greenway, Carlucho Arellano

Committee Members: Edward Armstrong, Karson Bizzell, David Brooks, Avery Chapman, Stephen Cobb, George Dill, Dennis Geiler, Robin Sanchez

Hillcroft’s Nachi Viana at Sarasota Polo Club. ©Julio Aguilar

U.S. Open Arena Polo Championship Trophy. ©Tony Gibson

CONSTITUTION COMMITTEE

Mission Statement: The mission of the Constitution Committee is to advise the USPA Chairman, Executive Committee, Board of Governors, Delegates and staff about all aspects of the USPA Constitution, By-Laws, Strategic Planning and Governance. The Committee shall prepare appropriate language to affect changes to the USPA Constitution and By-Laws as directed by the Board of Governors, other Committees or on its own initiative. The Committee shall prepare other resolutions, opinions and documentation as required to effect efficient and stable Governance.

Committee Chair: Paul Jornayvaz

Staff: Lindsey Ebersbach, Chris Green

Legal Advisor: Jodi Pellettiere Patt

Committee Members: Steven Armour, Avery Chapman, Bill Kirton, Charles Smith, Pamela Flanagan

DIVERSITY EQUITY AND INCLUSION COMMITTEE

Mission Statement: Diversity and Inclusion is critical to the USPA mission of promoting and developing the sport of polo. The mission of the USPA Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee is to explore and support initiatives within the polo community that promotes the sport of polo to a diverse group of individuals, provide opportunities for new polo experiences, and expand the perception of polo to one that invites the involvement of all.

Committee Chair: Dale Johnson

Staff: Justin Powers, Carlucho Arellano, Emily Dewey, Chris Green

Committee Members: Agustin Arellano, Alex Fu, Meghan Gracida, Zach Grob, Agapito Morgan, Chip McKenney

EQUINE WELFARE COMMITTEE

Mission Statement: The Equine Welfare Committee recognizes the value of the polo pony to the sport and advises the Association and its Membership on all aspects of the care and well-being of polo ponies. The Committee develops policies and procedures and executes programs to ensure that polo ponies are treated in accordance with humane guidelines and the highest standards of care.

Committee Chair: Mike Manno, DVM

Staff: Lindsay Greenway, Carlucho Arellano, Chris Green

Equine Awards: Mary Muldoon

Equine Welfare Publications: Aimee Waters

Distress Fund: Dawn Weber

Committee Members: Neil Agate, Avery Chapman, Mary Muldoon, Gwen Rizzo, Robin Sanchez, Mark Sedacca, Lydia Sudick, Aimee Waters, Dawn Weber

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

Committee Chairman: Stewart Armstrong

Committee Members: Chrys Beal, Anthony Coppola, Thomas Gose, Paul Jornayvaz, Stephen Orthwein Jr., Steven Rudolph, Charles Smith, Daniel Walker

FINANCE COMMITTEE

Mission Statement: The mission of the Finance Committee is to provide the USPA Chairman and Board of Governors direction for the fiscal responsibility of the USPA. This is achieved by a regular review of the organization’s financial statements along with the approval of the annual budget with submission to the full Board of Governors for approval, ensuring all are consistent with the strategic objectives and mission of the USPA. The Finance Committee also seeks to prudently manage organizational investments consistent with the duties outlined by the USPA’s Investor Policy and Guidelines.

Committee Chairman: Samuel Ramirez Jr.

Staff: Susan Present, Chris Green

Committee Members: Avery Chapman, Bill Kirton, Liz Brayboy, Jim DeAngelis, Jim Parr, Joe Muldoon, Jake Flournoy, Bob McMurtry, Steven Rudolph, Stewart Armstrong, Daniel Walker

Gauntlet of Polo Trophy. ©Global Polo Entertainment

HIGH-GOAL COMMITTEE

Mission Statement: To advise the Chairman and BOG and committee chairs on all aspects of high-goal polo in the U.S. To be the communication channel between the USPA and high-goal community including club managers, high-goal sponsors and high-goal professionals. To grow and promote the sport of polo at its highest level around the U.S.

Committee Chair: Will Johnston

Staff: Lindsey Ebersbach, Carlucho Arellano, Chris Green

Committee Members: Tomas Garcia del Rio, Pelon Stirling, Bill Ballhaus, Stephen Orthwein Jr., Jimmy Newman, Thomas Gose, Michael Carney, Chris Stratemann, Shannon Stilson

HORSE REGISTRY COMMITTEE

Mission Statement: TBA

Committee Chair: Stewart Armstrong

Staff: Justin Powers, Carlucho Arellano

Committee Members: Trey Schott, Anthony Coppola, Stephen Orthwein Jr.

INTERNATIONAL COMMITTEE

Mission Statement: The mission of the International Committee is to build and improve USPA membership by facilitating and promoting international polo events, including tournaments, umpire and player clinics to foster international fellowship and sportsmanship. The committee will co-operate with National Polo Associations, The Federation of International Polo, The Pan-American International Polo Foundation, The United States Olympic Committee and all other interested qualified groups or individuals in achieving its goals.

Committee Chair: Jeff Hall

Staff: Lindsey Ebersbach, Carlucho Arellano

Committee Members: Dr. Richard Caleel, Cecelia Cochran, Luis Escobar, Zach Grob, Steve Krueger, Mason Wroe

USPA Communications Manager Cristina Fernandez and Agustin Arellano embrace after USA qualified for the FIP World Polo Championship semifinals. ©David Lominska

U.S. Open Women’s Handicap Best Playing Pony Amateur, Theresa, played and owned by KC Krueger. ©Kaylee Wroe

NOMINATING COMMITTEE

Mission Statement: The Nominating Committee shall consist of seven Registered Players, five of who shall be members of the Board of Governors and four of who shall be Circuit Governors. This committee will meet annually to consider and nominate a slate of Officers. This slate of Officers is to be conveyed to the Secretary of the Association at least two weeks in advance of the Board of Governors meeting prior to the Annual Meeting.

Committee Chair: Paul Jornayvaz

Staff: Lindsey Ebersbach, Chris Green

Committee Members: Cecelia Cochran, Michael Carney, Stephen Orthwein Jr., Sheryl Sick, Denny Geiler, Jim DeAngelis

OUTDOOR HANDICAP COMMITTEE

Mission Statement: The mission of the Outdoor Handicap Committee is to create the fairest competitive environment for outdoor polo of the Association by acting in accordance with the USPA Handicap Policy and with the highest standards of honesty and integrity in establishing an Outdoor Handicap in service to any Association Individual Member entitled to such Handicap.

Committee Chair: Chris Stratemann

Staff: Lindsay Greenway, Carlucho Arellano, Chris Green

Circuit Outdoor Handicap Chairs: Peter Alworth (C), Toby Wayman (FL), Greg Summers (GP), Ka’aina DeCoite (HI), Bo Goodman (MS), James DeAngelis (NE), Graham Bray (PC), George Dill (PNW), Pelon Escapite (SE), Kelly Beal (SW)

At-Large Outdoor Handicappers: Tommy Biddle, Jeff Blake, Haley Bryan, Steve Dalton, Mariano Gonzalez, Fergus Gould, Ignacio Novillo Astrada, Dale Smicklas

RULES/RULES INTERPRETATION COMMITTEE

Mission Statement: The mission of the Rules Committee is to advise the USPA Chairman and Board of Governors about all aspects of the USPA Rules and Rules Interpretations.

Committee Chair: Thomas Gose

Staff: Lindsey Ebersbach, Carlucho Arellano, Chris Green

Committee Members: Stewart Armstrong, Jesse Bray, Michael Carney, Cecelia Cochran, Melanja Jones, Anna Winslow Palacios, Billy Raab, Jeffrey Scheraga, Trey Schott, Toby Wayman, Maureen Brennan, Haley Bryan, Stephen Orthwein Jr.

Arena Rules Subcommittee

Subcommittee Chair: Daniel Scheraga

Staff: Lindsey Ebersbach, Carlucho Arellano, Chris Green

Subcommittee Members: Bradley Biddle, Emily Dewey, David Eldredge, Amy Fraser, Tom Goodspeed, Robin Sanchez, William Crisp

Ex-Officio Members: Cindy Halle

©David Lominska

©Kaile Roos

SAFETY COMMITTEE

Mission Statement: The mission of the Safety Committee is to advise the USPA Chairman and Board of Governors of all safety aspects of polo through injury research, injury prevention and testing of protective gear, as well as communication of safety information and safety recommendations to polo players and polo officials.

Committee Chair: James A. Ulibarri, MD

Committee Vice-Chair: Dr. Thor Norregaard

Staff: Lindsay Greenway, Carlucho Arellano

Committee Members: Julio Arellano, Chrys Beal, Avery Chapman, Anthony Coppola, Robert Donahey, Robin Sanchez, Sherry Sheldon Gibson

STRATEGIC PLANNING COMMITTEE

Mission Statement: TBA

Committee Chair: Stewart Armstrong

Staff: Lindsey Ebersbach, Chris Green

Committee Members: Julio Arellano, Britt Baker, Liz Brayboy, Maureen Brennan, Michael Carney, David Cummings, Marc Ganzi, Thomas Gose, Stephen Orthwein Jr.

SUNDAY FIELD COMMITTEE

Committee Chair: Stewart Armstrong

Staff: Lindsey Ebersbach, Chris Green, Carlucho Arellano, Susan Present, Justin Powers

Committee Members: Anthony Coppola, Leighton Jordan, Stephen Orthwein Jr., Steven Rudolph, Charles Smith, Daniel Walker

TOURNAMENT COMMITTEE

Mission Statement: To promote the sport of polo in the United States through responsible consideration and recommendation for the approval of tournament matches and events. It is the Tournament Committee’s responsibility to preserve the history and tradition of the sport of polo; encourage interest in the sport of polo; elevate the standards of play; promote involvement and the overall vitality of the game; and stimulate the growth of tournament play at all levels by hosting USPA Sanctioned, Circuit and National tournaments at USPA member clubs. The Tournament Committee promotes an emphasis on sportsmanship, fairness and safety, while expanding the opportunities for professionals, amateurs, umpires, clubs, sponsors and spectators.

Committee Chair: Stephen Orthwein Jr.

Staff: Kaila Dowd, Carlucho Arellano, Chris Green

Committee Members: Steven Armour, Edward Armstrong, Stewart Armstrong, Chrys Beal, Graham Bray, Maureen Brennan, Michael Carney, Anthony Coppola, Erica Gandomcar-Sachs, Melanja Jones, Jennifer McLeavy, James Newman, Peter Poor, Charles Smith, Daniel Walker

WOMEN’S HANDICAP COMMITTEE

Mission Statement: The mission of the Women’s Handicap Committee is to create the fairest competitive environments for women’s polo of the Association by acting in accordance with the USPA Handicap Policy and with the highest standards of honesty and integrity in establishing a Women’s Outdoor and/or Women’s Arena Handicap in service to any female Association Individual Member entitled to such Handicap(s).

Committee Chair: Maureen Brennan

Staff: Lindsay Greenway, Beatriz Ferreira, Carlucho Arellano

Circuit Women’s Handicap Chairs: Megan West (C), Marisa Bianchi (E), Paige Boone (FL), Karson Bizzell (GP), Jess Cole (HI), Emmalyn Wheaton (MS), Amanda Poor (NE), Mia Bray (PC), Sheryl Sick (PNW), Sophie Grant (SE), KC Krueger (SW)

At-Large Women’s Handicappers: Hope Arellano, Cecelia Cochran, Dayelle Fargey, Pamela Flanagan, Posey Obrecht, Anna Winslow Palacios, Alyson Poor, Kylie Sheehan

WOMEN’S POLO COMMITTEE

Mission Statement: To encourage and increase the participation of women in all aspects of polo, to improve the standard of women’s polo throughout the USA and to facilitate the communication and networking of women in polo all over the world. We will encourage all polo players to never compromise their integrity or dignity on or off the field.

Committee Chair: Meghan Gracida

Staff: Kaila Dowd, Carlucho Arellano

Committee Members: Chrys Beal, Olivia Berube, Mia Bray, Cecelia Cochran, Lesley Ann Fong-Yee, Monica Ganley, Stormie Hale, Kirsten Ludwig, Erica Gandomcar-Sachs, Arshia Rios, Robin Sanchez, Joanne Smicklas, Gillian Young, Courtney Asdourian, Paige Beard, Dawn Jones, Pamela Flanagan

YOUNG PLAYERS COMMITTEE

Mission Statement: To generate a voice within the USPA to provide input on opportunities, initiatives, rules and policies in an effort to help provide fresh solutions to the challenges young players face in polo today.

Committee Chair: Todd Thurston

Staff: Justin Powers, Beatriz Ferreira

Committee Members: TBA

COMMUNICATIONS DIVISION

Executive Director: Matt Baran

Staff: Cristina Fernandez, Gwen Rizzo, Madelyn Blum, Jade Walter, Michael Foster

USPA GLOBAL LICENSING INC.

Chairman: Chip Campbell

Secretary/Treasurer: Sam Ramirez Jr.

President and CEO: J. Michael Prince

Voting Directors: Thomas Biddle Sr., George Dill, Jack Shelton Chuck Weaver, Charles Smith

Non-Voting Director: Chris Green

USPA POLO DEVELOPMENT, LLC

Mission Statement: Develop, institute and manage USPA programs that grow polo through education, development and assistance, thereby fortifying clubs and membership. This includes the development of players of all ages, coordinating youth tournaments, as well as the administration of PDI grants to clubs.

Executive Director: Justin Powers

Staff: Ali Davidge, Emily Dewey, Amy Fraser, Hayley Heatley, Pam Mudra

INTERCOLLEGIATE & INTERSCHOLASTIC COMMITTEE

Mission Statement: The mission of the Intercollegiate/ Interscholastic (I/I) Committee of the United States Polo Association (USPA) is to promote and grow the sport of polo by providing maximum exposure to the sport; recruiting collegiate and scholastic institutions; coordinating activities of member schools and players; providing for organized competition including sponsoring and administering regional and national tournaments with an emphasis on sportsmanship, fairness and safety; and by effectively utilizing funding for the benefit of I/I activities.

Committee Chair: Liz Brayboy

Staff: Amy Fraser, Emily Dewey, Ali Davidge

Leadership Group: Cindy Halle, Miranda Luna, Elizabeth Supik, Jenny Schwartz, Bonnie Magill

National Host Tournament Committee Members: Liz Brayboy, Cindy Halle, Miranda Luna, Daniel Scheraga, Chris Green, Mike VanDerwerken

Tournament & Regular Season Committee: Emma Blackwood, Cindy Halle, Ryan Saul, Daniel Scheraga, Robert Lyn-Kee-Chow, Elizabeth Supik, Steven Armour, Mike VanDerwerken

Program & Club Sustainability Committee: Liz Brayboy, Carolyn Stimmel, Emmalyn Wheaton, Kareem Rosser, Heather Perkins

Funding & Awards Committee: Miranda Luna, Tom Wisehart, Yaz Grotnik, Lezlie Hiner, Raeann Magill

Coaches’ Representatives: Bonnie Magill (Intercollegiate), Jenny Schwartz (Interscholastic)

UCONN’s Rylyn Koger. ©David Murrell

JUNIOR POLO COMMITTEE

Mission Statement: To cultivate and promote junior polo throughout the United States by providing the organizational structure to support junior polo training opportunities, tournaments and international competitions. The program will utilize USPA Certified Polo Instructors, experienced Team USPA members and other qualified mentors and opportunities.

Committee Chair: Tiger Kneece

Staff: Justin Powers

Committee Members: Chrys Beal, Carolyn Stimmel, Mason Wroe

POLO DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVE COMMITTEE

Mission Statement: The mission of the Polo Development Initiative (PDI) Committee is to implement the PDI program; a grant-based program allowing USPA Member Clubs to thoughtfully present applications that address specific, club-based, sustainability needs.

Committee Chair: Bob McMurtry

Staff: Pam Mudra, Justin Powers

Committee Members: David Brooks, Jim DeAngelis, Michael Carney, Robin Sanchez, Julio Arellano, Sheryl Sick

TEAM USPA COMMITTEE

Mission Statement: The mission of the Team USPA Committee is to improve the sport of polo in the United States by developing the talents/skills of young American players through mentored training and playing opportunities, ultimately leading to a pool of higher-rated American players.

Committee Chair: Mason Wroe

Staff: Justin Powers

Committee Members: Mariano Gonzalez, Steve Krueger, Stewart Armstrong, Stephen Orthwein Jr.

USPA SUNDAY FIELD LLC

Committee Chair: Stewart Armstrong

Staff: Lindsey Ebersbach, Chris Green, Carlucho Arellano, Susan Present, Justin Powers

Committee Members: Anthony Coppola, Leighton Jordan, Stephen Orthwein Jr., Steven Rudolph, Charles Smith, Daniel Walker

NPC POLO OPERATIONS, LLC

Committee Chair: Charles Smith

Staff: Carlucho Arellano, Chris Green, Lindsey Ebersbach, Justin Powers

Committee Members: Michael Carney, Cecelia Cochran, Stephen Orthwein Jr., Mason Wroe

NPC HOSPITALITY OPERATIONS, INC.

Chairman: Tim Gannon

Voting Directors: Chrys Beal, Craig Callen, Tony Coppola, John Klopp

Ex-Officio Non-Voting Directors: Susan Present, Chris Green

USPA UMPIRES, LLC

Mission Statement: The mission of the USPA Umpires, LLC, is to support all aspects of the umpire services and programs within the United States Polo Association. This includes the training and certification of all umpires, the interpretation of the rules, the education of the players regarding the rules and rules updates and the support of the USPA professional umpires. The LLC aspires to create a safe, rules driven environment in every club it touches, with the goals of achieving respect and treating all participants fairly.

Committee Chair: Michael Carney

Committee Members: Stewart Armstrong, Graham Bray, Thomas Gose, Cindy Halle, KC Krueger, Stephen Orthwein Jr., Billy Raab

Executive Director: Fergus Gould

Staff: Joe Henderson, Bradley Biddle, Maggie Mitchell, Jennifer Furlow, Deb Ferro

Spectators enjoying Sunday Polo on U.S. Polo Assn. Field One. © C hrissy Brahney

The Association has been organized and exists for the purposes of promoting the game of polo with an overarching goal of improving the sport, coordinating the activities of its Member Clubs and Registered Players, arranging, allocating, and supervising polo tournaments, competitions, and games and providing rules, handicaps, and conditions for those tournaments, competitions, and games, including the safety and welfare of participants and mounts.

Cara Kennedy. ©Kaylee Wroe

OPERATIONS

Chris Green – Chief Operating Officer & In-House Counsel

Lindsey Ebersbach – Director, Governance and Operations

SERVICES

Carlucho Arellano – Executive Director of Services

Lindsay Greenway – Membership and Handicap Director

Kaila Dowd – Tournament Manager

Beatriz Ferreira – Membership Office Administrator

COMMUNICATIONS

Matthew Baran – Executive Director of USPA Communications Division

Cristina Fernandez – Communications Manager

Gwen Rizzo – USPA Editor and Publisher

Madelyn Blum – Communications Coordinator

CORPORATE-FINANCE AND ADMINISTRATION

Susan Present, CPA, CGMA, CFE – Chief Financial Officer

Kelly Vanderwerff – Controller

Deanna Sullivan – Accounting Coordinator/IT Applications Support

Beverly Basist, SHRM-CP – HR Director/IT

Liliana Gopalakrishna – Assistant Controller

Barb Dostal – Administrative Assistant

POLO DEVELOPMENT LLC

Justin Powers – Executive Director of Polo Development LLC

Hayley Heatley – Player Development Program Manager

Pam Mudra – Polo Development Initiative Manager

INTERCOLLEGIATE/INTERSCHOLASTIC

Amy Fraser – Director of Intercollegiate/Interscholastic Polo

Emily Dewey - Intercollegiate/Interscholastic Tournament Manager

Ali Davidge - Intercollegiate/Interscholastic Program Coordinator

UMPIRES LLC

Fergus Gould - Executive Director of USPA Umpires LLC

Joe Henderson – Assistant Director of Umpires LLC

Bradley Biddle - Arena Umpire Director

Maggie Mitchell – Umpires Executive Administrator

Jennifer Furlow - Umpires Financial Analyst

Deb Ferro – Administrative Assistant

USPA GLOBAL LICENSING INC.

Chip Campbell – Chairman

J. Michael Prince – President and Chief Executive Officer

Shannon Stilson – Vice President of Sports Marketing

Marianne De La Torre – Marketing Partnerships Manager

Allison Annear – Media Productions Director

Bensoleimani.com produced a dynamic attack with at least two goals from all four players to claim the Rossmore Cup.

©Kaile Roos

THE NUMBERS | 2022

MEMBERSHIP POPULATION BY AGE

MALE VS. FEMALE MEMBERSHIP

$235.1M

$43,268,000 NPC-WELLINGTON: VALUE IN RELATED ASSETS, NET OF LOAN PAYABLE

Hawaii Polo Life’s Cecily Coors after scoring a goal in her first U.S. Women’s Open Polo Championship. ©David Lominska