The fact that women in polo in America is responsible for as much as 30% of the membership should account for something, but the USPA doesn’t seem to be in any hurry to act. There’s no talk of a potential Women’s US Open or USPA Women’s Gold Cup, in spite of the fact that such events might be able to entice feminine sponsors to enter the polo arena. (Has anyone noticed that our Marketing Director is a woman?)
Not only is there no major national field championship for post-collegiate women (women’s intercollegiate women’s championship debuted in 1976, the women’s interscholastic didn’t emerge until 1991), there’s been no movement on the arena front either.
As for international competition, there seems to be no possible mention of that possibility although there are a great many options available.
We have a High Goal Committee (which by definition can only represent the smallest percentage of players), an I/I Committee (which accommodates a relatively few, non-paying members), and a Women’s Ad Hoc Tournament Committee (which is a lame way of acknowledging their participation by not allowing them to establish any rules or tournaments of their own), yet there has been no effort to establish a tournament structure for the women members.
We have one female Circuit Governor (Theresa Mull, Great Plains Circuit) and no women in the wings to serve as an officer of he association, certainly no woman on the Executive Committee.
It was also pointed out that in Aiken’s recently played Silver Cup, four of the five teams entered were captained by women.
It appears that the only way the USPA will recognize that “you’ve come a long way” is if you’re smoking a Virginia Slim. On the other hand, is it possible that the women in polo are happy to assume a secondary role in all of this?
6 Comments
rd0000001103pm08, 12008vUTC11bUTCMon, 03 Nov 2008 21:19:30 +0000 11, 2007 at 08:46p11
“On the other hand, is it possible that the women in polo are happy to assume a secondary role in all of this?”
I know I’m personally not happy in that role, that’s for sure!
th0000001104am08, 22008vUTC11bUTCTue, 04 Nov 2008 05:43:10 +0000 11, 2007 at 08:46p11
“spits”
Interesting question based on the fact that the ONLY growth sector in the sport in our country today is in Womens Polo.
Sunny Hale is a personal friend of mine, and she just got done helping put together a tournament in Argentina that will be a part of the “WCT” tournament series that she has previously created.
They(women) may not be the best players in the world, however it would seem that those women that are considered to among the best in the world of their gender are pulling together and playing more and more tournament polo, and they are doing it across the globe because there seems to be a great deal of interest.
They also seem to be coordinating their efforts so that one day they may actually be able to play a womens Cup of the Americas, a womens Coronation Cup, or even a womens World Cup Challenge, all being part of the “WCT” series of events.
There are several women sponsors playing today that are not only running up and down the field watching 6 other people play, they are actually contributing, really contributing to the game.
My feelings are that its only the beginning.
The tournament in Argentina has corporate sponsorship as well the full acceptance and backing of the Argentine Polo Association.
So just who are they second fiddle to as we speak?
th0000001105am08, 32008vUTC11bUTCWed, 05 Nov 2008 04:44:11 +0000 11, 2007 at 08:46p11
Dale: I should have qualified my initial comment by saying that I have never felt like a “second fiddle” to any of the male players purely because of my gender. What I meant to convey was surprise (and perhaps naively so) at the fact that such a sentiment still exists (especially given all of the examples you listed).
th0000001105am08, 32008vUTC11bUTCWed, 05 Nov 2008 06:03:37 +0000 11, 2007 at 08:46p11
Jealousy will usually rear its ugly head spits!
Its a bitter pill to swallow for some, but like it or not there is growth the womens sector of the sport.
Nowhere else are we seeing that kind of growth in this country.
“tiger87″ can probably tell you that on the 30 teams that played in Aiken this fall, just how many women were involved, and its quite impressive.
Open minds, and anxiousness are necessary to take anything to another level. Its called thinking outside the box.
Those currently involved in womens polo must see a potentially marketable product, and I absolutely agree.
Marketable to me means an area that with proper promotion will equate to growth in number of players and therefore members.
While it may never be the kind of polo seen in the Argentine Open, it seems to be taking on a life of its own.
The sport of polo could easily be marketed and promoted thru more womens venues, and based on whats happening not only here but in Great Britain as well as Argentina, they are moving forward.
Maybe someday our association will recognize that they should support and promote womens polo much more aggressively.
Until then, they certainly seem to be headed in the right direction all on their own.
I wonder if anyone will recognize the potential here… I definately do.
th0000001106am08, 42008vUTC11bUTCThu, 06 Nov 2008 07:35:26 +0000 11, 2007 at 08:46p11
I agree, in the past 3 years I have witnessed, the increase in woman’s polo tournaments in Argentina, and it has been exponential . .
The quality of players and sponsors is rising, and the organization has been outstanding.
I predict these trends on an increase in: the number of women polo players; the number of countries where women play polo; the quality of women’s polo tournaments; the participating sponsors; the rise in their level of play will all continue in Argentina, the USA and world wide .
Next year , the following decades and for future generations.
Polo is the ONLY contact sport where women are expected to play as equals with men.
I hope to see the day when Women’s Polo is considered a separate Olympic sporting event. Even, as a seperate trial sporting candidate. !!!!
Just like:
Women’s hockey; Woman’s basketball; Woman’s soccer; Women’s volleyball; Women’s skiing and
Women’s water polo ……….. ? CURLING ?
Sunny cannot, and is not, “going it alone” in women’s polo. Think China?
Argentine Woman’s Polo Calender
September 21st – December 15th, 2008
“”WOW !!!
September 21st FEM Polo 4 Peace – San Diego Polo Club – Pilar
October 18th Abierto Femenino San Jorge – Hurlingham
October 21-24th La Aguada Women’s Polo – Open Door
October 30th – November 2nd – Jockey Club Rosario – Rosario
November 3rd – 7th – Ladies Polo Worlld – Jockey Club Buenos Aires
November 6th-10th Ladies Metejon Tournament – Canuelas
November 14th-21st International Ladies Estancia Don Manuel – Canuelas
November 27th-30th La Macarena International Ladies – Capilla del Senor
December 3rd- 5th FEM “Face 2 Face” Matches – San Diego Polo Club – Pilar
Plus another planned in Cordoba and the Myriam Heguy Tournament in mid December.
th0000001118am08, 22008vUTC11bUTCTue, 18 Nov 2008 05:52:25 +0000 11, 2007 at 08:46p11
I have played in “high-goal” women’s tournaments many, many times..in Jamaica we had 8 goals on each team several times! In California, we played the Woman’s Open in the Late 80’s through early 90’s when we often had every 2 to 3 goal woman player in the world travel out here to play. Great games, great polo and watched by everyone around. I think it’s great that Sun is pursuing the promotion of good polo amongst women. It has been a crime to see the level of women’s polo drop to an all-time low in CA. You cannot increase the level of women’s competitive polo if you do not have an Open Flight in any tournament. Yes, you might get your butt kicked by that one team that came in 4 goals better than yours, but you will play a great game..much better than the lousy 2-goal Top Flight they have capped it at. What is that about? Let the women play! We can do it..as to the woman that doesn’t get the inequities of playing on the field..they are there. If you are a very good player, you will be compared to the comparable men..and found lacking. Who cares? I’m retired from playing, but would love to promote the women players that are serious, competitive, hard-playing polo players. I agree with Dale..this is the area of polo that is growing and will continue to grow. The marketing possibilities are endless. Playboy once approached me and 7 other players about a traveling team..along with a semi-nude Calender. I thought it was brilliant and was IN. Unfortunately, the logistics fell through. Get daring gals, promoting yourselves is how you will get the publicity to encourage better sponsors and better tournaments.