Polo in Poland - Polo in Warsaw
Polo Tournaments & Clubs Poland
Poland is a full member of the Federation of International Polo (FIP) and is eligible to participate in all FIP programs. Polo in Poland is administered by the Polish Polo Society (PTP). PTP members include players and fans of the sport wishing to support its development in Poland. The president of the PTP is Robert Smoktunowicz. The World Polo Championship is held every three years.
The 2003 season was the first after September 1939 during which polo matches were regularly played in Poland. The FTP became a member of FIP on 17th September 2004 and received full member status in recognition of the achievements of the Polish polo community during previous seasons.
About Polo
Polo is a team sport played on horseback in which the objective is to score goals against an opposing team. Players score by driving a small white plastic or wooden ball into the opposing team's goal using a long-handled mallet.
The traditional sport of polo is played at speed on a large grass field up to 300 yards in length, and each polo team consists of four riders and their mounts. In arena polo, only three players are required per team and the game usually involves more maneuvering and shorter plays at lower speeds due to space limitations of the arena.
The modern game is played on horses - the term 'polo pony' is purely traditional. Players change horses between chukkers (game periods) due to the intensity and speed of the game. All rules are designed to protect the safety of the horse and player - including a rule that players cannot play left-handed. Polo is played professionally in only 16 countries and is not an Olympic sport.
The game first played in Persia (Iran) at dates given from the 5th century BC. Polo was at first a training game for cavalry units, usually the king's guard or other elite troops. To the warlike tribesmen, who played it with as many as 100 to a side, it was a miniature battle. In time polo became an Iranian national sport played extensively by the nobility. Women as well as men played the game.
The mounts used are called 'polo ponies', although the term pony is purely traditional and the mount is actually a full-sized horse. They range from 14.2 to 16 hands high at the withers (one hand equals four inches or 10.16 cm), and weigh between 900-1100 lbs. The polo pony is selected carefully for quick bursts of speed, stamina, agility and maneuverability. Temperament is critical; the horse must remain responsive under pressure and not become excited or difficult to control. Many are Thoroughbreds or Thoroughbred crosses. They are trained to be handled with one hand on the reins, and to be responsive to the rider's leg and weight cues for moving forward, turning and stopping. A well trained horse will carry his rider smoothly and swiftly to the ball and can account for 60 to 75 percent of the player's skill and net worth to his team.
Each team consists of four mounted players, which can be mixed teams of both men and women.
Each position assigned to a player has certain responsibilities:
- Number One is the most offense-oriented position on the field. The Number One position generally covers the opposing team's Number Four.
- Number Two has an important role in offense, either running through and scoring themselves, or passing to the Number One and getting in behind them. Defensively, they will cover the opposing team's Number Three, generally the other team's best player. Given the difficulty of this position, it is not uncommon for the best player on the team to play Number Two so long as another strong player is available to play Three.
- Number Three is the tactical leader and must be a long powerful hitter to feed balls to Number Two and Number One as well as maintaining a solid defense. The best player on the team is usually the Number Three player, usually wielding the highest handicap.
- Number Four is the primary defense player. They can move anywhere on the field, but they usually try to prevent scoring. The emphasis on defense by the Number Four allows the Number Three to attempt more offensive plays, since they know that they will be covered if they lose the ball.
Polo must be played right-handed.
Polo in Warsaw
Warsaw Polo Club is the first and only facility in Poland that was designed specifically for the game of Polo. It was built by Polo enthusiasts and currently consists of around 20 Polish and foreign regular Polo players.
Warsaw Polo Club is well-known within European Polo circles despite only being founded in 2007. Club players have played in polo tounaments all around the world and have achieved awards. In the past 4 years, Warsaw Polo Club contestants have taken part in tournaments in Vienna, Munich, Pinoff, Berlin, Villa Esesta (Italy), Argentina, Rio de Janeiro & Punta del Este (Uruguay).
Warsaw Polo Club is located at ul. Dzialkowa 27 Jaroszowa Wola. The primary contact at the club is Tomasz Tokarczyk - Tel: 0048 608 000 025.