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TA L K
arrival. My long corporate career provided me with plenty of practice
in engaging, motivating and inspiring individuals and teams to
achieve higher levels of self-development and performance.
A five-point leadership model that served me loyally in business
was exactly what I applied to instructing my new polo recruits,
with noteworthy success. Here is a break down of the five stages:
1 . C L E A R LY D E F I N E T H E P O I N T O F A R R I V A L
The ‘promise’ here is that after instruction the student will
be assessed and, if successful, officially handicapped and
celebrated as a ‘polo player’ with a set of unique new skills
and the possibility to explore a new lifestyle. Visualising
a point of arrival provides tremendous motivation.
2 . D E S I G N T H E R O A D M A P, W I T H M I L E S T O N E S
L E A D I N G T O T H E E N D G O A L
A set of 16 events, comprising 21 hours of instruction in riding
skills, stick work, hooking and riding off, rules and tactics, and
instructional chukkas, culminating in a rules test and handicapping.
The model can also be extended to include other aspects, such
as stable management.
3 . E Q U I P S T U D E N T S W I T H T H E R I G H T T O O L S
A N D K N O W L E D G E T O A C H I E V E T H E G O A L S
This relies on the quality and depth of instruction. For the plan
to work, the instructor’s highest commitment to the cause is
fundamental. It is about genuinely working to help each student
succeed by explaining ‘why’ at every step and by demonstrating
and allowing practice. Students should be encouraged to watch
videos and practise on a wooden horse as much as possible.
4 . C O N T I N U A L LY A S S E S S , R E G U L A R LY
F E E D B A C K , A N D B E W I L L I N G T O A D J U S T
C O U R S E I F N E C E S S A R Y
Sessions or events should be extended as necessary to ensure
a minimum competency before progression to the next session.
These potential adjustments may extend the programme a little
beyond the initial 21 hours.
5 . C E L E B R AT E S U C C E S S
Achieving success in the final test and being officially handicapped
is a large milestone, which requires recognition – parties with
bubbly are absolutely recommended.
This model can and must be adjusted to suit individuals and
their needs, and can contain any number of sessions. However,
the key is for the programme to be lengthy enough to ensure an
adequate starting level by the end, but not so long as to make it
impractical or too expensive. As a concept, it provides a framework
for motivating and inspiring newcomers to make progress in
a practical, time-sensitive, systematic and structured manner,
with an all-important ‘end point’ in sight.
I believe polo has the ability to change people’s lives in ways
that not many other sports do. We know well that polo offers a unique
way of life. A well-founded and structured instruction programme
can provide newcomers with an entry point to this lifestyle and
community, which is a proposition that holds a very strong value.
The promise to deliver a set of unique skills and a passport to a new
lifestyle, in around 21 hours, is compelling. This could be covered in
an intensive five-day period or stretched over a season, and I have
found that many aspiring players feel much happier to invest time
and money in such a programme than if offered sporadic polo hours.
kapolo.se
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Stick work and riding:
S&B all shots
Horseback, 1hr
10
Stick work and riding:
S&B all shots
Horseback, 1hr
11
Riding off and hooking:
Play simulations
Horseback, 1hr
12
Riding off and hooking:
Play simulations
Horseback, 1hr
16
The game:
Rules test
Clubhouse, 1hr
G R A D U AT I O N !
13
Game theory:
Rules and tactics
Clubhouse, 1.5hr
The rules practice:
S&B
Horseback, 1hr
14
The game:
Instructional chukka #1
Horseback with other players, 1.5hr
15
The game:
Instructional chukka #2
Horseback with other players, 1hr
Opposite
: Kaveh Atrak in the
white helmet (left of centre)
with some of his students
