Eight 10-goalers to be playing at IPC this winter In order to understand the impact of the presence of eight 10-goal polo players competing at the International Polo Club this winter one must first understand the basis of individual polo handicaps. Because at any one time, great discrepancies of skill may exist between players on opposing teams, a method was created (in 1890) that would enable players and teams to compete on an equal footing. A system of handicapping each player was devised by the newly-formed United States Polo Association which has continued, with minor modifications, to the present day. Each player is awarded a handicap rating, expressed in goals, that is an indicator of the value of that player to his team. Handicap ratings range from C (minus 2 goals) – the so-called beginner, to 10-goals – theoretical perfection. The rating number has nothing to do with the number of goals a player is expected to score in the course of a game. Polo players are evaluated using the criteria of general proficiency with the mallet and mastery of all shots, mastery of the fundamentals, horsemanship, team play, sense of strategy and conduct, and quality of horses. It is so difficult to attain a “high” handicap that 90% of the players in the world today are rated at 2-goals or less. The fact that there are only nine players in the game today rated at 10-goals and less than 100 have ever attained the ultimate handicap since 1890 is a testament to the skills required. This winter the International Polo Club will host eight of the world’s nine top-rated players in Miguel Novillo Astrada, Adolfo Cambiaso, Sapo Caset, Pablo MacDonough, Juan Martin Nero, Facundo Pieres, Gonzalito Pieres, Polito Pieres and Pelon Stirling (10-goaler Pablo MacDonough will be playing in Dubai this season). Discrepancies between the handicapping committees of different countries can sometimes disagree on a player’s handicap, resulting in different handicaps for the player for different countries. For example, Miguel Novillo Astrada, Gonzalito Pieres are rated at 10-goals in Argentine but only 9-goals in the United States; while Sapo Caset is rated at 10-goals in the United States but only 9-goals in Argentina. A player’s handicap can vary from year to year depending on his performance, but the mere attainment of a 10-goal handicap is a rare and esteemed accomplishment.
Posted on: Thu, 18 Dec 2014 17:49:46 +0000
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