2020 USPA Annual Report

United States Polo Association

2020

CHAIRMAN’S LETTER SERVICES

ARENA COMMITTEE

ARMED FORCES COMMITTEE

BOARD & STAFF DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE

CLUB & MEMBERSHIP ADMINISTRATION COMMITTEE

CONSTITUTION COMMITTEE

EQUINE WELFARE COMMITTEE

FINANCE COMMITTEE

HANDICAP COMMITTEE

HIGH-GOAL COMMITTEE

INTERNATIONAL COMMITTEE

RULES COMMITTEE

SAFETY COMMITTEE TOURNAMENT COMMITTEE

As Chairman of the United States Polo Association it is my pleasure to present the 2020 Annual Report on behalf of the USPA Board of Governors and to share my thoughts regarding our Association. My primary duty is to articulate a vision and build a consensus behind that vision. In so doing, I give direction to our board in order to increase its effectiveness and I believe together we can accomplish a great deal.

Coming into office October 2019, my focus at the outset of my first term was to align the governance of our Association’s committees and LLCs. There was inconsistency in how the Polo Development and Umpires LLCs functioned within the hierarchy of the Association compared to how the committees interfaced with the Board. This inconsistency was a remnant of divergent views on corporate governance held by previous generations of USPA leadership and those differences have since been resolved. We are a “board directed, staff executed” organization. Everyone is in agreement and we are working together as a team to move forward.

As a starting point toward building a consensus behind a shared vision, I wanted to get agreement on the fundamentals of polo. To this end, I authored an essay entitled The Sunday Field and it makes three important observations. First, team owners are indispensable and critically important to the sport as they are the backbone of polo. The Sunday field is fundamental in attracting new sponsors because it sets the aspirational hook that draws new players to our sport. Second, the Association needs to do a better job of introducing new players to polo and helping them develop. We need to improve the coaching experience for new members if we want to be as successful as possible. I support the institution of a USPA Polo Academy, a facility without conflicts of interest, whose sole focus is on player improvement and utilizing top quality polo ponies for instruction. And thirdly, prospective team owners should be invited to become a part of our community. We need to market to potential sponsors and invite them to try polo. Polo is an enclave and those who are not involved do not know how to approach the sport. These are the basics for a healthy polo ecosystem and they are needed across the country to stem the tide of baby boomers leaving the sport.

In 2020, came COVID-19 and with the bad sometimes the good also presents itself. In this case the lack of polo, due to the suspension of polo for three months, gave rise to a budget surplus which our staff used to develop the USPA COVID-19 Relief Package. The COVID-19 USPA Tournament Stimulus Package (TSP) offered a free professional umpire, $2,500.00 in prize money and trophies for the first two USPA tournaments hosted by a USPA Member Club post COVID-19 suspension of USPA Tournaments and Events. The program was a huge success and resulted in more polo being played and more satisfied participants which was a great result from a bad situation. We have extended this program into 2021 to stimulate polo.

During the 2020 USPA Fall Committee, Board of Governors and Annual Member Meeting, the Board approved a tournament condition to the Rulebook that eliminates blocking. I am hopeful that this may be an important opportunity to improve the game. Rules have more to do with how much we enjoy polo and how we play to win, than any other aspect of the game. They also impact the development of our young players. All over the world young players in every country are having more difficulty than ever before reaching a 10-goal handicap. Rules, and the style of play resulting from those rules, have everything to do with this issue. Returning to a passing game that uses all four players and eliminates blocking may solve the problem of stymied player development. Hopefully clubs will give this optional rule a chance to improve our sport.

For much of my life I have had the great pleasure of traveling to Wellington, Florida, in the winter to compete against the best players in the world. No other sport has given me more pleasure, helped me expand my friendships and enriched my life. I wish a similar experience for everyone in polo. To that end, my vision for the USPA is to see Wellington become the Buenos Aires of American polo, for all levels of the sport—a place where we all come together to compete at the most competitive levels for a given handicap range while building lasting relationships.

To achieve this vision we will need to align the clubs so collaboration is possible. And we must commit ourselves to a Sunday field in Wellington: a field on which we all aspire to compete, a field with the stature of the number one field at Palermo in Buenos Aires, and a field we will control in perpetuity. Control of such a venue will give the USPA the leverage to oversee coordination of national tournaments with a maximum of team participation at all handicap levels across many different clubs while simultaneously ensuring stability for the sport for years to come.

This is my vision. I want to use our financial resources to make the game better, more fun to participate in and more fun to watch. I also want to return American polo to a level of competitiveness with Argentina by developing high-goal players organically within our sport. This starts with good fundamentals all across the country in the low-goal ranks. However, it requires an aspirational component in order to attract players of all ages toward higher achievement—a pathway to improvement through the stiffest competition. Let’s work together to make polo better in the year to come.

Sincerely,

Stewart Armstrong CHAIRMAN - USPA

The USPA Services serves as the central hub for administrative and operational tasks within the Association. Staff members in the Services Department have numerous responsibilities that act to keep the Association functioning, while providing open lines of communication between the Board, Governors, committees, Club Delegates, members and employees. The continued effort to strengthen and improve relationships both inside and outside the Association can be seen in the USPA’s positive impact on the sport through dedicated leadership, tournament and handicap support, and communication and committee relations.

Although the 2020 season was off to a strong start with a high volume of teams competing from Intercollegiate/ Interscholastic (I/I) to all levels of outdoor polo, including fourteen teams in the GAUNTLET OF POLO®, the season was inevitably cut short, pivoting in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. In response to the subsequent polo suspension first enacted on March 18, 2020, the Association reallocated financial resources and developed the USPA COVID-19 Relief Package to help alleviate the financial strain placed on the sport and the

polo community. The USPA COVID-19 Relief Package consisted originally of four assistance programs created to support the sustainability of polo: the USPA COVID-19 Equine Welfare Relief Program (ERP), USPA COVID-19 Distressed Club Relief Program (DCRP), COVID-19 USPA Polo Tournament Stimulus Package (TSP) and the COVID-19 USPA Polo Professional Equine Relief Program (PPER).

The ERP assisted USPA Members who struggled to maintain proper upkeep of their horses while the PPER assisted professional players and commercial horse providers in caring for their mounts until polo could resume. The DCRP was designed to support USPA Member Clubs that had experienced significant financial distress. Created to encourage USPA Member Clubs to begin playing polo, TSP resulted in an overwhelming amount of interest from clubs across the country and enabled several clubs to host their first USPA tournament. Extended into 2021, TSP waived the fees for the first two USPA tournaments hosted by a USPA Member Club, provided trophies or trophy reimbursement, one free professional umpire and $2,500.00 in prize money per tournament.

The livestreaming viewer experience evolved with the creation of Global Polo TV’s (GPTV) OTT platform. Offering the top USPA polo tournaments in the United States, GPTV is a hub where subscribers can access a library of on-demand games, short films, live games and more.

Initiating a change in leadership, USPA Chairman Stewart Armstrong announced that the chairs of the Armed Forces (Karl Hilberg), Safety (Dr. Thor Norregaard) and Junior Polo (Chrys Beal) committees would be stepping down. Each making an extensive contribution to their individual committees over numerous years, the outgoing chairs welcomed incoming chairs to assume leadership and play their part in carrying forth the mission with a fresh perspective. New incoming chairs included Mark Gillespie for the Armed Forces Committee, Dr. James A. Ulibarri for the Safety Committee and Tiger Kneece for the Junior Polo Committee.

Filling a vacancy on the board, Liz Brayboy was appointed as the newest Governor-at-Large during the USPA Fall Board of Governors Meeting which was held virtually due to the pandemic. The Spring Board of

Governors Meeting was also held via video conference. The virtual meetings gave a unique opportunity for all USPA Members to attend meetings they may not have been able to join in the past and proved to be both productive and efficient. It was also announced that the USPA, Federation of International Polo (FIP) and their partners have all agreed to postpone the 2021 FIP World Polo Championships, set to be hosted at Empire Polo Club in Indio, California, until Fall of 2022.

Since announcing the availability of the USPA Polo Tournament Stimulus Package in 2020 the number of USPA tournaments held nearly doubled to 350. Also this year, despite the pandemic, there was an increase in participation with an average of five teams per tournament and the overall quality of tournament competition as a result, a rise from 2019’s average of 3.5 teams. Similarly, there was an increase in host clubs with many new and returning venues. Arena polo also experienced a significant increase with 67 USPA arena tournaments awarded in 2020 as well as all 10 national arena events. Arguably the most sought-after tournaments this year, all 2021 USPA National arena tournaments were awarded.

As a result of the pandemic, the USPA was forced to cancel select top-tier USPA national tournaments nationwide. These tournaments included the U.S. Open Polo Championship®, National Intercollegiate Championships, Rossmore Cup and the U.S. Open Arena Polo Championship®. Additionally, the USPA Gold Cup® Semifinals and Final, U.S. Open Women’s Polo Championship® Semifinals and Final and the National Youth Tournament Series Championship® were postponed and rescheduled to resume during the 2021 winter season.

Beggining in 2021, per the USPA rules, all players must wear a polo helmet that meets the NOCSAE ND050 Standard Performance Specifications. The rule applies to all players and umpires participating in any USPA Event or Club Event. However, due to unforeseen circumstances with the helmet manufacturing process, the USPA was forced to delay the helmet mandate to May 1, 2021.

Although 2020 was an especially unprecedented year with unique challenges facing the polo community, it was also a year of ingenuity and demonstrated the resilience of the sport. Coming together to support and sustain polo during a time of need, the Association acted quickly to address the financial pressure inflicted by the pandemic, producing a record year of tournament play. Operating with the same spirit of teamwork which wins games on the field, USPA Services played a crucial role in helping the American polo community navigate the ongoing uncertainty and emerge stronger as a result.

In 2020, the Arena Committee continued to expand upon the progress and initiatives developed in previous years. Yielding positive results, the Committee’s dedication to stimulate the growth of arena polo at all levels improved the quality of arena events throughout the year. Arena polo continued to prosper across the country with 67 USPA arena tournaments and all 10 national arena events awarded in 2020. There was also an increased interest in arena leagues due to the success of the Pacific Coast Arena League (PCAL) and Texas Arena League (TAL).

Lezlie Hiner was named the recipient of the 2020 Russ Sheldon Award which was presented during the 2020 USPA Women’s Arena Open at Twilight Polo Club in The Plains, Virginia. The Russ Sheldon Award was created by the Arena Committee in 2015 to be presented annually to a member who has made an outstanding contribution to arena polo.

The National Arena Amateur Cup (NAAC) took on a new innovative format in 2019 that created an opportunity to showcase the accessibility of amateur polo and to incentivize amateur players to participate longer and more frequently in USPA tournaments, at their home clubs, home circuits and nationally. Throughout the year, players from all over the country accumulated points by playing in any USPA arena event. All amateur players rated -1 to 3-goals are eligible to qualify and the point system is based on the number of teams entered and the team standings in each tournament.

After hosting a successful 2019 tournament, Orange County Polo Club (Silverado, California) planned to host the 2020 National Arena Amateur Cup, but it was relocated to Legends Polo Club in Kaufman, Texas, due to concerns related to COVID-19. In 2020, 336 players landed on the leaderboard and had an opportunity to earn one of the coveted spots in the championship. The NAAC Host Tournament Committee placed the 18

finalists on one of six competitive teams. Qualifying over two days of competitive play, Polo InterActive and Legend’s Polo Club went head-to-head in the NAAC Final. Holding the advantage in the first chukker after an initial goal on handicap, Polo InterActive quickly established a decisive lead with strong offensive drives to win the trophy 15-11 and $1,500 in prize money.

Several coveted national arena events were relocated in 2020 due to health concerns related to the COVID-19 pandemic, including the USPA Women’s Arena Open™, the USPA Women’s Arena Handicap®, and the National Arena Commander-in-Chief Cup. All originally scheduled to be played at Virginia Polo Club, Inc. (Charlottesville, Virginia), the three events were moved to Twilight Polo Club. In conjunction with the $30,000 National Arena Chairman’s Cup and the $10,000 National Arena Challenge Cup, Twilight Polo Club successfully hosted all five national arena events within one month.

Aspen Valley Polo Club hosted the United States Arena Handicap® for the fourth consecutive year. Nestled in the

mountains of Carbondale, Colorado, the unique arena set a spectacular stage for the competition. The 2019 defending champion Casablanca conquered McClure River Ranch 12-10 to claim the 2020 United States Arena Handicap® title.

National arena tournaments continue to be a sensation around the county and there has been an increased demand and level of competition for USPA arena tournaments in 2020. Several 2021 national arena tournaments were among the most sought-after tournaments discussed in 2020 and the demand for hosting prestigious arena events has significantly increased.

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 continues to prosper across the country and the Arena Committee is in constant pursuit of new ways to help improve and enhance the sport.

The Armed Forces Committee (AFC) has been working over the past few years to increase USPA military tournaments and USPA membership. Free membership has been offered to active duty military players since 2016. Only seven circuit military tournaments were held in 2016, the first year the events were available, making growth a focus for the Committee in 2017 and 2018. The Committee’s hard work and dedication to the cause consistently raised that number to 23 Circuit Events in 2017, 34 in 2018, 42 in 2019 and 28 in 2020. Brandywine Polo Club (Toughkenamon, Pennsylvania) hosted the 2020 National Outdoor Commander-in-Chief Cup and Twilight Polo Club (The Plains, Virginia) hosted the 2020 National Arena Commanderin-Chief Cup on short notice when Virginia Polo, Inc. (Charlottesvile, Virginia) was unable to host it due to COVID-19 pandemic health concerns. Despite the change of venue, the tournament saw four military teams “battle in the saddle” in which the Marines emerged victorious by one goal over Army Black in a thrilling final match. The tournament also included a clinic for new military polo players that boasted 25 participants that were instructed by Army, Navy and Marine players from the tournament.

The Committee continues to financially support Circuit and National Military events each year through the Military Incentive Program. In 2020, the AFC increased the number of Circuit Events supported through this program significantly. The Armed Forces Committee also continues to support numerous military events and clinics throughout the country.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, all international military events in 2020 were canceled or postponed until such events may resume. One positive development on the international military polo front occurred in August 2020, when the Federation of International Polo (FIP) formally established an International Military Polo Committee whose mission includes facilitating greater numbers of international military polo events. The USPA designated Mark Gillespie to be its representative on this new committee.

The AFC has entered into discussions with the Patton Legacy Sports, LLC (PLS) which is a 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to honoring the life of General George S. Patton Jr. PLS has proposed supporting a limited number of the circuit General George S. Patton Jr. tournaments in 2021 with prize money as well as limited support for the National Arena Commander-in-Chief Cup and some funding to assist sending a military polo team

In anticipation of a future partnership with PLS for collaboration and support, the AFC proposed a series of six motions for approval by the USPA Board of Governors during the fall meeting and all were approved. Also during the Board of Governors fall meeting, Commander Karl Hilberg, USN (Ret.) was thanked for his years of service as the Chairman of the Armed Forces Committee and Major Mark Gillespie, US Army (Ret.) was approved as the Committee’s new Chairman.

The USPA selected Lieutenant Colonel Dean Daggett, USMC (Ret), for the 2020 General George S. Patton Jr. Award in appreciation for his 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.

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 businessorientated individuals with ties to many USPA committees and sport of polo interests.

The mission of the 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 provides advice and support to the Association’s Chief Executive Officer in USPA personnel matters and offers advice and support to the Association’s Chairman in all matters relating to the USPA Board of Governors and USPA Limited Liability Companies development. The Committee studies USPA mission statement objectives and has made several

key policies and best corporate practices, processes and recommendations to achieve stated goals, correct deficiencies and ensure consistency, continuity and clarity in all areas of the Association.

The Committee’s responsibilities include—but are not limited to—human resources, information technology, staff oversight, staff compensation and bonuses, staff development and succession, strategic planning and Board development and succession planning. In addition, the BASDC will continue to forward to the Board of Governors timely recommendations for approval concerning the USPA Organizational Charts. Over the past several years, the BASDC completed a number of significant corporate best practice reviews, offering a wide range of presentations and recommendations related to the business of the USPA, its volunteer Board

of Governors and to its professional staff related to corporate and individual conflict of interest; diversity and diversity training; and whistle-blower policies and procedures. The BASDC worked closely with the USPA Human Resources Department, the Corporate division and its legal and tax advisors to research, then present to the Board of Governors, a number of best practices policies and procedures for their review and approval.

Recent tasks and projects included: working in conjunction with the USPA Audit Committee on sensitive legal and tax matters; reviewing for endorsement the Boardapproved process related to staff annual salaries and bonuses; researching and recommending a proposed USPA Diversity-Equity-Inclusion (DEI) Action Plan, to include a Board-approved USPA DEI Committee; coordinating with the Constitution Committee related to term limits for committee chairs; working with USPA Staff to update volunteer recognition awards; reviewing USPA Staff employment compensation for gender parity; recommending that the USPA Rules and Tournament Conditions be offered in Spanish; and, coordinating with legal advisors as to updating the USPA Conflict of Interest Policy and outlining matters related to Board confidentiality and fiduciary responsibilities. Also, in 2020, BASDC expanded to include Zacharias Grob to its membership.

The Club and Membership Administration Committee reviewed all existing clubs prior to the Spring Board of Governors Meeting to ensure their compliance with the USPA Constitution and ByLaws. A number of clubs were not in compliance due to COVID-19, and the Committee requested to extend the deadline to July 1. A total of 226 Clubs (197 Active, 13 Provisional, 13 Affiliate and three Associate) were approved by the USPA Board in the July meeting, including four new Clubs (three Provisional and one Affiliate) that had applied and been accepted earlier in the year.

The Committee reviewed the existing Club Application and Renewal Forms to add questions that would help to provide proof of legitimacy. Additions included adding the approximate dates of the club’s season, approximate number of chukkers played annually, and a list of all the USPA and Club Events played each year. The Committee also worked closely with the USPA Constitution Committee to determine necessary changes to the USPA By-Laws. The new By-Laws provide all of the

new requirements, the timelines for compliance and the penalties for non-compliance. Clubs will now be required to conduct a minimum of two USPA Events or four Club Events per year.

A new Committee Mission Statement was created and approved to redefine the scope of the Committee: “The Club and Member Administration Committee reviews and evaluates all new club applications and the status of all current clubs to ensure compliance and maintenance with the Association’s Constitution, By-Laws and Board-approved policies then in effect. The Committee undertakes such review in connection with each new club application and no less than annually for each existing club and makes recommendations based upon its reviews to the Board of Governors regarding the status of the Association’s member clubs.”

The Constitution Committee assembled a working group to refine the By-Laws and LLC Operating Agreements. The changes to the various documents were approved by the Board of Governors at the 2020 Fall USPA Board of Governors Meeting. There were no revisions to the Constitution this year.

volunteer the requisite time and commitment to serving in that role for the betterment of the USPA, and clarifies the interrelationship between the Board of Governors and the USPA staff in carrying out the USPA’s affairs. Relatedly, the Amended By-Laws include a new Article V(a), setting forth the roles and responsibilities of the Chief Executive Officer of the USPA, which clarifies the matters that fall under

The four significant changes to the By-Laws were: (1) the addition of a Preamble; (2) the addition of a provision describing the role and responsibilities of the Chief Executive Officer of the USPA; (3) updates to the Advisory Committee language for consistency with applicable language used in the Amended Polo Development Regulations and Amended Umpires Regulations; and (4) additional language intended to clarify the timing and process of membership classifications.

The Preamble set forth in the Amended By-Laws articulates that, together with the privilege of serving the USPA as a Governor, Officer, or Board or Advisory Committee member, comes a responsibility to

the Chief Executive Officer’s purview and how that position relates and reports to the Board of Governors.

Additionally, language was added in the Amended ByLaws for clarity and consistency among the documents related to the support that the USPA staff will provide to the USPA advisory committees.

In Section 3 of Article VI of the Amended By-Laws relating to Member Classifications, the vast majority of these changes are process-oriented clarifications intended to eliminate any ambiguity for a Club or for USPA staff as to when a Club is required to meet the standards of an Active Member Club in order to obtain or

maintain that status. It also clarifies when a Club has not complied with the requisite standards how its status is affected. One new, key change to the requirements of being an Active Member Club that is included in the Amended By-Laws is that, effective January 1, 2021, an Active Member Club must annually conduct a minimum of either four Club Events or two USPA Events (as those terms are defined in the Tournament Conditions). Another key change is that Provisional Member Clubs (except for those that participate primarily in interscholastic polo) may only remain in that status for a period of one year.

AMENDED POLO DEVELOPMENT REGULATIONS AND AMENDED UMPIRE REGULATIONS

The working group was tasked by the Chairman of the USPA with changing the legal structure of each of USPA Polo Development, LLC (“Polo Development”) and USPA Umpires, LLC from a manager-managed structure (in which the USPA CEO is the manager) to a member-managed structure (in which the USPA, as sole member, is the manager). By making this change from manager-managed to member-managed, the reporting structure of the LLC advisory committees to the USPA (and, accordingly, its Board of Governors) became more aligned with the reporting structure of the USPA’s various advisory committees to the USPA Board of Governors.

The Advisory Board of Polo Development was eliminated. The four advisory committees of Polo Development will report directly to the USPA Board of Governors, which is parallel to how USPA advisory committees report to the USPA Board of Governors.

In clarifying the reporting structure of the advisory committees, there is additional language in both the Amended Polo Development Regulations and the Amended Umpires Regulations setting forth the ways in which the advisory committees may obtain and receive support from the LLC staff.

The Equine Welfare Committee faced new challenges in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Equine Drugs and Medications Testing Program had to be put on hold due to clubs not allowing extra personnel at their facilities based on local and state requirements. The Committee was also faced with the challenge of finding a way to assist USPA Member Clubs and members who faced equine-related hardships due to the pandemic.

In April, the Committee worked to create the COVID-19 Equine Welfare Relief Program (ERP), one of four assistance programs in the USPA COVID-19 Relief Package. This program was available to clubs and members with horses used for Intercollegiate/ Interscholastic polo and polo training programs. Individuals were allowed to apply for assistance for up to eight horses at the rate of $5.00 per day per horse for one month, and USPA Member Clubs and schools were evaluated on a case-by-case basis for the number of horses they listed on their applications. In 2020, 97 applications were approved, which provided assistance to 1,590 horses. The applicants were allowed to receive assistance in the form of feed for their horses. Feed bills were either paid directly or applicants were reimbursed for feed they had already purchased.

The role of a Club Equine Welfare Representative was a topic discussed throughout the year and the Committee will be revising the list of duties for the position in 2021. Furthermore, the Committee will be working with clubs to ensure the proper individual is placed in the role, and then hold webinars throughout the year to stay in contact with these individuals. One of the new responsibilities will be to ensure that Equine Injury and Fatality Reporting is taking place at all USPA Member Clubs.

Medication reporting deadlines were added to the USPA Equine Drugs and Medications Rules for administrative and reporting purposes. This helped streamline the review process and allowed the Committee to function more efficiently.

The polo community came together with a collaborative effort in 2020 to prioritize the welfare of our equine partners to overcome the numerous obstacles faced during the pandemic.

At the 2020 USPA Fall Board of Governors Meeting in October, the Board approved the Finance Committee’s recommendation of the 2021 USPA budget at a subsidy of $12,770,000. New for 2021 was the inclusion of a portion of the Tournament Stimulus Package (TSP) instituted during 2020 as a result of the pandemic. The COVID-19 Relief Package proved enormously successful in providing assistance to clubs, players and individuals dependent on the polo economy.

The Committee provided guidance in a revision to the 2020 budget necessary to provide financial assistance to certain USPA Member Clubs, horses and professional players seeking financial relief due to distress caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. The Board approved these revisions at a special meeting in May.

Following the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Dollar Cost Averaging (DCA) monthly portfolio investment program was temporarily suspended until resumption of USPAGL royalty payments sufficient to sustain USPA operations as well as DCA funding. As of December 2020, projected royalties remained below the level available for DCA funding. As the world economy

picks up following the pandemic, DCA funding will resume. Current economic uncertainties have caused an extension of the projected USPA fully-funded endowment to the 2030-2033 timeframe. However, this extension date is subjective and continues to be evaluated.

During 2019, the Finance Committee evaluated its process of investing DCA money per the USPA’s Investment Policy. The Committee explored methods for safeguarding investments during periods of market volatility in which the USPA’s royalty streams, many of which are derived from emerging market countries, could be affected. The revised approach was designed to maintain performance potential and lower the risks associated with a market or business shock that could

affect the royalty streams. This de-risking strategy was in place prior to 2020’s spring market fluctuation and provided a measure of outperformance and security to the investment portfolio and to both the USPA and USPAGL during this difficult period of unprecedented global economic shutdown.

Moving forward, the Committee will push to get back on track to its self-endowment goal. The USPA investment portfolio has performed well with the Committee’s positioning and the federal stimulus.

The Handicap Committees all continued business as usual and reviewed handicaps for all USPA players. The Outdoor Handicap Committee held both regular meetings, one in April and the other in September, the Women’s Handicap Committee held two regular meetings in April and October, and the Arena Handicap Committee held their single meeting in November.

The Women’s Handicap Committee formed a subcommittee that spent time over the summer months conducting an in-depth review of women’s arena handicaps. All female players had their women’s arena handicap reviewed and a total of 268 women had their handicaps adjusted.

The subcommittee is hopeful the 2020 women’s arena handicap review process brought all of the handicaps in line for fair competition moving forward.

A number of improvements were made to the online Handicap Recommendation and Voting Portal. The new system utilized the tournament database to track which clubs’ players had played in USPA tournaments.

Tracking created a better process for Club Delegates to enter their recommendations. Tracking also helped Circuit Handicap Chairs by providing a quick and easy way to view players who had competed in their Circuit. On the administrative side, new processes

were added to help automatically tally results and once verified automatically add them to the database. USPA staff are already working on additional updates and improvements to the system to be available next year.

The Handicap Committees worked on small additions and revisions to the USPA Handicap Policy. The policy now allows for outdoor handicaps of -1, arena handicaps of -1 and women’s handicaps of 0 to be raised by one goal at any time. There is now a process in place that automatically adjusts women’s handicaps when a female player’s regular outdoor handicap is raised from -1 to -0.5 or 0 or when their regular arena handicap is raised from -1 to 0. An addition was made which creates an automatic review of a player who has a foreign handicap that is two goals higher or lower than their USPA handicap. Additional changes include increasing the number of At-Large Members on the Arena Handicap Committee, extending the cutoff for Handicap Meeting Voting and clarifying some of the language in the Outdoor High Level Disclosure section.

Due to a large number of entries in the Florida highgoal season, the High-Goal Committee started off with a busy agenda. The Committee met monthly to discuss topics surrounding the tournaments, players and umpires. Although the Florida winter high-goal season was unfortunately cut short in March due to COVID-19 restrictions, the Committee continued to meet throughout the year to help address various concerns related to high-goal polo around the country and plan for 2021. After the annual High-Goal Committee election in January, Marc Ganzi (team owner representative) and Jeff Hall (professional player representative) were elected to serve on the Committee for a two-year term.

One of the main topics discussed by the Committee was to address field conditions for high-goal polo. Based on the Committees request, the USPA worked directly with the high-goal clubs on field management plans, which included a monthly report to the Committee.

The Committee continued to provide feedback on the professional umpires to the USPA Umpires, LLC by polling GAUNTLET OF POLO® teams. The feedback will be used for consideration in the selection of umpires for the 2021 high-goal season. The Committee also met after the conclusion of the Silver Cup® at Santa Barbara Polo & Racquet Club (Carpinteria, California) and provided the Umpires LLC with additional feedback on the officiating.

Throughout the year, the Committee provided a platform for discussion on many topics including the Florida Circuit tournament schedule and unifying efforts to yield greater success. They discussed the rules and tournament conditions related to high-goal polo. Pursuant to the handicap policy, the Committee is required to make recommendations for four of the At-Large-Handicappers to serve on the Handicap Committee. The Committee’s recommendations of Joey Casey, Jeff Blake, Mariano Gonzalez and Nacho Novillo Astrada were approved.

The High-Goal Committee continues to be the liaison between high-goal organizations and the Association.

After a historic 2019, the International Committee prepared to use the newly-formed International Fund in accordance with the Board-approved International Event Plan. 2020 began strong with an intercollegiate team traveling to England to take place in the 8th annual USA vs. Britain Intercollegiate Challenge Cup. This year’s team was comprised of Elly Schwingel (Michigan State University), Shariah Harris (Cornell University), Molly Agee (Point Loma Nazarene University) and Fritz Felhaber (Texas A&M University). The USA team was victorious against the British Schools & Universities Polo Association (SUPA), winning 15-13 to lead 6-2 in the series.

Additionally, the Committee provided support to host the 106th Federation of International Polo Ambassadors Cup in Wellington, Florida, in early March. The International Committee had prepared to do three more events in 2020: the Bryan Morrison Trophy in England, the Women’s Nations Cup in Argentina and the Camacho Cup to be hosted by the Santa Barbara Polo & Racquet Club (Carpinteria, California). Unfortunately, due to travel restrictions and other challenges brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic, all 2020 events were postponed. The Bryan Morrison Trophy is anticipated to be played at the 2021 Polo in the Park event in England. The Committee is hopeful that the Women’s Nations Cup will also be rescheduled for 2021.

In the fall of 2020, the Committee aided the Oak Brook Polo Club (Oak Brook, Illinois) in hosting the Butler International. The 10- to 12-goal tournament featured four teams bearing the flags of Germany, Switzerland, Argentina and the United States. The event was very successful and looks to be an annual event at the historic club.

The International Committee, the USPA Board of Governors and the Federation of International Polo (FIP) agreed to postpone the 2021 FIP World Polo Championship until the fall of 2022. The partners for the

event, USPA Global Licensing (USPAGL), J5 Equestrian and Empire Polo Club (Indio, California) were all supportive of the postponement.

The International Committee is optimistic and looks forward to international events returning in the near future.

In 2020, the Rules Committee developed, and the Board of Governors approved, three new Optional Tournament Conditions for Host Tournament Committees to use in 2021 if they choose: (1) an expansion of Outdoor Rule 26A that prohibits blocking in live play as well as on set plays (TC XI); (2) an alternative to the 3/4 rule in USPA Events with an upper handicap limit between 4- and 6-goals that was used successfully by many Host Tournament Committees as a variance in 2020 (TC X); and (3) a “fair-play” throw-in to restart play when it has been interrupted unexpectedly to the significant disadvantage of the team in possession (TC IX).

The Rules Committee also proposed several substantive changes for 2021 to the Outdoor Rules, Arena Rules, and Tournament Conditions that were each approved by the Board: (1) establishing forfeiture as the penalty for heel calk violations (OR 6a, AR 2e); (2) clarifying that any “next game” suspension in a USPA Event must be served in that or another USPA Event (OR 33b-e); (3) allowing team captains to question the scorekeeping or timekeeping in the final period until 15 minutes after the final whistle (OR 11c); (4) clarifying that the arena roof structure is out of bounds (ARs 7, 9); (5) eliminating the use of shootouts for seeding purposes (TC VI); (6) enabling the use of Dartfish video for Umpire Reviews only (TC VII); and (7) clarifying “calling the advantage” (OR 21b).

Through its representatives on the International Rules Subcommittee, the Rules Committee continued to collaborate with the Hurlingham Polo Association and Argentine Polo Association in a cooperative effort to improve and standardize the rules of polo internationally. The Committee is mindful 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 compete exclusively in the United States under the USPA Outdoor and Arena rules. The new “no blocking” Optional Tournament Condition (TC XI) exemplifies this focus as well as the Committee’s and the USPA’s willingness to lead the way in testing rules that have the potential to improve polo in America and internationally.

The Safety Committee worked to educate members on the upcoming NOCSAE Polo Helmet Mandate. The initial start date for the mandate was June 1, 2020, however, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, manufacturers were required to stop production. As a result, the USPA Board of Governors decided to push the mandate to January 1, 2021. Continued manufacturing delays prior to the January 1 deadline resulted in a rules variance to further delay enforcement of the NOCSAE helmet requirement until May 1, 2021.

The Committee continued to field questions from members regarding the decision to move forward with the mandate. All members were informed that extensive research and legal review had gone into the decision. An informational flyer was created and mailed to all USPA Members with frequently asked questions regarding the upcoming mandate.

Throughout the year the Committee discussed the lack of injury reporting taking place in the sport. The Committee would like to look into options for umpires and club managers to report basic information on player injuries without violating HIPPA. Another suggestion was to create focus areas with large amounts of polo and track injuries in those specific areas.

After serving as the Chair of the Safety Committee for a total of 14 years, Dr. Thorkild Norregaard stepped down and is being succeeded by Dr. James Ulibarri. Dr. Ulibarri is a Board Certified Orthopedic Spine Surgeon who plays at the Big Horn Polo Club in Sheridan, Wyoming. Dr. Norregaard will continue as the Vice Chair of the Safety Committee to aid in the transition. Moving forward, the Committee will continue to educate members on safety equipment and evaluate the safety of the sport.

There has been an increased demand and level of competition for USPA tournaments in 2020 with 350 USPA tournaments awarded. The Tournament Committee focused on making timely decisions to recommend awarding national tournaments responsibly through 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 2020 to carefully discuss the awarding of 2021 national tournaments. USPA national tournaments 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 2020, many national tournaments were highly sought after by numerous clubs throughout the county. After hearing presentations from USPA Member Clubs, the Tournament Committee made location recommendations to the Board of Governors to award 2021 national tournaments.

The most heavily discussed tournaments were the United States Arena Handicap®, the National Sherman Memorial, the National Arena Challenge Cup, and the Eastern Challenge. Thorough proposals were presented to the Tournament Committee from each club and it was ultimately recommended to award the United States Arena Handicap® to Twilight Polo Club (The Plains, Virginia), the National Sherman Memorial to Boston Polo Club (Georgetown, Massachusetts), the National Arena Challenge Cup to Brandywine Polo Club (Toughkenamon, Pennsylvania) and the Eastern Challenge to Beverly Polo Club (The Plains, Virginia).

The Tournament Committee looks forward to another successful year in 2021. 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.

National Tournaments

The following is the list of tournaments recommended by the Committee, approved by the Board and played in

A total of 38 USPA women’s tournaments were awarded in 2020, many of which were eligible for funding from the Women’s Tournament Incentive Program. This program provided a reimbursement for any club that hosted a USPA women’s tournament in an effort to increase the number of women’s tournaments held in the United States. Beginning in 2021, the budget for the Women’s Tournament Incentive Program will increase and the amount reimbursed per tournament will increase with the goal level.

Hosted by Port Mayaca Polo Club (Okeechobee, Florida) and the International Polo Club Palm Beach (Wellington, Florida), the 2020 U.S. Open Women’s Polo Championship® was interrupted and postponed due to health concerns related to the COVID-19 pandemic. A total of eight competitive 18- to 22-goal teams entered to compete for the title. The balance of the 2020 U.S. Open Women’s Polo Championship® was rescheduled for February 25-27, 2021, with the final held at International Polo Club Palm Beach. There were two additional women’s open events in 2020, the Women’s Pacific Coast Open hosted by Santa Barbara Polo & Racquet Club (Carpinteria, California) and the Texas Women’s Open hosted by Houston Polo Club (Houston, Texas). Both events drew four competitive teams at the 16- to 20-goal level. Westchester Polo Club (Portsmouth, Rhode Island) was prepared to host the third annual East Coast Women’s Open in July, however the event was canceled due to travel restrictions and health concerns related to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Erica Gandomcar-Sachs was named the 2020 USPA 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 Roenish, commissioned a bronze 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.

Twilight Polo Club, located in The Plains, Virginia, successfully hosted the 2020 USPA Women’s Arena Open™ and USPA Women’s Arena Handicap® after Virginia Polo, Inc. (Charlottesville, Virginia) was forced to relinquish the events due to COVID-19 university restrictions. Both events drew four competitive teams and attracted some of the highest-rated women’s arena players in the country, including many intercollegiate/interscholastic alumnae.

During the 2020 USPA Fall Board of Governors Meeting, Erica Gandomcar-Sachs was thanked for her years of service as the Chairwoman of the Women’s Committee and Meghan Gracida was approved as the Committee’s incoming Chair.

The goal of the Young Player’s Committee is 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. Led by Chairman Todd Thurston, the Young Player’s Committee collaborated with the Board & Staff Development Committee (BASDC) in 2020 on one of their main focuses: increased diversity in polo and the USPA’s support of diversity and inclusion in polo. As a result, the BASDC invited Zacharias Grob, a representative from the Young Player’s Committee, to join the BASDC.

Moving forward, the Young Player’s Committee would like to collaborate with individuals from other sporting organizations such as the United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) to open a line of communication to discuss challenges facing young participants in other sports, specifically equestrian sports. The Young Player’s Committee looks forward to continuing and expanding their efforts to represent young polo players within the USPA and the sport of polo.

As the COVID-19 pandemic swept across the country and the world in early 2020, the USPA pivoted from normal operations and shifted focus to USPA Member and Member Club aid to brace the impact of the crisis with the development of stimulus packages. On March 18, 2020, the USPA made the difficult decision to suspend all USPA Tournaments and Events for 14 days. Bringing the USPA Gold Cup® to an abrupt halt, the suspension continued, and the decision was ultimately made to cancel the balance of the 2020 GAUNTLET OF POLO® and the U.S. Open Women’s Polo Championship®. In addition, the Association strongly advised and recommended that every USPA Member Club suspend all Club Events for at least the same period.

The suspension was extended through May 15, 2020, due to the ongoing health concerns related to the COVID-19 pandemic and CDC recommendations. During this time USPA Member Clubs were encouraged to follow the requirements of their local authorities with regards to club polo operations. On Saturday, May 16, 2020, the suspension of USPA Tournaments and Events was lifted for USPA Member Clubs in locales where hosting polo matches and tournaments was permitted under applicable state and local laws, executive orders and similar decrees. The Association released COVID-19 Return to Play Guidelines for USPA Member Clubs to utilize while following all such requirements of their state and local authorities with respect to polo operations.

USPA staff reached out and spoke with representatives from a majority of USPA Member Clubs regarding their struggles (if any) as well as their current and future needs. After compiling all the information, the Association recognized an overwhelming need to support clubs through this difficult time and committees were created to organize and execute what would become known as the USPA COVID-19 Relief Package.

In an effort to help alleviate the financial strain being placed on the sport and polo community as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, the USPA Board of Governors approved three assistance programs during the Spring

Board of Governors Meeting on Saturday, April 18, 2020: the USPA COVID-19 Equine Welfare Relief Program (ERP), the USPA COVID-19 Distressed Club Relief Program and the COVID-19 USPA Polo Tournament Stimulus Package (TSP). A fourth program, the Polo Professional Equine Relief Program (PPER), followed soon after on May 2. Each program developed to meet specific needs, the Equine Welfare and Distressed Club Programs accepted applications for immediate disbursement while the Tournament Stimulus Program assisted clubs transitioning back into tournament play post tournament suspension. Recognizing a need specific to professional players, the USPA added the Polo Professional Equine Relief Program which assisted professional players and commercial horse providers in caring for their mounts until COVID-19 government restrictions allowed polo to resume. In 2020, 614 horses were supported through PPER.

The Equine Welfare Stimulus Program supported a total of 1,590 horses in 2020 and provided funds to assist owners who were unable to feed and properly care for horses used in USPA tournaments and events. The Distressed Club Relief Program was designed to support USPA Member Clubs that experienced significant financial loss during the suspension with non-equine care related expenses. Aiming to incentivize players and teams to participate in tournament polo, the Tournament Stimulus Program supported the first two USPA tournaments hosted by clubs post tournament suspension and has been very successful with 90 clubs from every USPA circuit enrolled and 170 tournaments played in 2020. USPA Member Clubs received waived tournament fees, trophies or trophy reimbursement, one free Professional Umpire and $2,500.00 in prize money per tournament (no matching required). During the 2020 Fall Board of Governors Meeting, the Board approved the continuation of TSP into 2021, eligible for any two tournaments held during that year.

1,590

2

The Communications Department focused on highlighting and promoting USPA tournaments through livestreaming polo, executing a digital and print media strategy through uspolo.org, social media, email marketing and print collateral. During the course of 2020, uspolo.org had over 540,000 unique visitors from 224 countries and functioned as the center of information to members and polo enthusiasts with over 450 articles created in a year. Leadership continued to emphasize the importance of USPA Member Clubs, players and horses, to those involved in the sport and potential fans and players around the world. Through digital and print media, the department produced club videos, spectator guides and club brochures, online club profiles, tournament coverage and special interest stories. The strong relationship with players and clubs led to an emphasis on competitors, horses and industry leaders via online articles, social media, short films and the livestream broadcast. These assets served to inspire and educate those interested in learning more about the lifestyle within the sport.

GAUNTLET OF POLO®

Anticipating the return of the highly-successful GAUNTLET OF POLO® which yielded a GAUNTLET Champion (Pilot) in its inaugural year, 14 teams, including the defending champions and two new teams, entered the 2020 competition with their sights set on the $1 million prize money. Building upon the momentum generated the first year, the USPA Communications Department worked alongside the International Polo Club Palm Beach (IPC) and USPA Global Licensing (USPAGL) to cover, promote and increase awareness of the GAUNTLET OF POLO®. Serving as a hub of information for the three prestigious tournaments on uspolo.org, the revamped 2020 GAUNTLET OF POLO® landing page saw 20,707 total visitors to the page. Featuring several key improvements in layout and functionality, the elevated landing page allowed fans to easily view updated bracket rankings, team and player statistics and tournament leaders in real time.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the season was abruptly postponed in March during the USPA Gold Cup®. Prior to the tournament suspension, the Communications Team assisted with the organization and management of tournament draw parties hosted at the club for the C.V. Whitney Cup®, USPA Gold Cup® and the U.S. Open Women’s Polo Championship®.

USPOLO.ORG

After the tournament suspension went into effect on March 18, 2020, a USPA COVID-19 page was created on uspolo.org to keep USPA members and clubs informed with the most current information. The page included USPA responses to COVID-19 frequently asked questions, guidelines, polo club updates and a link to the USPA COVID-19 Relief Package page.

Regularly evaluating the website and implementing improvements, the Communications Team worked tirelessly to enhance the overall user experience on key pages throughout the year. Further expanding and building out the Learn to Play page, users can now access video testimonials from members and horse features as they learn more about the sport and how to get involved.

Significant improvements were also made to the member club map which now features an overall improved design, layout and user functionality. Users can search by location or USPA Member Club name and autocorrect capabilities are enabled when searching for a city and/ or state.

The Department worked with USPA Umpires, LLC to launch an Umpires LLC landing page under the Association tab of the website. This landing page features a table of contents and gives more prominence and accessibility to umpire resources and documents. Also, the video page on uspolo. org transitioned into a Global Polo TV page where visitors can easily view live USPA tournaments with a qualifying Global Polo TV subscription. The website will retain a video archive of horse highlights, short films and other videos free to all viewers.

USPA OFFICIAL EVENTS

In 2020, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the USPA only livestreamed 11 tournaments and 126 games which are now hosted exclusively on Global Polo TV’s (GPTV) OTT platform. The broadcast featured the on-air talent of two booth announcers (Toby Wayman, Cody Offen) and a fieldside correspondent (Dale Schwetz). Launched in January 2020, Global Polo TV enabled fans to watch live games on globalpolo.com with a free subscription and on major apps including iOS, Android, Roku and Amazon FireTV. Introduced to the livestream in 2019, slow motion replays continued to elevate the fan experience while generating content for social media and GPTV ondemand videos.

Coordinating and working with livestream service provider, ChukkerTV, the Communications Team continued to oversee the livestreaming of all games while working closely with Global Polo Entertainment (GPE) and the host club. Working with a graphic designer

to create new on-air graphics with statistics, a diversified broadcast was produced complete with tournament/ club information, commercials and video content surrounding players and horses.

Approved during the fall meetings, the branding of USPA Events as “USPA Polo Network” was changed to “USPA Official Event.” Moving into 2021, especially considering the increased viewership due to the restrictions of the pandemic, creating a superior experience for viewers through elevated graphics and a wealth of tournamentspecific information for announcers is a focus. Continuing to gather information for semifinal and final horse lists when possible, the Communications Team is committed to educating viewers and helping them more easily recognize equine athletes throughout the livestream.

TOURNAMENT COVERAGE

During 2020, the Department provided marketing and promotional support for over 100 tournaments, a significant increase from last year due to the success of the USPA Polo Tournament Stimulus Package (TSP). Prior to the COVID-19 suspension, only 170 USPA tournaments had been awarded, but since announcing the availability of TSP the number nearly doubled and 350 USPA tournaments were awarded in 2020. Well exceeding a total of 49 Tournament Detail Pages created in 2019, 67 were completed in 2020 and 103 tournament recaps. All USPA tournaments are featured on the tournament calendar on uspolo.org with top-tier tournaments highlighted at the top by month.

Top-tier tournaments, defined as all USPA National tournaments and Circuit and Sanctioned-events

12-goals and above, are the most heavily and widely promoted across all USPA channels. Coordinating with the host club, the Communications Department updates the Tournament Detail Page throughout the duration of the tournament and publishes a final recap article with quotes and photos which is featured in the member e-blast “This Week in Polo.” Coverage typically includes on-site reporting of top-tier tournaments, however COVID-19 travel restrictions prohibited all work-related travel after March 2020. Tournaments are also promoted through USPA social media, which includes Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. Press releases publicizing the final results of select livestreamed tournaments are also sent to local and nationwide polo media outlets.

Capitalizing on the reach and popularity of Instagram and Facebook Stories also continued in 2020. Newlydesigned schedule, tournament brackets and results

score graphics were created to reinforce USPA and GAUNTLET branding and provided followers with scores immediately following livestreamed tournament games.

FEATURED ARTICLES AND POLO PONY HIGHLIGHTS

Illuminating the lives and untold stories of both notable equine athletes and people representing different aspects of the polo community, 17 featured articles were written over the course of 2020. In an effort to bring more depth to key tournaments, the Communications Team made it a goal to seek out more stories directly related to livestreamed tournaments. Adding another dimension

to the livestreaming experience, these featured articles enabled viewers to connect with the players and horses they watched on the field. Topics highlighted this year included Pilot’s newest teammate for the GAUNTLET OF POLO®, umpires, breeding for polo, the Leitner twins, USPA incoming Intercollegiate/Interscholastic Chair, sustainability in polo and topics surrounding the COVID-19 suspension. The team is passionate about showcasing the diversity present within the sport and intentional about featuring players from underrepresented groups. Reshared on social media by USPA Member Clubs and other accounts, featured articles were also reprinted monthly in Polo Players’ Edition.

Although the Florida winter season was cut short, seven new high-goal horse features were released for the GAUNTLET OF POLO®, an initiative which continues to be a fan favorite. Visiting the barns of each featured polo pony, the Communications Team captured content to create short behind-the-scenes videos which were shown on the livestream when the team played. Although unable to be on location for the Pacific Coast Open, the Department also wrote a polo pony highlight which announcers encouraged fans to read during the broadcast. 2021 will continue to bring stories from the polo community to life, bridging the gap between spectators and athletes with several articles already in the works.

SOCIAL MEDIA

Presented with unique challenges due to the COVID-19 tournament suspension, the social media strategy pivoted in 2020 during the height of the pandemic. Devising creative ways to engage and interact with followers on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter, the team introduced games including the 10-Day Polo Challenge, Spot the Differences and USPA Tuesday Crossword puzzle. Without any new tournament content, the focus shifted to utilizing and reposting more user-generated content from players and USPA Member Clubs.

Facebook, Instagram and Twitter’s social media following increased by 16% overall in 2020 with an emphasis on engagement. Ending the year with 32,810 followers, Instagram saw a 3.9% engagement rate in 2020, up 20% from 2019. An engagement rate is the number of likes, comments, saves, and story replies as a percentage of profile impressions. This indicates how engaged people are with a brand and an average brand engagement rate on Instagram is 1.9%.

The United States Polo Association Facebook Page remained steady despite livestreamed games no longer being broadcast on the platform. Post link clicks increased by 20%, highlighting follower interest in published material. The USPA Twitter account showed a 5% increase in post replies in 2020, again demonstrating a continued rise in follower engagement. Leveraging all platforms to spread the message about the livestreaming transition, the Department continued to push all 86,500+ USPA followers over to Global Polo TV to subscribe and watch games live.

An important tenet is the commitment to showcasing diversity of membership (gender, ethnicity, age, etc.) and the varying types of polo in a variety of regions. Representation of players from a variety of demographics is key to promoting inclusivity within polo which is already multigenerational. Also, in a continued effort to familiarize followers with top horses, the strategy includes posting photos and videos of horses that won Best Playing Pony in USPA tournaments and other top horses from the livestream.

EMAIL MARKETING

The weekly member email titled “This Week In Polo” has become a staple in the Association’s communication strategy and a top member benefit. Performing consistently above industry averages, the email’s average open rate in 2020 was 40% and the click-to-open rate was 28%. Sent out every Tuesday afternoon to over 5,000 people, the newsletter serves as the main form of communication and information to USPA members.

Each email contains between six and 14 articles on average ranging in topics from committee, LLC and Global Licensing brand news, tournament coverage, special interest features and USPA Member polo news from across the world. In 2020, the Department created over 450 news articles. Committees, clubs and members are encouraged to submit USPA tournament results and club-related material for inclusion in the weekly email. The popularity of the articles included each week was evident, as many articles were republished and shared in various media outlets and on social media.

USPA BRANDING

The USPA Communications Department is strategic about showcasing the USPA’s official brand, U.S. Polo Assn., whenever possible in order to reinforce the authentic connection to the sport of polo. U.S. Polo Assn. photography, which features recognizable polo players as Global Brand Ambassadors, is often posted on USPA social media platforms. Players are outfitted in U.S. Polo Assn. brand apparel, visually solidifying the strong relationship between the brand and the sport on the polo field. Plus, through the College Partnership Program, U.S. Polo Assn. receives unparalleled exposure by outfitting competitive college polo players on campuses across the country. Also, the team strives to highlight the achievements of American players nationwide and internationally when opportunities to compete in England or Argentina arise.

Working with the same graphic designer, the USPA and Global Polo Entertainment™ have a unified digital presence with stronger branding. Custom USPA branded graphics are created for the livestream, Annual Report, Rulebook, “This Week In Polo,” and other uses which serve to enhance the Association’s professional image.

In 2020, the USPA Polo Development team pivoted to assist clubs and players navigating a challenging year while maintaining flagship programs within the division.

As part of Club Development, the Polo Development Initiative (PDI) completed another successful year. Once again, grant funding requests for capital improvements stood out as one of the marked improvements within the new guidelines released in 2019. Additions and improvements to infrastructure at USPA Member Clubs furthered the mission of PDI to promote the growth and sustainability of polo clubs.

The Intercollegiate/Interscholastic (I/I) Committee completed a restructuring which now includes three subcommittees addressing I/I Tournaments & Regular Season, I/I Program & Club Sustainability and I/I Funding & Awards. The newly restructured I/I Committee is led by Chair Liz Brayboy who works closely with staff and an I/I leadership team, a focal point of the restructuring. In 2020, 22 of 24 preliminary and regional tournaments were completed. The 2020 National Interscholastic Championship (NIS) and National Intercollegiate Championship (NIC) events were ultimately canceled due to the pandemic. The I/I Middle School program continued to grow throughout the year and has become a popular event amongst a number of clubs. 11 middle school tournaments were hosted, providing playing opportunities for the USPA’s youngest members. The Player Development program includes the National Youth Tournament Series (NYTS), Team USPA program and Young Player Opportunity (YPO) Grant.

The Junior Polo Committee welcomed Tiger Kneece as the incoming chairman during the 2020 USPA Fall Board of Governors Meeting. Kneece is a former 7-goal American polo player who now resides in Aiken, South Carolina. During his 25-year tenure as a professional polo player, Kneece won the coveted U.S. Open Polo Championship®, USPA Gold Cup®, Monty Waterbury, Silver Cup® and National Copper Cup®. He hosts a polo school aptly named “Polo Adventures” where introducing people to the sport of polo is the main focus. Managing the Aiken Polo Club (Aiken, South Carolina), Kneece has hosted one of the largest qualifier tournaments each year and has also worked as a coach at the NYTS

Championship®. Kneece will work alongside former chair, Chrys Beal, and Carolyn Stimmel to continue growing the NYTS and YPO programs.

The enthusiasm expressed for NYTS by clubs, parents and players throughout the country was encouraging during an unusual summer. 17 clubs hosted a total of 20

NYTS qualifier events in 2020. The 2020 National Youth Tournament Series Championship® set to be held at the historic Oak Brook Polo Club (Oak Brook, Illinois) was postponed to 2021. The YPO program was suspended for the majority of 2020, however, the YPO Subcommittee has been active in identifying opportunities for young players in the upcoming year.

The Team USPA Committee continued their efforts transitioning the Team USPA program to align with its new goal of producing American high-goal players. The Argentine season was delayed, but ultimately the season began in November 2020. Team USPA supported six American players participating in tournaments ranging from 14- to 24-goals and up.

The Club Development department of the USPA Polo Development, LLC is dedicated to supporting the growth of polo at the grassroots level and beyond by identifying and sharing best practices, sustainable solutions and networking opportunities, and supporting clubs through the Polo Development Initiative (PDI) Program.

In 2020, the Polo Development Initiative continued its support of polo clubs across North America with reimbursable grants aimed predominantly at capital improvements/infrastructure and regional club cooperation.

In 2020, 67 applicants were supported which allowed the average award amount of approximately $13,800.00. Over 51 infrastructure projects along with 50% matching funds injected a total project value of $1,263,000.00 into the polo community. Arena developments and improvements (footing, lights, roof/covering, etc.)

were the overwhelming focus of this infrastructure investment. Additional projects that were awarded included polo field upgrades and polo field maintenance equipment.

Aside from the PDI program, the Club Development Department continued to provide guidance to USPA Member Clubs, regional associations and circuits, to aid in development of the sport. In 2020, many clubs expressed interest in starting regional arena leagues, building off the successful models showcased in Texas (Texas Arena League) and California (Pacific Coast Arena League). The Club Development department has been working to promote and guide these initiatives, presenting the opportunity for clubs to capitalize on PDIsupported projects. This was an initial goal established during the Strategic Planning process for PDI conducted in 2018.

In 2020, the Intercollegiate/Interscholastic (I/I) Committee went through a strategic planning process conducted by a committee comprised of various stakeholders from a cross section of programs in the United States and Canada. Feedback was solicited from members of the I/I community through a survey which focused on strengths and weaknesses and areas for future focus. The strategic planning process included an in-depth view of the committee structure, its programs and priorities raised through the I/I community survey. As a result, a new committee structure was formed that included dividing the I/I program into three categories. Those categories became subgroups each with its own chair: I/I Tournaments & Regular Season chaired by Cindy Halle, I/I Program & Club Sustainability chaired by Liz Brayboy and I/I Funding & Awards chaired by Miranda Luna. The three chairs plus the two coaches’ representatives, Lou Lopez (intercollegiate) and Tiger Kneece (interscholastic), serve as the I/I leadership group. The chairman of the I/I Committee is selected from one of the three sub-group chairs, and that appointment was awarded to Liz Brayboy.

CINDY HALLE, CHAIR

DANNY SCHERAGA

ROBERT LYNKEECHOW

TONY CONDO (NE)

BETH SUPIK (SE)

STEVE ARMOUR (C)

MELANJA JONES (W)

BRAYBOY, CHAIR

CAROLYN STIMMEL

EMMALYN WHEATON

SCOTT WEIR

HEATHER PERKINS

KAREEM ROSSER

LUNA, CHAIR

YAZ GROTNIK

TOM WISEHART

LEZLIE HINER

TRISTA NOLAND

As a direct result of the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2020 I/I tournament season saw a decline in the number of teams that competed because the season was forced to end prematurely. All tournaments except the Northeastern Intercollegiate Men’s and Women’s Regional were played and after an attempt to reschedule both the National Interscholastic Championship (NIS) and National Intercollegiate Championship (NIC) to the fall, both were ultimately canceled. Volunteers and staff utilized this time to address key topics including COVID-19 protocols for I/I matches and outreach to each of the intercollegiate teams to ensure the health and welfare of the horses and programs. Despite having to cancel nationals, the 2020 I/I tournament season saw the addition of the Horsemanship Award presented at each of its tournaments. The NIC Horsemanship Award has been named in the late David Wenning’s honor.

The I/I Tournament & Regular Season sub-group has also been working on a proposal for a Division 1/Division 2 program that will offer a national level tournament to

a wider audience. This proposal is planned to be put into use for the 2021-2022 I/I season and projected to bring in more teams to the intercollegiate division.

The USPA’s Middle School Program, now in its seventh year, took to the scene in the fall, offering 11 tournaments across the country for players from fifth to eighth grade.

The USPA I/I program traveled to the Rugby Polo Club, at Onley Grounds Farm in the United Kingdom, for the annual USA vs. Britain Intercollegiate Challenge Cup. This year marked the eighth annual event, with the USA team pulling together a comeback win. Representing the USA in 2020 were Fritz Felhaber (Texas A&M University), Elly Schwingel (Michigan State University), Molly Agee (Point Loma University) and Shariah Harris (Cornell University). This victory brings the series 6-2 in favor of the USA.

The seventh annual National I/I Alumni Tournament –the Feldman Cup, was hosted by the Central Coast Polo Club in Los Osos, California. Three teams of alumni from various collegiate programs were represented with Santa Barbara taking home the honors. Also on the alumni front, circuit level I/I events are gaining momentum. Both an alumni level tournament and a JV/ Club level tournament have been added to the list of circuit level events available to all USPA Member Clubs and circuits.

Due to travel concerns with COVID-19, the College Polo 101 – On the Road series, was put on hold. In lieu of the in-person event, the I/I program offered an I/I Ask the Expert series that hosted weekly Zoom meetings on various topics from horse care to sponsorships. Additionally, staff provided teams with a number of virtual online learning tools for both players and coaches to engage them during the year, including skills and drills, lessons, and strength and conditioning webinars. The Intercollegiate Player Clinic program, continued in 2020 as a reimbursement program and was open to both intercollegiate and interscholastic teams. Additionally, the I/I program supported a horsemanship clinic that ran in conjunction with the Central Coast Fall Invitational.

75 interscholastic students earned their varsity letter in polo through the USPA’s Interscholastic Varsity Letter Program. Student athletes work towards 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 fifth year, the USPA Intercollegiate Polo Scholarship was awarded to six new student athletes, bringing the total number of recipients to 19 for the 2020-2021 academic year. Scholarship criteria is based on academics, participation and excellence in I/I polo. 2020 recipients included Hannah Reynolds (Texas A&M University), Elizabeth Owens (University of Virginia), Grace Mudra (Texas A&M University), Grace Grotnik (Southern Methodist University), Samantha Leach (Oklahoma State University) and Kaylin Bender (Texas Christian University). 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. In response to COVID-19, and several of the college programs unable to be active with their horses, approval was granted to award funds for foot-mallets to teams who requested them. New fundraising guidelines will be released in 2021 which include 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 in-depth proposal and a greater return on investment.

2020 saw the fifth edition of the Intercollegiate Club Catalog – a resource available in print and online that showcases each of the 40 USPA intercollegiate college programs. Additionally, the Interscholastic Parent Handbook was updated, which serves as a resource and introduction for families new to polo. The latest version will offer customized pages for clubs who play a key role as the first impression to new players.

Equine Welfare continues to be at the forefront of the I/I program. All horses playing in I/I sanctioned events must provide the USPA, prior to the start of the tournament, a proof of negative Coggins, current health paper, and documentation of any host site health requirements such as specific required vaccines. Horses were also required to partake in a Pre-Tournament Horse Inspection that was performed by the on-site licensed veterinarian. The horses were checked for soundness and for appropriate Body Condition Score.

The I/I Program & Club Sustainability sub-group has several working groups within it including Alumni Engagement, Horse Donation and Rehoming, I/I Value Metrics and I/I Club Sustainability. The Alumni Engagement group is working on an event outline for clubs to host networking events to connect I/I alumni to a local club. The Horse Donation and Rehoming group has created a Donation Toolkit that is a resource available to teams to assist in the best practices and processes for donating, receiving and rehoming horses into I/I programs.

U.S. Polo Assn. continues to support intercollegiate teams through the Collegiate Partnership Program, this year supporting the teams with a sponsorship, U.S. Polo Assn. branded hats and masks.

The USPA Polo Development, LLC’s player development programs include Team USPA and Junior Polo Committee initiatives such as the National Youth Tournament Series (NYTS) and the Young Player Opportunity (YPO) Grant program. In 2020, the Junior Polo Committee underwent a restructuring process to define three targeted subcommittees: Junior Polo, National Youth Tournament Series and the Young Player Opportunity Grant. The Committees’ leadership provides years of expertise in coaching, junior polo and player development. The three focused subcommittees encompassed a wide range of touch points to provide training opportunities, competitive play and international events to the USPA’s youth membership.

After restructuring the program in 2019, the Team USPA Committee worked throughout the year to transition the program to a more focused approach of developing higher-rated American players. With a benchmark of a 5-goal handicap by age 22 and a smaller number of players in the program, the evaluation and goal-setting process was at the forefront of the Committee’s work.

Unfortunately, the 2020 NYTS Championship® slated to be held at the historic Oak Brook Polo Club in Chicago, Illinois, was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic and was fortunately able to be rescheduled to January 2021 at the Port Mayaca Polo Club and the International Polo Club Palm Beach. Oak Brook Polo Club will have the opportunity to host the 2021 NYTS Championship® in early September. 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 Team USPA Committee continued to work diligently to make significant changes to the existing program. Narrowing the focus of the program to support young American players with high-goal potential allowed the program to support players during their critical early years of development. The program is working towards a twelve-player cap which will be achieved through annual evaluations and review of each player’s progress towards their stated goals. In 2021, the Team USPA Committee plans to pinpoint specific ways to assist high-achieving female American players.

With the new goal of Team USPA in mind, identifying training opportunities and providing support during Argentina’s high-goal season became increasingly important. Players were encouraged to seek out individual opportunities through personal connections. In 2020, six Team USPA members played in Argentina during the fall season in tournaments ranging from 14-goals to 24-goal and up, including the prestigious Copa Cámara de Diputados.

National Youth Tournament Series Program

The National Youth Tournament Series (NYTS) Program proved its resilience in 2020. Players aged 19 and under competed at local tournaments hosted by USPA Member Clubs throughout the summer and into early fall. To overcome travel restrictions, the NYTS team provided virtual training to local NYTS tournament managers and recruited many new managers throughout the country.

184 players competed with 87 unique All-Stars named from 20 qualifier tournaments. Host clubs remained flexible, providing opportunities for young players to compete against their peers. The level of play continues to increase each year, and the number of teams competing at each qualifier is trending upwards. The Polo Development team will work with clubs throughout 2021 to host successful NYTS qualifier tournaments at USPA Member Clubs.

Young Player Opportunity Grant (YPO)

The Young Player Opportunity (YPO) 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 their playing and horsemanship abilities. The YPO Committee is poised to accept applications once again beginning in early 2021.

The goal of the USPA Umpires, LLC is to support all aspects of umpire services and programs within the United States Polo Association. Each year the demand for professional umpiring from clubs and players continues to grow. The Umpires LLC understands the intricacies of providing umpire services and constantly upgrades procedures and principles in order to strengthen the LLC’s ideals. Recruitment, training and retainment of top umpires remains the key focus moving into 2021. By enhancing the training program, Umpires LLC is able to offer the most knowledgeable and experienced umpires to officiate USPA tournaments.

Umpire Program

The Umpires LLC maintained an ongoing umpire recruitment program to keep pace with increasing requests from clubs for professional umpires. With the help of advanced technology, Umpires LLC train and continuously educate umpires, keeping them up to date on all rule changes and rule interpretations. In 2020, 28 professional umpires were on contract, servicing over 100 USPA Member Clubs. Cumulatively, these umpires officiated over 2,170 games.

Tournament Stimulus Package (TSP)

As the country continued to emerge out of the COVID-19 pandemic, it was important for USPA Member Clubs to continue playing polo and hosting USPA tournaments and events. These events helped support the club’s activity as well as provided opportunities to support the polo community. When polo resumed following the

suspension, the USPA replaced the PUMP/8 Program with the Tournament Stimulus Package (TSP). Under TSP guidelines, USPA Member Clubs received one professional umpire at no cost, $2,500.00 in prize money and trophies for their first two USPA tournaments in 2020 post COVID-19 polo suspension. To be eligible, clubs needed to have a least four teams competing in the tournament. The program was extremely successful with 170 tournaments played and 90 clubs participating. The USPA recognized the need to continue to support clubs during these times and approved the extension of the USPA Polo Tournament Stimulus Package through 2021.

Intercollegiate/Interscholastic Program

The Umpires LLC provided umpire support for 22 Intercollegiate/Interscholastic (I/I) tournaments (83 games) before the COVID-19 suspension in early March. Umpire support consisted of three umpires for each game in the tournament (two mounted and one referee). Unfortunately, all National interscholastic and intercollegiate tournaments were canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. During the fall, the Umpires LLC sent umpires to several regular I/I season games when applicable. The Umpires LLC continued to expand the I/I program and currently employs 18 umpires who specialize in arena polo. These umpires will be available to officiate I/I games as well as USPA arena events.

Zoom Rules Reviews

There were two umpire training camps and several Rules Reviews before the COVID-19 suspension. Initially, the Umpires LLC offered Rules Reviews twice a week via Zoom to all USPA members. Scaling back, it was decided to offer Rules Reviews to any clubs that requested one. Upon consideration the Umpires LLC felt members would be more comfortable asking questions and participating in discussions in a smaller environment.

USPA Video Rulebook

Launched in 2019, the online USPA Video Rulebook is accessible to all USPA members and is an excellent avenue for players to have direct communication with the Umpires LLC in regards to rule updates and interpretations. All rules are presented in a video format so players can read the rule and watch the video rule

explanation, as well as the video rule violation. The Video Rulebook has been updated with all 21 new rule changes for 2021. Players can now ask a question online and the Umpires LLC will answer the questions directly. The Arena/Outdoor Differences Guide is also available and a section titled “Meet the Umpires,” has been added which features each professional umpire’s profile.

Technology

The Umpires LLC used the tools of technology to improve officiating on the field as well as off the field in 2020. Ongoing training and education of professional umpires was aided with drone footage, GoPro cameras, and Dartfish, who provided video breakdown of calls, non-calls and plays. The Umpires LLC created a form to collect data and translate it to a call rate for each umpire, in order to track their standing on a “call” percentage basis. At all games, officials communicated with each other via radios and Instant Replay was typically used at all high-goal games. Cameras were strategically placed around the field to record the game. The Umpires LLC tested and intend to roll out a pilot program of a fieldside replay system for the referee in 2021. This will consist of a single camera angle from a 25’ to 40’ tower and a local network that streams the video to an iPad with the ability to pause and replay in slow motion any specific piece of video the referee wishes to review.

PoloSK

The PoloSK app is the new umpire platform that the Umpires LLC uses for umpire scheduling, testing and to manage umpire certifications. The app is available on laptops, cell phones and tablets. The Umpires LLC is in the process of strengthening and expanding the partnership with PoloSK with scheduling and reporting functionality. Additionally, expanding the integration across other divisions of the USPA is being explored to better track and organize data and cross-referencing abilities.

Leadership & Personal Growth

USPA Umpires, LLC has successfully partnered with the head of the Gonzaga School of Leadership Studies, Rachelle Strawther. She conducted two workshops in California in 2020 and has been retained for the 2021 winter season to provide a workshop in Florida and California. All professional umpires will attend a workshop where they will focus on emotional intelligence, conflict resolution and player/umpire interactions. Emotional intelligence is the ability to understand, use, and manage your own emotions in positive ways to relieve stress, communicate effectively, empathize with others, overcome challenges and defuse conflict.

Global Polo Entertainment™ (GPE) is a media and event-oriented company created in 2018 to market and promote the United States Polo Association’s (USPA) most prestigious tournaments. The mission of GPE is to advance the trajectory of high-goal polo through the GAUNTLET OF POLO® and create a premier online destination for fans to watch live polo games anytime and anywhere.

In January 2020, GPE partnered with the USPA and USPA Global Licensing (USPAGL) to launch Global Polo TV (GPTV) with a strategy to accomplish the following goals: create an over-the-top (OTT) platform with the highest-resolution polo-viewing experience; develop a platform that can be monetized through subscriptions and corporate sponsors; bring polo to a wider audience by delivering USPA/GPTV media rights to a national broadcaster; decrease redundancies and allow new polo fans the ability to find and watch polo; and further market U.S. Polo Assn.’s authentic connection to the sport of polo by providing a new vehicle to promote the brand’s products worldwide.

Through the creation of an in-house production department, GPTV houses hundreds of hours of weekly programming which includes live games, USPA archived games, horse features, player interviews and news stories, all accessible at globalpolo.com and on multiple applications through iOS, Android, Amazon Fire and Roku. Since its launch in late 2019, the GPTV platform has had strong engagement and growth with 8,500 subscribers and more than 180,000 unique page views to the site. The metrics show that subscribers are most interested in live games and USPA archived polo matches. With the metrics driving strategy, GPTV is focused on delivering content that fans want to watch.

Although the polo season in the U.S. ended prematurely in March due to the COVID-19 pandemic, GPTV was able to offer content created by the in-house production department that continued to build the platform’s subscription base. When polo resumed in England, GPTV built strategic partnerships to air the live games. Tournaments that aired live included the Prince of Wales Trophy, the Queen’s Cup, Cowdray’s Gold Cup, the French Open and in the United States the Silver Cup® and Pacific Coast Open from the Santa Barbara Polo & Racquet Club in Carpinteria, California. As a result

of strong partnerships and the creation of engaging content, GPTV became the only source for live global polo, which enabled the platform to increase the amount of subscribers. GPTV has also become the official broadcaster for USPA Official Events and will exclusively deliver all the USPA’s live and on-demand content.

Beginning January 2021, GPTV offered three subscription packages to non-USPA Members: the Premium Polo Pass, the GAUNTLET OF POLO® Pass and the Polo Pass. The Premium Polo Pass gives subscribers access to all livestreamed USPA tournaments including the GAUNTLET OF POLO®. This package is free to all Playing and Lifetime Members with a paid USPA membership. The GAUNTLET OF POLO® Pass includes access to all games of the C.V. Whitney Cup®, USPA Gold Cup® and the U.S. Open Polo Championship®. The Polo Pass includes all livestreamed USPA tournaments with the exception of the GAUNTLET OF POLO®. This package is free to all USPA Social Members. Promotional pricing was made available prior to January 1, 2021.

After a successful inaugural year in which a GAUNTLET champion was crowned, 14 teams entered to compete in the 2020 GAUNTLET OF POLO® tournament, the sport’s ultimate test. Held at the USPA Global Licensing headquarters in West Palm Beach, Florida, the GAUNTLET OF POLO® Media Day kicked off the start of the tournament. The event attracted more than 75 people including the official GAUNTLET sponsors, U.S. Polo Assn., the Palm Beach County Film and Sports Commission, Discover the Palm Beaches and Fifth Third Bank. In addition to providing the latest updates on the highly-anticipated event, the community and media heard from two players during a fireside chat where each discussed how important it was for them to win the three most prestigious tournaments in the United States.

On February 23, 2020, Las Monjitas defeated La Indiana in a close game to become the winner of the 2020 C.V. Whitney Cup®, the first tournament of the GAUNTLET. Las Monjitas then went on to qualify for the USPA Gold Cup® Semifinals, however the conclusion of the USPA Gold Cup® was postponed. Also, the entirety of the U.S. Open Polo Championship® was canceled. The midseason cancellation was a collective decision made for the safety of the players, their families, grooms and the spectators. The remainder of the 2020 USPA Gold Cup® was played in February 2021 to officially conclude the 2020 high-goal season.

GLOBAL MOMENTUM AMID CHALLENGING TIMES

Despite the challenges facing the entire retail industry amid the global COVID-19 pandemic, USPA Global Licensing Inc. (USPAGL) continued to grow the U.S. Polo Assn. brand and drive awareness of the sport of polo around the world through global broadcast, events, digital, marketing and public relations initiatives.

In 2020, U.S. Polo Assn. maintained its presence in 180 countries worldwide with approximately 1,100 stores, as many others in the competitive retail space struggled to stay afloat, ultimately closing stores or declaring bankruptcy.

U.S. Polo Assn. was again ranked in License Global Magazine’s list of “Top 150 Global Licensors,” as the fifth largest sports licensor and thirty-eighth overall. USPAGL is proud to be ranked alongside such iconic sports brands as the National Football League (NFL), National Basketball Association (NBA) and Major League Baseball (MLB), particularly at such an unprecedented time.

COVID-19 PANDEMIC

Closing out a record year of double-digit growth in 2019, USPAGL had a strong start to 2020 with many exciting initiatives underway. By March 2020 however, nearly 90 percent of the U.S. Polo Assn. brick and mortar business was temporarily closed due to the pandemic.

The USPAGL leadership team immediately kicked into action. USPAGL became nimble and adaptive, shifted strategy and resources where needed, and maintained tight communications with partners around the world to ensure they had the support they needed. By June, many of the brand’s global partners were reopening stores. USPAGL provided them with “Store Reopening Best Practices” as standardized guidance. The extensive operational material featured graphics, store signage and instructions on how to function safely.

GLOBAL RETAIL AND E-COMMERCE EXPANSION

Considering the retail market was already in flux prior to the pandemic, USPAGL found new ways to both combat and embrace online shopping to support and grow the business while stores were closed.

At the end of 2019, U.S. Polo Assn. opened its first international “high goal” energy store in Hangzhou City, China, recognized as one of the world’s innovation hubs. The store hit record sales in the early part of 2020, prior to the pandemic and has once again regained its footing since China’s reopening. With its smaller footprint of 1,000 square feet and highengagement components including a sport-inspired selfie wall and interactive mirror, the successful store is a prototype for future stores worldwide.

In addition, U.S. Polo Assn. was honored with two highly commended honors for Global Retailer and Emerging Market Retailer in the prestigious 15th Annual Global Retail & Leisure International (RLI) Awards. The RLI Awards honor the most visionary and innovative retail and leisure concepts from across the globe.

While USPAGL’s digital strategy was well underway in 2020 with the momentum of the global digital site, uspoloassnglobal.com, the team significantly ramped up efforts to accelerate digital as the pandemic temporarily

closed stores. Fast tracking digital resulted in more than 30 brand and e-commerce sites to date, with the global site now accessible in 10 different languages across 26 different countries. Traffic continues to increase, with more than three million views since the website went live. USPAGL has also seen more than a 100 percent increase in global online shopping in 2020.

EVENTS

USPAGL again partnered with the United States Polo Association (USPA) and International Polo Club Palm Beach (IPC) for the GAUNTLET OF POLO®. While the 2020 season was unfortunately cut short, it was on track to be another successful year with 14 competitive teams.

In early 2020, USPAGL supported select domestic and international events like the U.S. Polo Assn. 40-Goal Polo Challenge and the Federation of International Polo (FIP) 106th Ambassador Cup. Despite the pandemic, club and event support remained at the forefront of USPAGL’s mission throughout 2020. As the sport resumed mid-year, USPAGL supported over 20 domestic and international events including the Silver Cup®, America Cup™ and the German Polo Championship.

COLLEGIATE PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM (CPP)

U.S. Polo Assn. partnered again with collegiate polo teams across North America, with 30 schools representing 50 women’s and men’s teams for the 2019-2020 season. Assistance through the Collegiate Partnership Program (CPP) included a financial contribution, custom performance jerseys, whites, polo shirts and gear bags for the teams. Although the pandemic ended the collegiate season early, the teams remained active on social media and USPAGL recognized and awarded the top five teams.

Although the 2020-2021 intercollegiate season will be different than years past, USPAGL is looking forward to continuing the program. While many of the schools are unable to compete this season, some are still practicing, and USPAGL was able to generate strong interest among student athletes, even adding two new schools: the University of Kentucky (Lexington, Kentucky) and Morehouse College (Atlanta, Georgia).

MARKETING

Marketing continues to drive the business and brand awareness as global photo shoots provide sportinspired and fashion content worldwide. The photo shoots included sport-inspired scenes with polo players at beautiful polo clubs such as Port Mayaca Polo Club (PMPC), Villa del Lago and the International Polo Club Palm Beach (IPC). Other inspirational locations included Vizcaya Museum & Gardens in Miami, Florida, as well as the picturesque Florida Keys. These amazing shots are being showcased throughout social media, retail stores, print ads and billboards around the world.

For the very first time, U.S. Polo Assn. was featured in the official programs for the Super Bowl LIV, with one million pre-sold copies, and the Grammy Awards, with distribution of the brochure to 15,000 people and an additional 500,000 digital downloads. Being part of these two iconic events provided great opportunities for U.S. Polo Assn. to reach new consumers.

By mid-year, USPAGL had partnered with Yellowstone, cable TV’s most watched series of 2020, running a U.S. Polo Assn. commercial during the show’s season finale. The commercial also ran for two additional weeks and was viewed by an audience of over 20 million including 7.5 million viewers during the season finale alone, reaching millions of potential consumers.

USPAGL also leveraged their Eurosport partnership to run commercial spots on the channel during high profile events such as the Tour de France, generating more than six million impressions across Europe and reaching more than 4.5 million unique viewers.

In late 2020, USPAGL learned that the 30-minute show, Women in Polo: The Palm Beaches was nominated for a Regional Emmy® Award by The Suncoast Chapter of The National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (NATAS). The show itself was released in conjunction with U.S. Polo Assn.’s Women’s Initiative. The show has reached more than 60 million households across an international audience including FOX Sports Florida, TVG Network, ThePalmBeaches.TV as well as global social media platforms targeting some 100 countries.

Finally, U.S. Polo Assn. continues to build global momentum on social media exceeding five million followers worldwide. On Instagram and Facebook alone the brand generated more than 70 million impressions, and audiences engaged with content more than 1.2 million times. In addition, U.S. Polo Assn. continued to partner with top influencers in key countries around the world to engage global consumers with fashion and sport. The combination of increased elevated content and new partnerships will continue to play a major role in driving awareness and consumer advocacy.

EARNED MEDIA

Despite the media’s shift in focus to the effects of the pandemic, USPAGL continued to establish meaningful relationships with fashion, lifestyle and sport editors who helped tell the brand story and its authentic connection to the sport. This year, monthly press releases were distributed with topics ranging from the early GAUNTLET OF POLO® announcements

to seasonal collections, multiple awards and new partnerships. The brand was extensively featured in Coastal Lifestyle, Polo Lifestyle, Polo & Lifestyle, Forbes.com, Retail & Leisure International, WWD, Wellington Magazine and A-List Nation, among others.

In addition, USPAGL Public Relations supported President & CEO, J. Michael Prince as an outspoken thought leader for the retail industry regarding the pandemic. Both the brand and Prince were featured in a multitude of local, national and international industry publications and podcasts, including Retail & Leisure International, The Retail Summit and WWD.

NANTUCKET WHALER

Nantucket Whaler’s in-store “season” was cut short by the pandemic, opening in late June rather than April as planned. However, the store was very busy from its opening until the end of the season, with the brand

experiencing steady growth. This year’s highlights for the brand include features in Forbes.com, N Magazine, Coastal Lifestyle, Wellington Magazine and a partner campaign with American Express during the holiday season.

At the close of 2020, the brand announced the opening of its new “Holiday Pop-up Shop” in West Palm Beach, Florida, situated in Rosemary Square, one of Florida’s premier international shopping destinations. The trendy shopping area that attracts locals and tourists alike features high-profile retailers including Lululemon and Yeti.

THE FUTURE

USPAGL remains on the offense and continues to be flexible during these challenging times. The brand will also continue to push forward on efforts to build U.S. Polo Assn. globally through diverse and forward-thinking initiatives.

In the most unprecedented time in the company’s history, USAPGL was able to meet the year’s difficulties and overcome them with strategic thinking and aggressive action. With the realistic expectation that 2021 will continue to bring all retailers immense challenges amid the ongoing pandemic, USPAGL

remains optimistic that through strong leadership, continued partner/licensee support and consumerfocused initiatives online and in-store, the U.S. Polo Assn. brand will continue to prevail for the long-term.

USPA MISSION STATEMENT:

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.

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: Carlucho Arellano

Services Staff: Matthew Baran, Jewel Connelly, Lindsay Dolan, Kaila Dowd, Lindsey Ebersbach, Cristina Fernandez

ARENA COMMITTEE

Mission Statement: The Arena Committee is the successor of the Indoor Polo Association. Its mission is to manage arena polo within the USPA as well as organize, promote and develop arena polo with member clubs and players. The committee seeks to differentiate arena polo as an exciting, competitive and alternative version of the sport of polo, as well as an invaluable teaching polo format. The committee’s initiatives and responsibilities include arena rules, arena handicaps, high-goal arena polo, arena tournaments, international arena polo, I/I and women’s arena polo.

Chairman: Robin Sanchez

Executive Staff: Carlucho Arellano

Staff: Kaila Dowd

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

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.

Chairman: Tom Goodspeed

Executive Staff: Carlucho Arellano

Staff: Lindsay Dolan

Circuit Arena Handicap Chairs: Brandon Alcott (PNW), Carlucho Arellano (FL), Mark Becker (HI), Tommy Biddle (NE), Michael Carney (GP), Erica Gandomcar-Sachs (RM), John Gobin (E), Willie Hartnett (SE), Megan Judge (PC), Justin Powers (MS), Diego Florez (B), John Ryan (C), Robin Sanchez (SW)

At-Large Arena Handicappers: Bradley Biddle, Ali Davidge, Gates Gridley, 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.”

Chairman: Mark Gillespie

Executive Staff: Carlucho Arellano

Staff: Kaila Dowd

Committee Members: Stephen Cobb, 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)

Committee Chair: Habib Nasrullah

Executive Staff: Susan Present, CPA, CGMA, CFE

Committee Members: Tim Kelly, Charles Stanislawski, MBT, CPA, CTC

BOARD AND STAFF DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE

Mission Statement: 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 Executive Officer in USPA personnel matters and offer advice and support to the Association’s Chairman in all matters relating to the 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.

The Committee’s responsibility (concerning the USPA and subsidiary Limited Liability Companies) includes, but is not limited to: human resources, information technology, staff oversight, staff compensation, staff development and succession, strategic planning, Board development and succession planning and Board and staff evaluation and interaction.

Chairman: Peter Rizzo

Executive Staff: Susan Present

Staff: Beverly Basist

Committee Members: Liz Brayboy, Leighton Jordan, Sheryl Sick, Daniel Walker, Zach Grob

CLUB AND MEMBERSHIP ADMINISTRATION COMMITTEE

Mission Statement: The Club and Member Administration Committee reviews and evaluates all new club applications and the status of all current clubs to ensure compliance and maintenance with the Association’s Constitution, By-Laws and Board-approved policies then in effect. The Committee undertakes such review in connection with each new club application and no less than annually for each existing club and makes recommendations based upon its reviews to the Board of Governors regarding the status of the Association’s member clubs.

Chairman: Steven Armour

Executive Staff: Carlucho Arellano

Staff: Lindsay Dolan

Committee Members: James A’Court, Edward Armstrong, David Brooks, Avery Chapman Esq., Stephen Cobb, George Dill, Sheila Everett, Dennis Geiler, Robin Sanchez

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.

Chairman: Paul Jornayvaz

Executive Staff: Carlucho Arellano

Staff: Lindsey Ebersbach

Legal Advisor: Jodi Pellettiere Patt

Committee Members: Steven Armour, Avery Chapman Esq., Bill Kirton, Joe Muldoon, Charles Smith, Pamela Flanagan

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.

Chairman: Mike Manno, DVM

Executive Staff: Robert Puetz, Carlucho Arellano

Staff: Lindsay Dolan

Equine Awards: Mary Muldoon

Equine Welfare Publications: Aimee Waters

Distress Fund: Dawn Weber

Committee Members: Neil Agate, Avery Chapman Esq., Kirsten Ludwig, Sue Lukashevich, Mary Muldoon, Gwen Rizzo, Robin Sanchez, Cissie Snow, Lydia Sudick, Kathleen Timmons, Aimee Waters, Dawn Weber

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

Chairman: Stewart Armstrong

Executive Staff: Carlucho Arellano

Committee Members: Chrys Beal, Michael Carney, Anthony Coppola, 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.

Chairman: Samuel Ramirez Jr.

Staff: Susan Present

Committee Members: Avery Chapman Esq.,

Rudolph, Stewart Armstrong

HIGH-GOAL COMMITTEE

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

Chairman: Maureen Brennan

Executive Staff: Carlucho Arellano

Staff: Lindsey Ebersbach

Committee Members: Julio Arellano, Thomas Gose, Chris Green, Annabelle Gundlach, Jeff Hall, Justin Klentner, James Newman, Marc Ganzi, Shannon Stilson, Nic Roldan

HORSE REGISTRY COMMITTEE

Mission Statement: TBA

Chairman: Stewart Armstrong

Executive Staff: Carlucho Arellano

Staff: Justin Powers

Committee Members: Trey Schott, Tony 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.

Chairman: Jeff Hall

Executive Staff: Carlucho Arellano

Committee Staff: Lindsey Ebersbach

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

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.

Chairman: Chris Stratemann

Executive Staff: Carlucho Arellano

Staff: Lindsay Dolan

Circuit Outdoor Handicap Chairs: Peter Alworth (C), Nicholas Barry (NE), Kelly Beal (SW), Mark Becker (HI), Graham Bray (PC), Michael Carney (GP), George Dill (PNW), Chad Middendorf (MS), Charles Muldoon (E), Horacio Onetto (SE), Diego Florez (B), Mark Wates (RM), Toby Wayman (FL)

At Large Outdoor Handicappers: Tommy Biddle, Jeff Blake, Haley Bryan, Joey Casey, 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.

Chairman: Chris Green

Vice Chairman: Thomas Gose

Executive Staff: Carlucho Arellano, Charles Muldoon

Staff: Lindsey Ebersbach

Committee Members: Stewart Armstrong, Jesse Bray, Michael Carney, Cecilia Cochran, Melanja Jones, Anna Winslow-Palacios, Billy Raab, Jeffrey Scheraga, Trey Schott, Toby Wayman

Arena Rules Subcommittee

Chairman: Chris Green

Executive Staff: Charles Muldoon

Staff: Carlucho Arellano, Lindsey Ebersbach

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

Ex-Officio Member: Cindy Halle

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.

Chairman: James A. Ulibarri, MD

Executive Staff: Carlucho Arellano

Staff: Lindsay Dolan

Committee Members: Dr. Thor Norregaard, Julio Arellano, Chrys Beal, Avery Chapman Esq., Anthony Coppola, Robert Donahey, Peter Rizzo, Robin Sanchez, Sherry Sheldon Gibson

STRATEGIC PLANNING COMMITTEE

Mission Statement: TBD

Chairman: Stewart Armstrong

Staff: Lindsey Ebersbach

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

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.

Chairman: Michael Carney

Executive Staff: Carlucho Arellano

Staff: Kaila Dowd

Committee Members: Steven Armour, Edward Armstrong, Stewart Armstrong, Jessica Bailey, Graham Bray, Maureen Brennan, Anthony Coppola, Erica Gandomcar-Sachs, Melanja Jones, Jennifer McLeavy, James Newman, Stephen Orthwein Jr., 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).

Chairman: Maureen Brennan

Executive Staff: Carlucho Arellano

Staff: Lindsay Dolan

Circuit Women’s Handicap Chairs: Paige Boone (FL), Marisa Bianchi (E), Liz Brayboy (NE), Natalie Camacho (B), Jesse Cole (HI), Robbin Figge (C), Erica Gandomcar-Sachs (RM), Mia Bray (PC), Sarah Knapp (MS), Susie Koehler (GP), KC Krueger (SW), Jolie Liston (SE), Sheryl Sick (PNW)

At-Large Women’s Handicappers: Cecelia Cochran, Dayelle Fargey, Pamela Flanagan, Posey Obrecht, Alyson Poor, Robin Sanchez, Kylie Sheehan, Jennifer Williams

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.

Chairman: Meghan Gracida

Executive Staff: Carlucho Arellano

Staff: Kaila Dowd

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, Lynn Thompson, Gillian Young

YOUNG PLAYER’S 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.

Chairman: Todd Thurston

Committee Members: Hope Arellano, Costi Caset, Grant Ganzi, Zach Grob, Kylie Sheehan, Jim Wright, Mason Wroe, Jared Zenni

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 Polo Development Initiative grants to clubs.

Executive Staff: Justin Powers

INTERSCHOLASTIC & INTERCOLLEGIATE 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, Liz Brayboy, Tiger Kneece, Lou Lopez

National Host Tournament Committee Members: Liz Brayboy, Cindy Halle, Miranda Luna, Danny Scheraga, Robert Lyn Kee Chow

Tournament & Regular Season Committee: Cindy Halle, Danny Scheraga, Robert Lyn Kee Chow, Beth

Program & Club Sustainability Committee: Liz Brayboy, Carolyn Stimmel, Emmalyn

Funding & Awards Committee: Miranda Luna, Tom

Coaches’ Representatives: Lou Lopez (Intercollegiate), Tiger Kneece (Interscholastic)

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

Executive Staff: Justin Powers

Committee Staff: Amanda Snow

Committee Members: Chrys Beal, Bill Kirton, Carolyn Stimmel, Brandon Alcott, Haley Bryan, Nick Snow, Alan Meeker, Margie Paur

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

Executive Staff: Justin Powers

Committee Staff: Pam Mudra

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

Executive Staff: Justin Powers

Committee Staff: Amanda Snow

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

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: Thomas Gose

Executive Director: Charles Muldoon

Committee Members: Stewart Armstrong, Graham Bray, Cindy Halle, William Raab

SERVICES

Carlucho Arellano – Executive Director

Lindsey Ebersbach – Senior Executive Administrator

Matthew Baran – Director of Communications

Lindsay Dolan – Membership and Handicap Director

Cristina Fernandez – Communications Manager

Jewel Connelly – Communications Coordinator

Kaila Dowd – Tournament Coordinator

CORPORATE-FINANCE AND ADMINISTRATION

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

Kelly Vanderwerff, CPA – Controller

Deanna Sullivan – Accounting Coordinator

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

Amanda Snow – Director of Player Development

Hayley Heatley – Player Development Program Manager

Pam Mudra – PDI Manager

INTERCOLLEGIATE/INTERSCHOLASTIC

Amy Fraser – Director of I/I Polo

Ali Davidge – I/I Program Coordinator

Emily Dewey – I/I Tournament Manager

UMPIRES LLC

Charles Muldoon – Executive Director

Bradley Biddle – Arena Umpire Director

Dana Fortugno – Eastern Regional Umpire Director

Fergus Gould – Western Regional Umpire Director

Maggie Mitchell – Umpires Executive Administrator

Jennifer Furlow – Umpires Financial Analyst

Deb Ferro – Administrative Assistant

USPA GLOBAL LICENSING INC.

David Cummings – Chairman

J. Michael Prince – President and Chief Executive Officer

Shannon Stilson – Assistant Vice President of Marketing

Marianne De La Torre – Senior Coordinator Global Broadcast & Events

Allison Annear – Senior Event Marketing Manager

Handicap Rating Breakdown

$600,000

$1,000,000

$11,200,000

$12,800,000

2020 Operating Requirements Per Entity