Oct 21, 2020
The 2020-2021 Intercollegiate/Interscholastic (I/I) season is going to look a bit different this year, especially for USPA intercollegiate programs. Due to COVID-19 several programs were forced to shut down at the end of the spring season. Even though many schools are back in session, some colleges and universities aren’t allowing club sports or organizations to be active, bringing some teams’ fall polo plans to a screeching halt. Although college programs are eligible to receive assistance through the USPA COVID-19 Equine Welfare Relief Program (ERP), without polo being played, some clubs are not receiving student dues to support their programs. The USPA has been very impressed by some clever fundraising ideas, so please take a peek at this week’s I/I Team Spotlight and consider supporting their fundraiser!
ABOUT THE UNIVERSITY OF CONNECTICUT POLO CLUB: Established in 1969, the UConn Polo Club has garnered multiple national championship titles and produced skilled polo players of all levels. The club operates under the University of Connecticut’s Department of Animal Science but is primarily student run. This year’s players come from Connecticut, New York, New Jersey and Texas. With the combined knowledge and experiences of varsity coach Anders Carlton and community lesson coach Kim Syme, the UConn Polo Club continues to be a prevalent intercollegiate team in the Northeastern region.
UCONN MERCHANDISE FUNDRAISER: This year, the UConn Polo Club is asking members of the polo community to support the club by participating in the UConn Polo Merchandise Fundraiser. UConn Polo apparel and tumblers will be for sale online. Profits from the fundraiser will aid the team in purchasing new tack and equipment for the polo horses which includes saddles, bell boots, body clippers, and mallets. The online store will be open until Thursday, October 29.
Effective Date: Saturday, May 16, 2020
The suspension of USPA Tournaments and Events will be lifted for USPA Member Clubs in locales where hosting polo matches and tournaments is permitted under applicable state and local laws, executive orders and similar decrees. The USPA Member Clubs in these locales are encouraged to follow all such requirements of their state and local authorities with respect to polo operations. In addition, we also encourage all USPA Member Clubs to take the precautions recommended by the CDC. We are preparing a detailed list of best practices for USPA Member Clubs as they return to hosting USPA Tournaments and Events and plan to circulate these guidelines within the next week. We will continue to monitor the COVID-19 situation closely and will notify you if we determine a different course of action is necessary.
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