Policies of Potomac Polo Club

Home of the Washington DC area's oldest polo club, since 1956

Annual Membership, 2008 rates

$2,500 - Regular Membership

$1,000 - Potomac Polo School Graduates, First Year Membership 

$4,000 - Family Membership: pair of spouses or parent and one child (under 21). Additional family members $750 each.

$500 - Professional Membership, players with a rating of 4 goals and above or those who primary source of income is derived from polo

Guest Charges

There is a daily fee of $100 for those players who are invited as guests.  Guests are limited to three visits after which full membership applies.

GENERAL INFORMATION

* Membership is subject to the approval of the Membership Committee.

* In order to protect paying members, the Club does require that dues and fees be paid before playing.

* The Club offers several membership categories to approved members that currently include:

Regular Playing Member    
Professional Playing Member
Family Playing Member    

* In the event that a sponsored professional player employed by a member is suspended from play, the Club specifically disavows any responsibility for any cost, direct or otherwise, incurred by the player or the member sponsoring or employing said player.

* The rulings of the Club President are final on all matters.

* There may be a charge for leagues and tournaments. 

The Potomac Polo Club is a private Club run for the members under the rules and guidelines of the U.S.P.A. Any violation of the Club rules and regulations or failure to comply with the decisions of the Polo Manager may result in a warning, a fine, a suspension, expulsion, or any combination thereof. The type of action taken for a general rules violation is left to the sole discretion of the Polo Manager.

All players of the Potomac Polo Club must be current members of the United States Polo Association and must be rated 15 days prior to any league or tournament play. It is the responsibility of team captains or patrons to be sure that all team players are currently registered with the U.S.P.A.

All players and officials for all league, weekend and tournament games must wear white britches or jeans, and boots.

Players shall not play in any event for more than one team.  

Horses shall not be used by more than one team in any event.

The aggregate handicap of a team must fall within the limits specified for an event. A team whose handicap is higher or lower than the specified limits shall not be permitted to participate.

USPA-sanctioned events: A player with a "B" handicap may not play above the 8-goal level. In any event of 4 goals or above, there should be no more than one "B" rated player per team, and the handicap of no player may exceed ¾ of the upper handicap limit.

*The Potomac Polo Club Manager will enforce the rules of sportsmanship and conduct on the playing field.

*Captains only are permitted to communicate with the umpires during the game.

* Any arguing, profanity, disrespectful conduct, rough or dangerous plays, refusing to play, or any other lack of sportsmanship will not be tolerated. VIOLATORS WILL BE SERIOUSLY PENALIZED.

* Any fines levied by the Potomac Polo Club Manager must be paid prior to further play by the violator.

*Unsportsmanlike conduct and profane language on or off the playing field will not be tolerated. Membership rights may be rescinded for any player in violation of this provision. Unsportsmanlike conduct includes but is not limited to conduct, including actions or words, directed to any official , player, spectator, or other person or mount on Club grounds that is typically or verbally threatening, assault or abusive, demeaning, obscene, profane, belligerent, dangerous or that violates standards of fair play or common decency generally accepted in the polo community.

* All members have a responsibility to referee or umpire periodically.  The Potomac Polo Club Manager will assign umpire responsibilities.

*The referee should not talk with others while the game is in progress.

*Umpires may send off any horse found to be lame, out of control and/or dangerous.

*It is the umpire's responsibility to report any unsportsmanlike conduct and the circumstances surrounding it to the Polo Manager as soon as possible.

*Umpires have the exclusive authority over the entire game and are charged with responsibility executing their duties.

*Umpires must be present 15 minutes prior to the game time and are responsible for having suitable mounts.

*The final decision of canceling a game in progress, due to weather, shall be determined by the game officials and/or tournament officials.

*The team captains may be consulted, but the game and tournament officials shall make the official decision.

* U.S.P.A. Rules and Regulations will govern all tournaments and leagues, unless otherwise noted. All players are responsible for reading and understanding all U.S.P.A. and Club rules. The Tournament Committee has authority to revise and make rule decisions.

* The draw procedure and playing format will be decided by the Polo Manager and not by the captains of the teams entered. Entry forms must be complete and entry fees paid in full prior to the draw. A team that withdraws from an event after the draw shall forfeit all fees and be subject to additional fines and/or suspension from the next event.

* Leagues and tournaments must be completed by the scheduled dates, weather permitting.

* Teams must play all of their league and tournament games regardless of their win/loss records so as not to unduly influence the rankings of remaining teams in the same tournament. Any team that withdraws without the approval of the Tournament Committee will be subject to severe fines and suspensions from future events.

* Any time a substitution is to occur, the Polo Manager must be notified in advance and the person substituting must be a current U.S.P.A. member and sign a release.

*Should a Full Playing Member be unable to play a tournament game or practice, he or she may substitute a qualified U.S.P.A. player from outside the club roster to take his place. Guest charges will have to be paid for the substitute player by the member player being substituted.

* Subject to availability of players

*Each day a game schedule will be recorded on the information line. The tournament committee and Polo Manager will determine the schedule and field allocations, and playing times for all games. To schedule practice games, players must call the Polo Manager with the number of chukkers they desire, by 6:00pm the day before.

* Players must be on time for all games. Player tardiness at any scheduled event will result in a fine of $50 for each offense.

*All players must sign a release prior to playing.

* Members must notify the Polo Manager in advance of any non-member using the facilities and should understand that this is a privilege that can be revoked, if abused.

* Grooms must be a member of the U.S.P.A. and sign a release before practicing.

* Potomac Polo Club may invite, under special circumstances, visiting teams or players to participate in any league or tournaments without the membership rules applying. Visiting teams will be subject to the team daily rate.

*Please pick up bottles, cans, tail tape and trash in your trailer area after each game and instruct your grooms to assist in keeping theses areas clean. Please be sure you take your trash with you or put it in trash cans.  Failure to comply will result in a fine of $50 for each offense.

*All dogs must be on a leash at all times on Potomac Polo Club property. A $50 fine will be imposed to the owner for the first offense and will double for each offense thereafter. All fines must be paid before the player's next game or practice.

Potomac Polo Club is a private Polo Club, which reserves the right to accept or refuse members at the discretion of the membership committee.

* An application for membership must be filled in and submitted to the Club. All applications will be addressed within two weeks of receipt.

* All players must sign a release waiver prior to playing and do so for each year. This waiver will also be required of grooms, guests and family who ride on Club grounds.

* Members should carry medical insurance for themselves, their grooms and sponsored players.

*Only Playing Members of Potomac Polo Club may stick and ball in the  arena or on the field.  Arena stick and ball practice is permitted at any time with advance notice and concurrence by the Club Manager.  Polo field stick and ball practice is permitted only on days designated by the Club Manager.

No vehicles are permitted to drive onto the polo field or make u-turns on the polo field.  Violators will be fined $500