ATOMS Polo Academy
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Program Outline

Program Outline 4

Introduction Level

Riding Skills & Horsemanship

  • Correct position in the saddle and basic seat, heels downs
  • Learn the use of reins for halt and turn
  • Trot, walk on lunging rein/lead

Hitting Skills &
Stick Work

  • Gripping and holding of foot mallet
  • Knowledge and practice of the swing plan
  • Basics of striking a static ball (foot mallet)

Basic Knowledge of Rules, Positioning, Understanding of the Game, Horses & Horse Management

  • Basic safety around and approaching the horses
  • Points/parts and colour of horses
  • Basic parameters of horses

Level One

Riding Skills & Horsemanship

  • Walk, independently (straight line, circle, serpentine pattern, turn on cones and figure of 8)
  • Walk-Halt, Walk-Trot transitions independently
  • Rising and sitting in rhythm while trotting
  • Ride in trot, independently (straight line, circle, serpentine pattern, turn on cones and figure of 8)

Hitting Skills &
Stick Work

  • Understanding the technique of hitting of 4 basic shots of polo (foot mallet)
    • Off side – Forehand
    • Near side – Forehand
    • Off side – Backhand
    • Near side – Backhand

Basic Knowledge of Rules, Positioning, Understanding of the Game, Horses & Horse Management

  • Identifying and maintaining a safe distance in a group while riding and halted
  • Horse behaviour, reading of the horse’s body language
  • Basic knowledge of polo equipment for players and horses

Level Two

Riding Skills & Horsemanship

  • Introduction to canter
  • Gain the ability to smoothly transition from walk to trot to canter
  • Work on correct balance and seat while stopping from canter to halt, rein back, and turn after the halt from canter

Hitting Skills &
Stick Work

  • Introduction/Understanding of 4 basic polo shots on horseback on trot
  • Practice and improve the 4 basic shots of polo on platform/wooden horse with the foot mallet
  • Instructional chukkas (Arena)

Basic Knowledge of Rules, Positioning, Understanding of the Game, Horses & Horse Management

  • Significance of fitness and warm-up of the horse
  • Knowledge of the game of Polo
    • History
    • Dimension of the field
    • Polo equipment
    • Saddlery items for polo horses
    • Number of players and positioning
    • Basic rules & fouls (line of ball and right of way)
    • Duration of the match/chukkas
    • Handicap system
    • Penalties
    • Set plays (positioning)
    • Basic knowledge of HPA rules

Level Three

Riding Skills & Horsemanship

  • Change of lead leg in canter
  • Canter with control in a straight line, serpentine pattern, figure of 8 and circle

Hitting Skills &
Stick Work

  • Repetition and perfection of skills of hitting acquired in Level 2
  • Introduction/Understanding of 4 basic polo shots on horseback in canter
  • Repetition of 4 basic polo shots for perfection on trot/canter
  • Work on the correct striking of a static ball on an offside forward shot in canter

Basic Knowledge of Rules, Positioning, Understanding of the Game, Horses & Horse Management

  • Knowledge of HPA rules
  • Concept and understanding of the game, role of each position/player in the game
  • Horse feeding (Time and Quantity)
  • Grooming (Equipment, procedure, time and importance)
  • Saddlery Equipment (Utilization, tack up and cleaning of tack items)
  • Tack up of horse (Practice)

Level Four

Riding Skills & Horsemanship

  • Able to perform all the riding skills acquired in Level 3 at speed and control, including:
    • Canter – Halt – Canter
    • Canter – Halt – Turn – Canter
    • Canter in a small circle (left and right)
    • Canter in a straight line, serpentine pattern (figure of 8 and circle)
    • Canter – Halt – Rollback – Canter

Hitting Skills &
Stick Work

  • Repetition and perfection of hitting skills acquired in Level 3
  • Introduction and understanding of hitting near side shots, under the neck and tail back hand shots (open and tail)
  • Practice penalty (30/40/60 yard)
  • Instructional chukkas (Arena/Field)

Basic Knowledge of Rules, Positioning, Understanding of the Game, Horses & Horse Management

  • Full knowledge of HPA rules
  • Knowledge of equipment, it’s functions and utilization

Elite Level

Riding Skills & Horsemanship

  • All exercises and skills of Level 4 at speed with control and proficiency
    • Canter – Halt – Canter
    • Canter – Halt – Turn – Canter
    • Canter in a small circle (left and right)
    • Canter in a straight line, serpentine pattern (figure of 8 and circle)
    • Canter – Halt – Rollback – Canter
    • Roll back from canter to halt and roll back

Hitting Skills &
Stick Work

  • Consistent off side shots at speed
  • Occasional nearside shots safely

Basic Knowledge of Rules, Positioning, Understanding of the Game, Horses & Horse Management

  • Full knowledge of polo rules and regulations (HPA)
  • Tactics of Polo
  • Psychology of Team Sport