USPA COVID-19 UPDATES

May 19, 2020 9:47 PM

July 21, 2020

The USPA is pleased to share our progress as we work to make a positive impact on the polo community. The USPA COVID-19 Relief Package consists of four assistance programs: the Equine Welfare Relief Program, Distressed Club Relief Program, USPA Polo Tournament Stimulus Package and most recently the Polo Professional Equine Relief Program approved by the Board on Saturday, May 2. It is our sincere hope that you and your families stay healthy, positive and safe. Please do not hesitate to reach out to USPA staff and leadership at any time if you need any assistance.

May 19, 2020

The United States Polo Association has developed Return to Play Recommended Guidelines for USPA Member Clubs to follow once they are permitted to resume polo events, tournaments and activities under all applicable laws. The purpose of the Guidelines is to help to promote a safe return to polo play. We have distributed the Guidelines, as well as some supporting documents, to all club delegates, managers and circuit governors. While we recognize that some clubs may not be able to comply with all of the guidelines due to limited resources, we have advised these Clubs to use their best efforts to comply with as many of the recommended policies as possible. Check with your local Club for further information on their policies.

May 12, 2020

Effective 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.

April 21, 2020

Dear USPA Members and polo community,

As we continue to face these unprecedented challenging and stressful times, the USPA would like to assure our members and clubs across the nation of our commitment to continue to support the sport of polo. As part of these efforts, the USPA has extended the suspension of USPA Tournaments and Events through Friday, May 15, 2020.

We have not overlooked the fact that the immediate needs of the sport and polo communities we promote and serve are ongoing. In an effort to help alleviate the financial strain being placed on the sport and polo community, 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. Each program has been developed to meet specific needs. The Equine Welfare Relief and Distressed Club Relief programs will be accepting applications for immediate disbursement while the Tournament Stimulus Program will be available to assist clubs transitioning back into tournament play.

It is our sincere hope that you and your families stay healthy, positive and safe. All program information is available below. Please do not hesitate to reach out to USPA staff and leadership at any time if you need any assistance.

Sincerely,
Bob Puetz, USPA CEO

USPA COVID-19 RELIEF PACKAGE

April 18, 2020

Due to the ongoing health concerns related to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Association has made the decision to continue the suspension of all USPA Tournaments and Events through May 15, 2020. In addition, we strongly advise and recommend that every USPA Club suspends all Club Events for at least the same period. We encourage clubs to follow the requirements of your local authorities with regards to your club polo operations. We appreciate your patience and understanding as we prioritize the health and safety of our players, teams and their organizations, umpires, partners, staff and everyone who helps put on polo events. We will continue to monitor the COVID-19 situation closely and will notify you if we determine a different course of action is necessary. Please visit uspolo.org to stay in touch with changes to the polo schedules, tournaments, programs, member benefits and USPA business. Visit GlobalPolo.com to view past games, highlights, player stories, horse features and polo news shows.

We encourage everyone to take precautions recommended by the CDC as well as your local government authorities and to take care of your families and loved ones as we continue to face these difficult times.

March 31, 2020

Dear USPA Members,

Considering all that we face, the Association wanted to reach out to address questions that must be on your collective minds. First, we hope this finds you safe and well. Second, we are abundantly aware of the stress the pandemic and the suspension of USPA supported polo is placing on clubs. We are actively reviewing our options to help sustain clubs during this catastrophe. More on this question will be forthcoming as we meet to consider options.

Sincerely,
Stewart Armstrong, USPA Chairman

USPA Response to COVID-19 Frequently Asked Questions

March 27, 2020

Due to the ongoing health concerns related to the COVID-19 pandemic and recommendations by the Centers for Disease Control Prevention (CDC) and the White House to continue to cease all gatherings of more than ten people, we have made the decision to continue the suspension of all USPA Tournaments and Events throughout the month of April. In addition, we strongly advise and recommend that every USPA Club suspends all Club Events for at least the same period. We encourage clubs to follow the requirements of your local authorities with regards to your club polo operations. We appreciate your patience and understanding as we prioritize the health and safety of our players, teams and their organizations, umpires, partners, staff and everyone who helps put on polo events. We will continue to monitor the COVID-19 situation closely and will notify you if we determine a different course of action is necessary. Please visit uspolo.org to stay in touch with changes to the polo schedules, tournaments, programs, member benefits and USPA business. Visit GlobalPolo.com to view past games, highlights, player stories, horse features and polo news shows.

March 23, 2020

Effective March 23, 2020, the USPA will be holding the Spring Board of Governors Meetings via telephone conference and video rather than in person on April 18, 2020. All committee meetings will be held telephonically and scheduled separately at times convenient to their respective committee. Board members or others will not be asked to attend the Board Meeting in person in order to help ensure everyone’s safe health and protection from the virus.

In addition, the USPA/Polo Training Foundation (PTF) Awards ceremony has been canceled with plans for rescheduling yet to be confirmed. As we face these unfortunate circumstances together the health and safety of our members and staff continues to remain our utmost priority. The USPA will continue to provide updates as any major changes develop. We thank you for your patience and understanding as we navigate the changing circumstances.

We encourage everyone to take precautions recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and to take care of your families and loved ones as we face these difficult times.

March 21, 2020

As of Saturday, March 21, 2020, the USPA has determined that it is in the best interest of health and safety for our players, their families and team organizations, fans and all the people that help to put on our polo events, to cancel the balance of the 2020 GAUNTLET OF POLO® winter season and the U.S. Open Women's Polo Championship™. We anticipate rescheduling the balance of the 2020 USPA Gold Cup® and the U.S. Open Women's Polo Championship™ in late January 2021 prior to the start of the 2021 GAUNTLET OF POLO®. We will be considering the feasibility of rescheduling the 2020 U.S. Open Polo Championship®, as well as options for changing the handicap level of the pre-GAUNTLET tournaments next winter. We will be reaching out to all the teams for input prior to finalizing these decisions.

March 18, 2020

To all USPA Members and friends of polo,

Due to the rising health concerns related to the COVID-19 pandemic and the recommendations by the CDC and the White House to cease all gatherings of more than ten people, we have made the difficult decision to suspend all USPA Tournaments and Events for the next 14 days. In addition, we strongly advise and recommend that every USPA Club suspends all Club Events for at least the same period. Thank you for your patience and understanding as we prioritize the health and safety of our players, teams and their organizations, umpires, partners, staff and everyone who helps put on polo events. 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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