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Best Places to see Sports in Las Vegas
Let's face it, you can pull those slot levers only too long
before you start getting a sore arm. And as hypnotic as Cirque
de Soleil may be, there is going to come a time when you just
need to get away from the glitz and glamour and expend...
Scuba Diving At Grand Cayman Island's Stingray City
One of the most famous natural attractions in Grand Cayman Island is Stingray City. This is an area in the ocean not far from the northern tip of Grand Cayman where tourists can get up close to hundreds of friendly stingrays. Stingray City can get...
Start your own baseball fantasy league
Over the last ten years there has been an incredible increase in
people participating in baseball fantasy leagues, and fantasy
sports in general. There is really only one rule for those
involved, and that is they must have a real and ongoing...
What you should know about Volleyball Safety to make the most of your play time
By Rebecca Blain of http://www.everything-volleyball.com The fun and excitement of volleyball lures many children and adults into playing the sport. However, in order to have as much fun as possible, volleyball safety is something that you must...
Why We Play Games, Part 1
There exists some ephemeral quality that separates gamers from the rest of humanity, some thing that makes us, us and them, not us. I've never been able to quite put my finger on it, but it is inescapably there. Today, in hopes of moving closer...
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Polo Darling
You may think that polo is only for the elite, well you are wrong. Anyone can have a go at the sport of princes, even those that cannot ride (65% of those taught polo have never ridden before).
I was a bit apprehensive when I arrived at the school. Looking around at the others who had booked on to the 2 hour lesson, it seemed I was the only one who did not have my own jodhpurs, boots and hat. This did not matter as all essential equipment is provided for the day.
The morning started with a briefing on the basic rules and theory of polo. In short polo is a tactical game with either 3 (indoor or enclosed arena) or 4 (full size ground) players a side. The team scoring most goals wins.
As players and horses travel at up to 35 mph when at top speed, there are strict rules about how players can approach and attack the ball and each other.
Using a board and miniature men on horses we were introduced to the concept of "the line of the ball". This is the imaginary line or road the ball creates as it is hit from point A to B. Once we had got our heads around this concept, the rules soon became clear as they are very much like the rules of the road. Don't overtake unless you know the coast is clear, don't ride head on, and if you are turning onto the imaginary road make sure that it is safe to do so.
We then went and stood on crates to practice the polo swing. I'm glad we did this as it allowed us to focus
on getting the technique right without worrying about the horse. Plus, crates don't bolt when you accidentally hit them. All you had to remember is to let the mallet swing by itself and not to force it. We practiced both offside and nearside shots.
The best bit was when we got to ride the polo ponies. I have never ridden such well schooled horses before. I could move, stop and turn the pony with only very small changes in how I was sat, where the reigns were and how I was pushing down on the stirrups. I wish all horses were like these.
We were then given the mallets to practice hitting the ball from the pony. I did not find this too difficult, probably because I wasn't riding as fast as the others and so had more time to focus on the ball.
After a short break everyone had the opportunity to play a couple of instructional chukkas or mini games. This was supposed to enable us to experience the tactics and team play involved in playing the game. However, with constant missing of the ball and stationary horses, it was more of a laugh than educational.
I would thoroughly recommend this experience to all.
About The Author
Debbie Downes is the founder of http://www.factivities.co.uk. Please visit her website to discover more about UK outdoor activities.
ddownes@factivities.co.uk
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