International Hardcourt Bike Polo Federation

Some of you are aware that folks on bikepolo.ca have been discussing an International Federation. They really would like more input from the Euros. One of the dudes pushing it, Montana Norvell, recently posted on another thread here to ask for more Euro input. Here is his post:

"Not to hijack this thread, but since your forum won't allow me to post my own until I've replied to others already existing, here goes (with apologies). For those not already aware, we're (myself and numerous other players in the US and Canada) trying to cobble together an organizing and governing body for Hardcourt worldwide and we would like your participation and support. I've posted the proposed template for such an organization on the NA forum, bikepolo.ca, and it is followed by a discussion of tax and governance issues which will need to be addressed upon incorporation. Although I did my best to alert European contacts to its progress, I have been disappointed by the absence of any Euro opinions regarding this. My original proposal for the Federation was met with skepticism, and a call for more detail; better explanation. This new post addresses structure and governance in much greater depth, and I would very much appreciate it if players here would take the time to read it and express your opinions. Thanks, and sorry to butt in."

Nice one Matt. I'll take a look at the forum.

If any people who are involved want to sidestep the nursery period, just have them email me: david@buro9.com and I'll let them skip it. I've promoted Montana to regular user... he can do whatever all of you guys can.

Much appreciated.

"The creation of a World and North American (and European?) polo championships"

How can it be 'world' without europe? World-series thinking, pahh.

ps. i aint a polo playa and am not hating on the initiative, just that always irks me.

You're not reading that correctly. World, North American, and European Championships. Three separate events which I'm proposing be administered with one unifying governing body.

You're not reading that correctly. World, North American, and European Championships. Three separate events which I'm proposing be administered with one unifying governing body. Oh, sorry. Did that twice. It'll take me a few to get the hang of this. And if you're not a player, why did you bother to read all that text. It's like a novel. Christ, you must be bored.

My interest in legal matters knows no bounds. Anyway, just glanced at it and that sentence caught my eye.

Hey Montana, not sure to post here or bikepolo.ca. Might as well post on home turf.

Good job on everything. In my one once-over, I'm quite impressed with the plan, the rational for some things and not others, the fairness, etc..

Anyway. I'll read it again later, but I have no issues with the bones (there will obviously be a lot of fine tuning). My only question is with the necessity, which I haven't come to a conclusion one way or the other. I'll re-read the proposal later. For now, just wanted to get a response back to you from this side of the ocean (people aren't ignoring you. It's been a busy couple of days).

If you get the chance, throw something up on .ca too. Folks there are curious how this is being received elsewhere, and most don't check this forum (or know how). Thanks.

i was about to go and write some more on .ca, but man, they get so wound up on there, it seems kinda pointless trying to reason with them.

Montana, thanks for taking the time to post on here.

As you probably know, there's a fairly large number of players here in London and we're becoming constituted with a London Harcourt Association (with the agenda of helping form a UK-wide Association). We're also having some discussions about the need for and role of a governing body and what geographical remit that might have.

I'm going to take a look at the proposal and post something on .ca. I'm sure some of the others involved here will also post.

i was about to go and write some more on .ca, but man, they get so wound up on there, it seems kinda pointless trying to reason with them.

oh, come on gabes. let's not let a few overzealous posters shut down the discussion.

well, another problem is that it was agreed at one of the early ehbpc meetings to be europe only, and because the north american community squealed that they wanna come and play, we change our stance. It makes no sense to me.

I just want to play some bloody polo.

what? was the decision changed? there are too many european teams already.

to be honest, I don't know what our official stance is on it. I'm just gonna let it roll.

I think we voted and agreed about this one already, I don't think anyone has change anything, only Europeans teams in the Europeans Championships

^ true

So i'll defend the n.a. polo community here for a sec, cause this useless hostility between people who don't even know each other has got to end, it's so unproductive and i don't understand why people don't give each other the benefit of the doubt. These are BIKE POLO players, not fucking SUV drivers.

But specifically about this controversy: there are 500+ users of bikepolo.ca, probably about 150 active North American users, and only about 15 complained, while a few others defended the decision. But to defend even those 15 dissenters: most of them have been already to a dozen or more tournaments, and they have never been excluded from one. Little do they know that there will be lots of "closed" tournaments in the coming year, due to size restrictions mainly. It's just that yours was the first one to be organized enough to announce eligibility, so it got people's ire. I'm sure that the N.A. championships, the World's, and other tournaments will also piss people off when they finally get around to deciding who's going to be excluded and why. Read the post by Ken (from NYC--Los Marcos organizer) on on 12/22/2008, which will hopefully put this issue to rest in the minds of those who were complaining. http://bikepolo.ca/forum/tournaments/2008/12/16/2009-european-hardcourt-bike-polo-championship-london

And now, back to the discussion of the Federation...

Yes, the decision to limit the EHBPC to Euros only has been made and it still stands. After talking to Iain last night, I have come to appreciate the logic of the decision: it is not an invite but specifically a closed tourney for Euros, just as if there were a UK only tourney to find the best team in the UK. Fine.

But as Kevin says, can't we all (both sides included) try to give each other the benefit of the doubt? Fucking christ.

But as Kevin says, can't we all (both sides included) try to give each other the benefit of the doubt? Fucking christ.

+1000000.

I am all for giving N Americans some shit for a laugh, but there are limits. On wikipedia, the editors are supposed to [ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Assumed_bad_faith"]assume good faith[/ame] - that might be a good rule to adopt for discussions on polo.

Going back the the Int Fed for a sec, where can I read the background to the proposal? There's an awful lot of legal detail, but I was wondering what the brief was?

Bill: I think the original thread got deleted. Here is a sort-of intermediate thread:

http://www.bikepolo.ca/forum/general/2008/10/26/temporarily-missing-federation-thread

Still none the wiser. Apart from that poloists are worse than messengers.

What's the mandate of the Fed? I don't see that anywhere. The whole thing is a little less than totally transparent. Or am I just being obtuse?

Like Rik said, we did delegate Mike to liaise with them. Given that the London Polo Massive are right in the middle of trying to set up a local association, a national association, a European Championship, and trying to play some polo as well, I think we have got enough going on without having to get involved in this as well, especially as it's all getting so heated.

I'm starting a NE Polo association and a Downham Road Polo association as a child under the aegis of the NE polo association.