Polo Videos

That is a shit game. I will never be good at polo, but at least I had great players to look up to when I started. If this is the pinnacle of bike polo, I despair for yoofs starting up right now.

The rules will catch up and end that kind of play. It's all embarrassingly macho.

Hindsight is 20/20. Reffing isn't an easy job, keyboard warriors having plenty of hot air about the quality of reffing and can't be arsed when asked to ref a game or two, talk is cheap, action speaks louder than words bla bla...

Those who moan most about reffing decisions are usually those who don't bloody ref, cos they cheat and they know how hard it is to ref. I love the idea of ref's having a go pro so peeps can actually see what the ref saw and compulsory reffing for all teams via a schedule, no winner/loser bullshit.

When I watched the game on the net, you could hear the conversation between Alexis and the ref after the game. He was going to send Jono off, for the check, but decided that the ridiculous temper that followed was much more deserving of a one man disadvantage.
I'm not saying it because I'm pro gettin' wild, but it's more important to stop shit like that on court than the odd dirty shoulder, If we don't punish it we'll end up in the same boat as football.

We did talk about this, if deemed a foul, both should be off. Fouls don't cancel each other out.

http://mrdovideo.com/2014/02/means-vs-getting-wild/

if I could sum up the check in one word kamakazi

Hindsight is 20/20. Reffing isn't an easy job, keyboard warriors having plenty of hot air about the quality of reffing and can't be arsed when asked to ref a game or two, talk is cheap, action speaks louder than words bla bla...

You don't understand 'hot air'. Most who complained about reffing approached the refs after the games to give constructive and level-headed feedback.

Those who moan most about reffing decisions are usually those who don't bloody ref, cos they cheat and they know how hard it is to ref. I love the idea of ref's having a go pro so peeps can actually see what the ref saw and compulsory reffing for all teams via a schedule, no winner/loser bullshit.

Compulsory reffing will lower the standard of reffing. It's not a good solution for anything.

The key is to elevate the status of refs by showing them more respect. We need to help polo players who are not competing for the podium feel comfortable and empowered to ref big games.

As such an immature sport it is an inevitable element of progress that players and teams should look to exploit codes and rules if the winning become more important to them than the taking part. The days of being covered by the 'dick move' ethic are gone come Sunday afternoon finals.

Whilst it may be easy to ask the players to self-manage a polo code and even easier to recriminate after the game – it’s as futile as it is naive. It is not the players responsibility any more - the emphasis has switched from players as self-appointed guardians to those of rulesets and referees to interpret, legislate and to enforce on-court behaviours, to try and manage a just result of every contest.

The spotlight shows rules catching up fast, with poachers-turning-gamekeepers managing the process and keeping apace with contemporary players progress/skills/commitment. Polo is fortunate to be in an age where forums and video can help keep rulesets up-to-the-minute and, if not be ahead, at least keep up with players and teams looking for the advantage that bends the rule.

What I see watching top flight matches from the Worlds last year to today (Rouen) is a new level of player commitment built on a higher level of physical capability, allied to a considered interpretation of the ruleset – that’s progress.

What I see potentially being lost in this is a ‘duty of care’ (to fellow competitor and to the game) that was tacitly enshrined in the dick move code. Just because a move is ‘legal’, wins the game or won’t be called doesn’t mean it is without danger.

The game is being broken down evermore with the referee continually being drawn into the contest and making it less watchable and less sporting/fun to play in. The outcome of more and more important matches falling to the referee cannot be the right way to go.

What should never decide an otherwise equal contest is a team that is wilfully trying to bend or break a rule and/or prepared to risk fellow players health in the process losing to a team that respects the rules, referees and the spirit of the game. When there is an ill-informed, weak or quiet referee this sometimes becomes an invitation to exploit advantage. If the opponents are of the same mindset or are drawn into the gutter to scrap it out – then the game is the real loser. What is also at stake is the tenuous notion of the ‘polo community’ – the more matches and personal duels that fall under the poorly-refereed/bad tempered/injury-inducing/unjust tag the more the cracks will begin to show.

More than great players and teams, this game needs the up-to-date ruleset and great referees to execute. Referees need to be intelligent, experienced, authoritative, consistent and talented – better performers in their role than the best players are in theirs. Referees will necessarily soon be ‘qualified’ and that will give them a more proactive status that will counter players and teams intent on seeking advantage in the dark arts that can ultimately damage bike polo.

Referees are the future stars of this great game right now.

Additionally, a few ideas to help promote the status of refereeing in the UK:

1. Invest in some loudhailers and decent whistles!
   
2. On Saturdays we continue with each team must referee and goal judge – as part of teams entry requirements. Contrary to Rupert - I believe it engages players of all abilities with the ruleset and as guardians of the game. No-one wants to be a bad ref anymore than being a bad player, therefore the drive will be to improve.
   
3. At the end of Saturday each team nominates the best two referees that managed their games or they saw in action during the day
   
4. Nominated referees go into a pool for Sunday – organiser can then pick the necessary number/release those not wanting to participate
   
5. Two referees for Sunday matches – one for general play/advantages/turnovers the other for player interactions (off the ball)/timekeeping/scoring/penalty enforcements + goal refs
   
6. All pool referees get a fee for Sunday from the entry fees – say £10 each??
   
7. All tournaments have an MVR and an up-and-coming Referee award
   

What we really need is non-players (either retired, or not playing it that tournament), who are paid to come and ref.

Players should not be expected to ref.

That's something the NAH is moving towards.

Spent last few nights watching old games from 2010 - 2012. It's look like we (mostly) didn't improve at all. The passing game back in the days make the game watchable.

About the foul... Jono's did (yes that's not a bad one, but consequence are really important, as alexis is about to score in a almost open net). I will call penalty shot for that.

John you know what happen if you get 30 second before a rejoust because of the end the game?

Let's keep the essays in the rules thread and keep watching cool polo videos.

Actually why not make a thread called 'what was wrong with that video I just watched'.

http://vimeo.com/25964610

Long live the King!

My comments about whether it's a foul were in no way an idictment of the ref, just indictment of Jono.

Love the move from alexis, because it seems that Nick think that Jono throw his mallet on him.

We need more sketchy situation like this.

i just watched 'gettin nasty' play. Fun game! It's hard to see what actually happened to be honest. When i saw it live it look as jono came through on his lower arm bars/bike as he lent in so much....sort of hit to toppling arm in fraction in one. None the less tense tense.

and sweet pick up by alexis before

It was an amazing game meanswild, Def advantage to means. Penalty shot. No big deal or pull the player off though. But NV reaction and subsequent toy throwing after his team mate hit him with his mallet was ridiculous, but that shit happens. I remember thinking "ref just tell him to cool down or bring him off" Ref did fine imo. I'm trying to write this post like youroPeen.

During Wild-means game, the check at 9:35 from Nick should be a 30 sec for sur. He's just pissed by the small dolphin slap (really small) that josh did 10 sec before and he provides a really shitty move to say it... This is the kind of move who should be automatically 30 sec or even more.
http://mrdovideo.com/2014/02/means-vs-getting-wild/

There were at least two other moves like that during the game... hot headed nonsense, I had to ask someone to stop stamping on me at one point.

Clobber Politics vs The Means on Vimeo

What changed?

Best game eva. *rubs nose in contempt

AHL referee wears helmet cam - YouTube

^ American Hockey League ref wears a Go-Pro. Maybe refs just need to get more involved, stop standing on the side and get involved. Does anyone know how to rollerblade??

Loving this, what an excellent ref. Hockey is my new favourite sport, think polo world be way more chilled if someone was sitting courtside playing call me maybe on an organ!

Don't forget Pirlo! Always passing…

Italian hero Andrea Pirlo stars in a brand new Juventus video with Stephan Lichtsteiner HD - YouTube

Damn he looks so good in the jacket too.

What’s up polo people! Dustin and I are trying up the level of mrdovideo.com by getting some more writing on the site. We are looking for contributors to blog, post videos from outside of the states and give insight etc. We’re are pretty sick of all of the blogs popping up from the states and want to go in a different direction and inform people that there is high level polo happening outside of America. You can pretty much talk about whatever you want. Maybe post once a week or every other week. Let us know if you’re interested. mrdovideo@gmail.com

I was wondering if it might be worth redubbing the videos of teams with commentators who know both sets of players, maybe even doing foriegn language alternatives ( or English for the couple of vids in French) for some European teams?

Meh, sounds like a stupid idea now I've typed it up...

http://mrdovideo.com/2014/02/beavers-assassins-2/