South London Bike Polo (Tues/Thurs/Sun) - Newington gardens SE1 / Agnes Riley gardens SW12

Pretty sure that never happened.
Unless I missed the memo too?

It's still intermediates though. Beginners have their own night, and there are many throw ins for everyone.
Intermediates serves a good purpose and I think we're improving because of it.

For me it's just polo, not intermediate, not mid octane and not b cat.

Polo is polo and I don't think we should turn anyone away who wants to play regardless of ability.

If thats the consensus (and I'm not saying that it is!) maybe its time to make Mondays at Newington another 'established' throw in night, like Tues and Thurs up north, and Wed Newt?

I think by the fact we've played there for the last few months it already is...

Why did we start 'intermediate' polo if it's for everyone then?

The point was to have sessions to improve the standard of those deemed 'intermediate' as there is a sizeable gap between those that started at the beginning and those that joined a few years later.

London polo needs to step up and I think these sessions have help improved us in the middle. We all said we wanted a chance to improve our game at the same standard as we played at, as well as learning from the 'A cats' at throw in nights. That was the whole point. Why go backwards?

There are throw in nights at least 4 times a week and beginners night to help new people improve.

I personally don't enjoy these sessions when they're slowed down because of beginners, and last week was very dangerous with a noob playing his 2nd game ever, skidding in to people and riding around really fast for the hell of it.
As we've all said, if you want to improve your game, do solo polo, practice by yourself, get some like-skilled people and practice like we all have. And go to one of the many throw in sessions.

There are people who are not vocal on the forum who feel the same.

London needs 'intermediate' polo to help us step up our game. There are enough sessions for everyone else.

I was asked to point out that there are extra curricular sessions for beginners who wanted to step up. Talk to the regulars on Tuesdays at Peckham.

I think:

League Games > B Cat.

I think:

League Games > B Cat.

This. There are 4 regular throw in nights plus weekend meets and while these are important to keep free of league games, as a result, 'intermediate night'
is certain to consistently clash with league games. Some people from beginners are pretty solid players and would be fine and learn way faster if they go to regular throwins.
With lights on till 10.30 and newt currently the only lit court, surely the league needs to take priority over more recent nights that have sprung up like b cats...

• the last 3 leagues there was no 'intermediate night', people still got better at polo.
  
  

#toomuchmollycoddling

surely the league needs to take priority over more recent nights that have sprung up like b cats...

Not everyone is in the league.

• the last 3 leagues there was no 'intermediate night', people still got better at polo.
  
  

#toomuchmollycoddling

As polo grows, so does the divide between those that started at the begining and those that joined later.
There were no 'beginners' sessions until about the 3rd league either, but there clearly is a need.

Same shit, different month... Just play polo...

I think I'm more or less in agreement with Joni on this one, although I do see other people's points.
Intermediate throw ins has been useful, for me anyway, to have a bit of space to improve rather than being ran around the court.

Tuesdays, some Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays are all free at Newington.

I hope Mitchison gets sorted soon.

Not everyone is in the league.

So there are 3 reg throwin nights one beginners night and at least one day of throwins each weekend. That's alot of polo

Why did we start 'intermediate' polo if it's for everyone then?

The point was to have sessions to improve the standard of those deemed 'intermediate' as there is a sizeable gap between those that started at the beginning and those that joined a few years later.

But at the same time, any polo session should be open to anyone. Yes, we can have an understanding if you turn up it'll be played at a certain level, it's no different to Sunday morning high octane at Downs, but I don't like the idea of actively discouraging people from coming to any session.

If that player you mentioned was dangerous, they would have been dangerous at any session.

When I started I played NE and South polo long before there was official beginners polo, that wasn't even intermediate, that was straight into the deep end. Did people get frustrated? Probably. But did anyone tell me I couldn't turn up to a session? No.

I make a point of telling all beginners to come to intermediate polo (and other sessions). People get better, some of them really fast, and you are always going to have a wide range of players who are "intermediate". We shouldn't be turning the various sessions into ghettos where players don't mix, all players can benefit from playing different levels, and should try to go to as many different sessions as possible.

Also there are some people who started way later than I did but are way better than me. Why? Because they turned up consistently to throwins with the top players, learnt from them and practiced their skills.
Intermediate night is a nice idea but I don't think London polo has the facilities yet to accomodate another regular throwin night at the same time as the league

i think perhaps there will be a few more weeks where people actually want to play polo at the same time as league games, then we'll get into the freezing, raining, league games without throwins territory

At the moment (no lights up North, we're working on it), it would be nice if Newt was available for everyone to use whenever possible... it is currently the only decent/lit court in London (Broadway's especially slippy/dangerous at the moment).

Polo is polo and everyone's struggling to get their fix lately, league games are not about "being flexible", they're about encouraging/supporting London teams and bringing the standard of London polo up (for everyone).

Also, potentially turning away any player that turns up to a polo court (regardless of ability) is incredibly weak, where do the different players get assigned their A/B/C cat status, etc?

No one is discouraging anyone and no one is being turned away. If you want to go to a session that's aimed at a level that is higher than you play at, then go and practice hard, solo polo, like we have all done, so you fit in easier with the level. If anything, it's encouraging them to step up.

Not everyone is in the league.

1. Wicksie
   
2. Margs
   
3. Sassy
   
4. CityGent (will eb there cus of mah league game izit)
   
5. Arunas
   

^ all regulars at beginners

;-)

where do the different players get assigned their A/B/C cat status, etc?

John H ?

;-p

No one is discouraging anyone

This thread would imply otherwise... but good to know.

If you want to go to a session that's aimed at a level that is higher than you play at, then go and practice hard, solo polo, like we have all done, so you fit in easier with the level.

Will do.

This thread would imply otherwise... but good to know.

go and practice hard, solo polo

It's been said countless times and in the beginners thread.

If someone was playing dangerously due to the fact they weren't in control of their bike then this should have been pointed out to them, there and then.

She was talking about you, Sandy...

oh rly, even though I wasn't there

oh and for what it's worth, I feel that I learn more when I play with players above my level than at the same level. I improved quicker when I started going to both beginners and NE sessions.