PTJan/Feb 2010 p16-17 Horswell JM MB YC 22/1/10 10:46 Page 3
Players’ forum Comment
With John Horswell, the outspoken sultan of swing
Take it from me –
silence is golden
aving been someone who asking for clarification when you feel
H
has always said too much there is doubt can also help. However, try
in, on and around polo to keep it on a casual and non-
fields the world over, the confrontational basis because, at the end
above headline may seem of the day, the umpires have many more
rather flippant and surprising to those weapons than you do if things resort to a
who know me well. However, in my fire-fight.
defence, I should say that the only time I Above all, as a captain on the ground,
was sent off playing high-goal was for always ensure that your team-mates do
dumb insolence, not backchat. In truth of not become involved or start their own
course, this probably was more to do with dialogue. This has only one ending and is
the kindness (or weakness) of umpires over very seldom a happy one at that!
the years, as I recognise that I did often
push things to the limit. AT PEACE IN PALERMO
I was always talking – whether to the Eurosport very boldly put full coverage of
umpires, my team-mates or even my the Argentine Open on British television in
opponents. And, if I am honest, at times it December. The coverage came from ESPN,
certainly got in the way of playing the who as ever produced excellent angles and
game and so probably cost us matches on statistics that made the game easy to
some occasions. In today’s zero-tolerance follow and very enjoyable viewing.
age, I would have been lucky to last a However, being used to sitting in the
chukka, even on one of my better days!
Shhh! Sometimes, volume control would be nice – or a mute button
stands at Palermo and watching the
Hence, these days, in my capacity as a
coach, my advice to my players is obviously
that only the captain – and he alone –
should enter into a dialogue with the
‘
umpires. However, players need to be
In today’s zero-tolerance age on backchat, I’d have
‘
encouraged to make a complaint if they
truly feel they have a reasonable grievance.
been lucky to last a chukka, even on my better days!
Umpires who do a substandard job
should be sanctioned, and this needs to be CLEVER COMPLAINING matches without a commentator, I
seen more widely at the lower levels, in my Nevertheless, a team should carefully quickly realised a solution to the TV
view. Without decent self-regulation and choose how and when to make their commentary that was threatening my
the use of technology, umpires are rarely complaints. My advice to players is often enjoyment of the magnificent spectacle.
held to account for their decisions and it to talk to the umpires before a game and I turned the volume right down and
seems to be time for the already existing to ask them how they want them to play. watched in reverential silence.
complaints procedures perhaps to be There may be some new rules or The only alternative for me was to
tightened up and enforced a little more. interpretations that are worth knowing turn it off. As someone with a lot more
At the moment, few teams will make about, and at the very least it shows experience and wisdom than me once
a reasonable complaint because they willing in trying to cooperate with them to said: “In commentating, silence is often
feel it will go nowhere, could be produce a good game. your best weapon.”
counter-productive or may be seen to be On the field, there may be a time you If you do not have anything to say or,
sour grapes. I only make this point in feel that as a team you are being ignored worse still, do not have a clue what to
order that umpires should be kept on the and that the decision-making say, let the pictures do the talking.
edge of their seats and removed from an momentum has swung too far towards Gather your thoughts and then say
unwarranted comfort zone, as this is the opposition. A word with the umpire something worthwhile. I have to say I
what ensures they will strive to do as on a non-specific basis to remind him of really enjoyed the coverage once I had
good a job as possible. your existence may be productive, and found the mute button. F
www.polotimes.co.uk January/February 2010 17
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