Polo is going further and further, not only with regards to players’ skills and genetics applied to horses, but also in the sport’s rules and the growing level of umpires. In addition to maintain the fair play on the field, the umpires are in charge to impose law, order and security during a game.

Nowadays, the arrival of technology have provided umpires a perfect ally not only to make decisions but also to be able to stay in contact with each other through intercom during a match, which allow them not to miss a detail.

Two international umpires have spoken to PoloLine about what’s about to umpire a polo match today, the technological advances and the significant role played by communication tools, while doing their job – Gastón Lucero and Jason Dixon. The former is an international umpire from the Argentine Association of Polo (AAP), who umpires in the Triple Crow, including many finals of the Argentine Open; the latter, is an international umpire from the Hurlingham Polo Association (HPA), who is usually seen in the most important tournaments in England, such as the Queen’s Cup, at Guards Polo Club and the Cowdray Gold Cup for the British Open, at Cowdray Park Polo Club.

How are you viewing the level of the referees in general?

Gastón Lucero: I think we are all working on a very good level. The arrival of technology made the job more and more professional over the last years. We use to meet weekly, to review plays and unify a criteria, and even undergo sessions with a sports pshychologist. I think discipline and communication with the players have improved a lot, it’s more clear and effective.

Jason Dixon: In the UK, I think the general standard of umpires has progressed over the years, especially in the last decade. However, umpiring is a ‘discipline’ in which it’s not possible to be perfect so we are continually trying to improve (and of course, so much is down to opinion so there is often more than one perspective to consider).
I’m not certain that we have enough top level umpires to supply the demand in general. We should always be striving to improve individually and develop better umpires.

What tools do you have on the field to help you make decisions?

G.L:  We have open communication between us, that helps to have a clear and constant chat during all the game. The cameras and drones in high goal tournaments let the third man to see a play from various points, in case it requires a specific point of view. In addition, our helmets have cameras, too; although we don’t use those videos or audios during a game, we use them to evaluate our job.

J.D: As an umpire on the field, we use ‘open microphone’ radios which means the umpires and third man are in constant communication with each other at all times from start to finish of the match. In the higher levels of polo in UK, the third man has a video replay facility so he can utilise this to assist us all in making better decisions and attempting to reduce bad calls as a whole. This is particularly helpful when the whistle has been blown and play has stopped as we have time to replay the video. However, it’s not so easy when the match has not stopped but you think you’d like to see ‘a play’ again.

Do you talk to each other during every play over the intercom?

G.L: Yes, we do talk to each other all the time – we exchange views on what each umpire see on their respective sides. Depending on the play, an umpire can see a line better and the other, the distance. We a foul is called, we usually know what the other has already seen. I think a good communication is crucial.

J.D: Yes, we are in constant communication through out all plays. Occasionally the technology can ‘glitch’ and we don’t always hear clearly as the range is sometimes to great for the radios.
Also, when there are lots of players and 3 match officials all being heard through the head phone – communications can be difficult and unclear.

On what grounds do you decide whether a foul is 30, 40, or 60 yards?

G.L: There are many issues that comes to that decision. The idea is to give the player the possibility of scoring a goal at the moment he/she was fouled. Location of the ball on the field, whether it was an open goal or a pass to a team mate, the possibility of a goal being produced, the danger or risk of a play, among others.

J.D: In UK, when deciding the penalty position we consider a range of factors regarding the ‘foul play’ we have witnessed.  Such things as direction of travel, location on the filed, and does the defending team have devence in position, etc; the frequency of fouls, the risk of welfare of the ponies and players, the danger/safety aspect, such as speed and distance, consequences of the foul play, the reputation damage to polo and local environment, the sporting conduct of the team/players.

The higher the danger/risk, the more severe the penalty; the more directly a player is attacking, the more probability the penalty will move forward up the field. If the defening team has no defence in place when douling, the more likely an open goal penalty will be awarded.

If ponies and players are intimidated or injured by reckless and/or dangerous fouls we will penalise players with a combination or yellow/red cards and penalty/ies

How crucial is the role of the third man?

G.L:  Well, the third man has the same importance to determine a foul as the umpires on the field. It’s a role that helps to see things more clear, most likely plays that probably those who are on the field are unable to see. In addition, he’s got the cameras to provide more useful information to the umpires on the field. The third man has a great deal of responsibility during the significant moments of a game.

J.D: With the advancement of technology, such as communications and video review, there is no doubt that the third man role has developed more importance. The technology has enabled the third man to deliver more useful information to the umpires so we can work as a genuine team. The roles and responsibilities are not exactly the same but the team of three officials can achieve a greater level of trust, consistency and authenticity between them.

How much has the arrival of technology in polo benefited?

G.L: It helped a lot, without doubts, and that’s very welcome, because technology helps us to work better on the field. The use of technology reduces the margin of error, definetly,  through a good communication and the review of every detail of a play, through cameras and drones. Besides, it delivers a great deal of help in order to make a very good review and to keep learning, after a match.

J.D: I said it before; technology arrived for us to have more information on the same play.

What do you think umpiring needs to improve?

G.L: I think we have to keep working to unify criteria in all levels. Many new umpires are being hired and it is crucial to enable and support them, to improve umpiring in low and medium goal. This job requires more and more dedication and professionalism.

Do you watch your games when you get back home?

G.L: Yes, I watch my games a lot and I am very self-critical. I make mistakes, like everybody, and I try to review carefully why I failed in that moment, in order not to repeat that mistake again.

J.D: Yes, we try to review our ‘calls’ & ‘non calls’ from each match, each day/evening. Ideally, we then discuss/debate via phone/text with our colleagues. This can be impossible when the season is very busy.