Discover the Joy of Polo: My Journey in Junior Polo Coaching in Surrey

People often ask me what the best way to become a better polo player is. Most expect the answer to be hitting more balls or riding faster. The truth is, those things are important, but they're only a small part of becoming a good player. Growing up at Minninnooka, I've realised that the biggest improvements come from understanding the game, learning from your teammates, and spending as much time around horses as possible. That's what makes our Junior Polo Coaching in Surrey different. It's not just about learning to play polo; it's about learning how to become a complete player.

Polo Is the Best Team Sport I've Ever Played

One of my favourite things about polo is that no matter how well you're playing, you can't win on your own. Every match teaches you how to work with three other people, each with a different role, different strengths, and different jobs to do. Learning that has probably been the hardest part of polo for me. But it's also been the most rewarding. The best teams aren't always made up of the best individual players. They're usually the teams that communicate well, trust each other, and stick to a plan. That's something we focus on every time we play at Minninnooka.

Every Match Starts Before We Ride Onto the Field

One thing I've always liked about playing for Minninnooka is that we prepare together. Before every match, we all meet to discuss how we're going to play. We talk about:

• The strengths of the opposition.

• The style of play that might work best.

• Each player's position and responsibilities.

• Throw-ins and set plays.

• Penalty strategies.

• How we'll support each other during the game.

  
  

By the time we get on our horses, everyone knows what we're trying to achieve. It doesn't always go perfectly, but having a clear plan makes a huge difference.

Junior Polo Coaching in Surrey - Lessons Teach Skills. Matches Teach Polo.

Of course, polo lessons in Surrey are where you improve your riding and stick work. But I honestly think you learn the most when you play matches. Every game teaches you something new. Sometimes it's about positioning. Sometimes it's about patience. Sometimes it's learning when not to hit the ball. Sometimes it's understanding how to create space for your teammates instead of trying to do everything yourself. You can't learn those things by standing in a line hitting balls. That's why I think matches and instructional chukkas are some of the best ways to improve your polo.

One Thing We Always Do After Every Match

Win or lose, we always finish the same way. We have a team debrief. We talk about what went well, what didn't, whether our game plan worked, what surprised us, and what we'd change next time. Everyone gets honest feedback, but it's always there to help us improve. We also leave with individual things to work on before the next game. Sometimes mine might be improving my positioning. Sometimes it's communication. Sometimes it's simply slowing down and making better decisions. Every match becomes another lesson.

The More I Learn, The More I Realise There's Still So Much To Learn

One thing I've realised is that polo isn't a sport where you ever know everything. Every horse teaches you something different. Every teammate teaches you something different. Every opponent teaches you something different. The more matches I play, the more I understand that improving isn't about finding one magic tip. It's about making lots of small improvements over time.

Horses Are the Biggest Coaches

Probably the biggest lesson I've learned growing up at Minninnooka hasn't actually come from people. It's come from the horses. Every horse rides differently. Some are quick. Some are powerful. Some need confidence. Some teach patience. Learning to adapt to different horses has made me a much better rider and a much better teammate. Good horsemanship isn't separate from polo. It's part of becoming a complete player.

Why I Think the Minninnooka Coaching Method Works

Looking back now, I realise we don't just have lessons. Everything links together. We learn to ride. We learn stick work. We learn game theory. We spend time looking after horses. We play instructional chukkas. We compete in matches. We prepare together. We review together. Every session builds on the last one. That's why I think our Junior Polo Coaching in Surrey helps players improve so quickly. You're never just learning one skill. You're learning how everything fits together.

More Than Becoming a Better Polo Player

When I was younger, I thought success was about scoring goals. Now I think it's about much more than that. Polo has taught me teamwork, responsibility, patience, leadership, how to deal with pressure, and how to support other people. Those are things I'll use for the rest of my life, whether I'm on a polo field or not. If you're thinking about starting polo lessons in Surrey, my advice is simple: Don't worry about becoming the best player straight away. Focus on learning. Ask questions. Listen to your teammates. Spend time with the horses. Play as many matches as you can. And enjoy the journey. Because that's where the real learning happens.

About the Author

Ali Otamendi is a young polo player based in Surrey and has ridden at Minninnooka for as long as he can remember. He competes regularly in junior tournaments across the UK and is passionate about helping more young riders discover polo through structured junior polo coaching in Surrey.