Tag Archive for hardcourt

Crusher | February 22, 2013
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Making the Most of the Least: Working With Bad Players

kid on bike

Yes, I’m talking about myself. Let’s just work off that premise for awhile.

This may come as a shock to some of you, but not every player you play with is A+. Yes, I know, just let that sink in a moment.

But the worst thing I’ve seen – worse than the worst-est player ever, is a good player who basically shuts down because they just knoowww that there’s no point to really trying. So instead of a half decent game you get:

  • A under-performing player who feels guilty/frustrated
  • A good player who keeps shaking their head and looking out at the other team like “well, I’m sorry, just make it quick”
  • A typical player (the third on the team) who is trying to remember what all the songs in The Little Mermaid were

and that’s just not good enough, friends.

So you’ve got someone on your team who has, at best, a love of the sport (and not much else). Chances are you aren’t in a tourney with this person, you’re in pickup. Let that be your first lesson: This game doesn’t matter in any way, shape, or form. You are playing for the joy of playing – and that’s what your under-performing player has in spades. So just stop thinking that you have to put the pressure on.

Also consider this: everybody, no-matter how you think of them, as at least one inherent ability on the court. Maybe it’s disrupting plays or maybe it’s calling out positions of other players – hell, maybe it’s just hitting the ball out of play. Find the player’s strength and let them use it. This boosts their confidence and also their ability to help you out.  Read more

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Crusher | February 8, 2013
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The Difference Between Us: Recognizing Mistakes v. Style

janus

Horse, for better or worse, is my bike polo coach. I think it’s a mix of us talking about polo so much, he being the guy who got me involved in the first place, and the fact that Horse pretty much has an opinion on everything (and is very willing to share it). It works out pretty well, as he’s one of the best players we’ve got and knows how to explain plays, techniques, and other sundry details of the sport to me in ways that a writer can understand (“Crusher, shooting the ball on the goal accurately is like the way a woman’s hair looks in the moonlight – it’s just right, man. It’s just right”).

However, there are times when he makes suggestions where I just get peeved. It’s not when I’ve made a big, obvious mistake and he points it out (though that does curdle my girdle as well), but more when he points out a way that I play as something than needs worked on.

This got me to thinking: are there times when players are trying to correct something that really shouldn’t be corrected? I don’t think anyone would deny that people are all individuals and there’s not a single best way to play polo, so why is it so hard to recognize when another player simply has a different style than your own?

New?

newguyThe most obvious identifier is how long they’ve been playing the sport: if they are only a month in, it’s safe to assume that suggesting things is not trying to impose your play style on someone else. In fact, the worst thing to do would be not telling a new player what they are doing wrong.

Dangerous for no reason? Read more

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Crusher | January 28, 2013
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Monday Morning Bike Polo Strategy: J Block

J block (6)

Bike polo strategy is often maligned by those who think the two are oxymorons. You go out, you hit the ball around until you get it in the goal, or you curse a lot and get drunk.

And we all know how fun that particular strategy is.

But let’s–just for the sake of Monday fun–say that you want to work on some strategerie for your next pickup day or tourney. Well, why not try this mediocre-ly named strategy I’ve often seen a few of our top level players pull off in pickup (often on me, and often resulting in my hopping off my bike and chasing someone down like an anamorphic toad):

I say, give me back that ball, ye douche!

I say, give me back that ball, ye douche!

The setup is simple: the opposing team has possession and you want to get that ball away from them. While this is generally the aim of most games (getting the ball away from the opposing team), this little maneuver can help you do so quickly while at the same time eliminating a potential threat to the scoring teammate.

Just a note: this whole move is really a matter of seconds – don’t let the slowness of showing how it’s done make you think it takes half of the game. Also note that I’ll be using Tagamigrams™. Read more

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Crusher | January 25, 2013
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Reading Minds: Know What The Other Guy Is Going To Do

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D’ya ever play against someone who just was everywhere? You try to move the ball up and he’s blocking you – you try to pass to a teammate and that one guy is right in between you as soon as the ball is away.

That guy – man, what a jerk!

It’s like he knows exactly what you’re trying to do and exactly what he can do to stop it. He knows how to “read” you, if you want to use the appropriate parlance. It’s a frustrating skill when used against you, but a terrific skill to use against other players. So how can you work on getting that skill up to snuff?

First, I recommend watching players play. Oh really? Yes, really. Instead of looking for opportunities to trash talk every single pickup game you’re not in, watch to see what hints people give to other players on their team (assuming they are actually communicating to teammates, of course). Look to see how they approach the goal and when they decide to shoot – and when they are trying to be fancy and just want to trick the goalie.

Watching your own club is good for two reasons: it moves you closer to learning how to  disrupt plays, and it also helps clue you in to rapidly finding other player’s indicators ( a useful skill to pick up for tourney play).

codeAfter you’ve observed your own club as if they were water buffalo, try to catch those indicators while playing. If you can, while actively participating in play, see the dead giveaways from other players as to what move they are going to try, you’ll be well on your way to disruption. Read more

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Horse | January 15, 2013
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I Can’t Quit You

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I have not been playing much polo for the past 3 months. I made up a bunch of excuses as to why I was going to be taking a break. Excuses. Tell me the last time an excuse was the whole truth… Quite simply my life was getting out of balance, and setting polo aside for a season was one of the more easy steps toward restoring balance. I let life trump polo. You say life IS polo. I say it is not. Read more

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Crusher | January 10, 2013
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The 7 Habits of Highly Successful Polo Players

7-habits-of-highly-effective-people

There is something to be said for picking up a habit – despite all the lovely ones I have which will ultimately lead to my destruction, habits can also be a positive way to reinforce good behavior day in and day out. I’ve been giving lots of thought to what kind of habits help a polo player out in the long run, and instead of really formulating those thoughts I decided on a snappy title and to work myself into something from that point forward.

1. Highly successful bike polo players do what is uncomfortable for themselves during practice. They make sure that they don’t have “a good side” or a particular side of the court that they can only shoot on. They recognize what position/situation they don’t excel at – and then they work on getting better at it.

2. They also look at themselves objectively. There’s no point in thinking you’re the worst bike polo player in the country (believe me, I’ve tried), because it doesn’t help you get any better. To the same end, it doesn’t help to think of yourself as the best player in the western hemisphere, either. Taking an objective look at what you’re able to do and unable to do is a great way to start a list of things to work on. Alternately, being objective on your skill-set can be an outstanding way of identifying who has the skills that compliment your own, and that can lead to a pretty outstanding team.

3. Great bike polo players depend on others to help during games. You’re a team of three – not a team of one with two other guys there to tap mallets with after you score.

4. The successful polo player is familiar with the rules but not a slave to them. It’s great to be able to quote the NAH ruleset as a party trick, but it’s dumb to over-use that skill when playing. If it’s pickup, you shouldn’t take it so seriously that you stop play to correct someone for a minor infraction. Likewise, if you’re playing in a tourney, It’s the ref’s job to call it out, not yours. Read more

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Crusher | January 7, 2013
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Completely Fake Interview with Lumberjack – Speaker for Trees

Lancaster Bike Polo (74)As you know, I enjoy interviewing polo players and getting their perspectives on our goofy little sport. Naturally this leads to me begging lots of people to give me an hour of their time to answer my simple, Cosmopolitan style questions.

So far, not a single person has turned me down, but that all changed last week when I innocently asked Lumberjack if I could interview him for the blog.

He said no.

When I asked him why, he made a “I just ate a whole lemon” face and shook his head. I think that means something, but I don’t speak the language of the woodland realm, so I’m not sure.

But he did give me permission to falsify the interview, so – without further ado:

Lumberjack, thank you so much for doing this interview with me – my first question: what is your current setup on your bike/equipment?

I am currently riding the Fixcraft Prototype bike with a bunch of parts that help make it move.

Could you be more specific?

No.

Alright then. When did you start playing bike polo?

Keystone Cup 2012 (550)I played bike polo before you were born, but when I did that it was on grass and we actually had to try to pedal a bit more. Now we’re playing it on the hardcourt and it’s much easier. I started playing with Lancaster’s players a few years ago. I’ve been playing with your fools ever since.

What’s your favorite part of bike polo?

Ignoring questions like that.

What’s you’re least favorite part? Read more

Category: Interviews | Tags: , , ,
Crusher | January 3, 2013
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What I learned, Frigid Cold Polo Edition

the wall

Polo last night was the coldest night for Lancaster United in the winter season. Coming in at a toasty 20 something degrees (which felt like 17, according to the weather witchpriests at WGAL 8), we had to bundle up and try to ignore cold toes until the frostbite set in.

The cold didn’t necessarily have an impact on play – we were just as wild and goofy as ever. I was expecting a little bit of slow-down simply because it should  be harder to pedal with 4 layers of underpants on, but apparently that really has no effect on ability – go figure. The never-nudes were on to something.

Outside of remembering that my beard can indeed form icicles, the night brought the regular treasure trove of lessons and insights that I gather from any good night of pickup (ok – even the bad nights teach me a thing or two).

For one thing, I did pretty well with staying on offense. How-ev-er, I also knew when it was important to go back on defense or play in goal. Having the resolution to stay up and make all of those horrible shots is all well and good, but being able to balance that with defense is an important skill, too. The rule of wrist I use is this: if we are up by 2, or down by 1 with 1 minute or so to play, I’ll play up without regard for the goal. If we are down by 2, or up by 1 with a minute or so left to play, I’ll try not to cross the mid-court.

Also recognize, dear reader, that this isn’t a hard and fast rule. It’s more of a guideline for myself, really. Read more

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Crusher | January 2, 2013
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New Year, New Bike Polo

Well, the new year brings new things: the resolutions you drunkenly made your mind up on and can’t possibly achieve, the absolute disgust on looking back on your Facebook “Year in Review” and realizing you mostly stayed on couches and wore the same torn shirt to every tournament. But What kind of bike polo resolutions have you made for the New Year? I know you’re just bursting at the seams with them, but let me give you a few of mine:

Wear a Safari Hat to Every Tournament

Yes. It’s as simple as that. I was given a postal worker, plastic safari hat for Christmas and I’ll be damned if you won’t all see me in it. I’ll  be that guy.

Play Offense as Much as Defense

Playing goal is important – playing defense is just as if not more important. But offense is more fun and my weak point. Prepare for Crusher 2.0: more falling over and missing open goals.

Practice

For as much as I go on about the importance of playing bike polo outside of pickup (a la practice), I really don’t do enough of it. But recently I moved to a place that has a wide open parking lot, and I really have no reason to not bring the steed out of the stall and practice my off-side passing, shooting, and general mallet work. God forbid I actually start practicing what I preach.

Develop a “perfect for me” mallet, and make multitudes 

This is partially stolen from something Horse said, but it was a good idea: I want to figure out what mallet shaft/head/system works best for me and make a year’s worth of that setup. That way it’s predictable no matter which of my mallets I’m using and I don’t have to think about it. Naturally I’ll still get things to review and I’ll re-adjust based on new products available, but it’d be nice to have 3 perfect mallets that I can just grab and go with.

More Tourneys 

I’m not an “A” player–and that’s fine. But I do want to go to more tourneys for experience and also just for fun. If nothing else, I can do some Gonzo Poloism documenting, and that’s kind of my no-paycheck bread and butter.

Focus on New Players 

I’m a big proponent of getting fresh meat for the grinder, but I think 2013 will be as much a learning year for me as a mentoring year. I plan to help set up newbie days in the spring/summer at our other courts and work on getting newer players more comfortable with the game. It’s something that I think I would have benefited from when I started, and it’s my little contribution to the club and the sport in general.

 

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Crusher | December 5, 2012
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Interview with Sabrina, Our Newest Player

I chose this picture so you guys can see just how BA I am when I'm on my feet and not a bike. Plus my bicep isn't even flexed but since we are playing in the winter, I wanted you to see what's behind my "big ripping high speed polo shots" as Hollenbach calls it. Also because Ted may have taken it and who knew at that point he'd drag me into polo. Watch your backs fellas :)

Sabrina came to Lancaster United as a general unknown – she knows Ted, but that was about it. Even so, she jumped in with both feet and is progressing nicely. She’s already got the shit talking down, and that’s kindof the most important element of bike polo, right? 

You’re the newest player for Lancaster United, and that’s kindof awesome. How did you find out about us?

I’m not really sure. Actually that’s a lie. I think I was stalking Ted Houser’s facebook pictures on a boring night. Yes, I blame Ted.

What were your first impressions before playing your first game?

It looked like a lot of fun. I was excited, but scared that you guys were going to crash into me a lot and I’d fall off my bike a lot. I also thought that I would be really bad and never touch the ball.

What were they afterward?

It was more fun than I thought, and it’s not as scary (probably because I was playing little kids)! I definitely wanted to come back again.

You’re also the first female member of our club – how’s that going for you? Read more

Category: Interviews | Tags: , , , ,
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