Bike Polo Camp moved fast. Long days. Full courts. New drills, new conversations, new connections.
Schedule
On Saturday, we were assigned to our learning groups and traveled through six stations.
Carol taught us about strategy - a more abstract big-picture view of the game as a whole and how individual players fit into it.
Chris taught us about offense - the different types of passes (forward, drop, or across) and timing those passes under pressure.
Dana taught us about shooting - the percentage of shots that go in, where most shots are taken from, and where to place the ball for a comfortable shot.
Emily taught us about defense - defensive positioning and using the bike and body to get in the way of an offensive player rather than the mallet.
Jason taught us about bike handling - using the body positioning to maneuver the bike, balancing without using the mallet, and changing directions smoothly.
Jenny taught us about ball handling - how to move the ball, how to protect the ball, and juggling it from the dark side to the light side.
Then on Sunday, we played a short tournament (a round robin followed by a single elimination bracket) with a team chosen by the coaches.
Now that we’ve all had a little time to rebalance—physically, emotionally, and spiritually—we wanted to share what stuck with people most. Here are the reflections from campers and coaches about what the weekend actually felt like.
Learning Across Skill Levels
One of the strongest themes we heard was how valuable it felt to learn from a wide range of coaches and players.
“It was really great to learn from such experienced coaches with all different skill sets and to make new friends along the way! I found out what Kentucky is all about.”
— Dev
People came in with diverse backgrounds, goals, and levels of experience. The shared camp structure made space for all of that. Skill-building didn’t feel rushed, and learning didn’t feel competitive.
Confidence Gained (and Shared)
Several campers talked about leaving with more confidence in their play and in themselves.
“I met so many sweet and supportive folks who made the weekend amazing. I also gained a lot of confidence and am excited to practice what we learned!”
— Emma
“Polo Camp was an absolute blast. I learned some much needed positioning skills, gained a lot of confidence, and met a ton of cool people. 10/10 would highly recommend.”
— Eric
That confidence didn’t come from winning games. It came from repetition, feedback, encouragement, and being surrounded by people who wanted each other to succeed.
Community, Not Just Camp
Camp wasn’t just about drills and games. It was about people.
“I went in with high expectations and they were met and exceeded. I met new (instant) friends and can’t stop smiling now.”
— Grayson
“I loved living in Bike Polo camp world.” (followed by an excited brattattatttat)
— Kristi
“I loved experiencing the spectrum of polo-related emotions, making new friends who I hope to play with again in the future, and learning from people I’ve watched play for years.”
— Maggie
There was room for excitement, frustration, laughter, nerves, and rest. All of it mattered. All of it was part of the experience.
From the Coaching Side
Camp wasn’t just meaningful for campers.
“Coaching at camp was by far the most rewarding experience I’ve had in polo. My cup of polo stoke is fully re-filled. Also, lunch was 🍕🔥”
— Dana
That feeling showed. The coaches’ care, patience, and clarity shaped the tone of the entire weekend.
Gratitude
Huge thanks to everyone who made Bike Polo Camp possible:
Bex and Bike Polo Camp for organizing and leading
Lexington Bike Polo for hosting and refereeing
Every camper who showed up ready to learn, listen, and try
Camp Moments We’ll Remember
From team photos and group skill sessions to coach Q&As, elbow care, communicators, good vibes, and a very happy boy, camp was full of small moments that added up to something lasting.
Bike Polo Camp was about showing up, learning together, and leaving a little steadier than we arrived.
We’re grateful we got to share it with you.
Played a tournament recently?
Tell us how it went. Share your tournament report, and we might turn it into the next recap!
