The customer
The US Polo Association (USPA) promotes the game of polo with an overaching goal of improving the sport, coordinating the activities of its Member Clubs and Registered Players, arranging, allocating, and supervising polo tournaments, competitions, and games and providing rules, handicaps, and conditions for those tournaments, competitions, and games, including the safety and welfare of participants and mounts.
It has been using VOKKERO audio communication systems since 2013, representing one of the oldest customers of VOGO subsidiary in the US.
USPA has set up a specific Umpire Program, responsible for the ways and means of achieving umpiring excellence in the United States. It sets the standards in terms of excellence, beginning with its Umpire Training and Certification Program and USPA approved umpire seminars and clinics, along with the Professional Umpire Program.
The brief
For over 10 years, USPA has been using VOKKERO audio systems to referee polo games. In the context of its Umpire program, it has decided to further professionalize its refereeing practice by adding video technology to review actions, as well as combining the audio and video systems used across competitions. The brief was to select a portable officiating video system, firstly based in Florida, but then that can be set up all over the US, and above all, easy to set up and use.
The deployed solution
USPA has chosen VOGOSPORT ELITE video solution as video replay system for Umpires. The system has initially been set up in Santa Barbara Polo Racquet Club, a prestigious polo club located in California. Founded in 1911, it is one of the oldest and most renowned polo clubs in the US. The club features world-class polo facilities with multiple fields and hosts high-level competitions, attracting international players. VOGOSPORT and VOKKERO ELITE are now used for 3 months in California, before being moved to Florida, where competitions will start in January. These solutions will cover 100 to 150 games per season.
VOKKERO ELITE kits have been purchased by USPA, while the association is renting the video solution, based on 3-years contract. With this set up, each umpire is wearing a VOKKERO ELITE device connected to a headset with earpiece and microphone. The VOGOSPORT video equipment includes a mobile server ingesting the camera footages (including feeds from a drone), a large touchscreen monitor usually positioned in a car on pitch-side, used by a dedicated video umpire, and a touchscreen tablet for the use of on-field umpires, who come to check the footages in order to make their decision.
The result
Portable, easy to set up video review system
As polo season splits between California, Florida and other places all over the US, the mobile kit enables to harmonize the system used in all games, guaranteeing fair and even decisions across competitions.
Constant communication between officiating umpires
Equipped with VOKKERO ELITE devices, both on-field umpires, the video umpire and the umpire on pitch-side can constantly and instantly exchange and communicate, which is key in this sport where speed and precision are key and players and horses’ health are at stake.
User-friendly interface for video review
The interface of VOGOSPORT ELITE touchscreen and tablet is intuitive and ergonomic, umpires can easily choose the best angle of view to replay the action, and the slow motion helps them to watch every detail before making a decision.
“The reliability, ease of use for the umpires and stability of the images has been a significant improvement for us.
Fergus Gould,
VOGOSPORT is a relevant system, specifically designed for instant replay, which offers more control and flexibility than the system used previously, more fitted for TV operators.
In addition, VOGO has been an excellent partner for more than 10 years for USPA, they understood our requirements and implemented a turnkey solution, matching our needs throughout the season and polo fields”.
Executive Director Umpires from United States Polo Association
The solutions we use
Discover the solutions used in this case study
VOKKERO ELITE, world leader in audio communication systems for sports refereeing.
VOGOSPORT ELITE is a live & replay video system dedicated to professional referees, which adapts to the specifications of each sport and each match configuration (e.g. VAR remote, decentralized, etc.).