AAP Expands Handicap Range

Peter

5 years ago

The AAP (Asociación Argentina de Polo or Argentine Polo Association) has expanded the range of handicaps that it uses to include negative handicaps. Previously the range ran from 0 to 10 goals, without the use of negative handicaps. From 2021, the AAP will introduce -1 and -2 handicaps.

Marcos Aldao, AAP Director of Operations, explained, “The implementation is intended to create a fairer basis for individual appraisals. The range of 0-goal players is too wide, which turns the game, many times, into a competition without equivalences and with more risks. Not all 0 goal polo players play at a similar level.”

The previous philosophy of starting every player on a handicap of 0 was based on the premise that in a sport of only four players, every player makes a contribution and, at worst, does not negate the team’s total handicap. Accepting negative handicaps is a change of philosophy that recognises that a minus handicap player makes a negative contribution to the team.

The AAP has published their framework of handicaps, very similar to that of other codes.

Most of the world has used negative handicaps for many years. In Malaysia, we have followed the example of the Hurlingham Polo Association (UK). Players start on a handicap of -2 and work their way up.

Malaysia has 288 registered active players published on our handicap list. 164 or 56% of those players have negative handicaps. Handicaps are reviewed twice yearly by a handicap committee appointed by the Royal Malaysian Polo Association.