USPA Umpires LLC- Director of Rules & Officiating

About the role

The Director – Rules & Officiating serves as the Head of Officiating Performance for Umpires LLC. This role is responsible for the integrity, consistency, and execution of officiating standards across all USPA-sanctioned competitions. This position combines technical expertise in polo officiating with modern performance management, integrating real-time data, video analysis, and structured evaluation systems to support umpire development and consistent application of officiating standards.

Reports Directly To: Executive Director of USPA Umpires, LLC

Responsibilities

• Manage Standards of Officiating & Enforcement
  • Own and enforce national standards for:
    • Foul recognition
    • Advantage application
    • Carding (Yellow / Double Yellow / Red)
  • Ensure consistency across all levels of play and regions.
  • Issue formal interpretations and guidance aligned with the USPA Rules Committee.
• Direct Umpire Program
  • Oversee the evaluation system for all professional umpires (P1–P4).
  • Review and validate:
    • Game reports
    • Data-driven performance metrics
  • Provide feedback and guidance based on documented performance and officiating standards.
• Umpire Development – Road to P4
  • Lead the national umpire development pathway: Club Umpire → Certified → Certified-Endorsed → P1–P4
  • Define pathway standards, experience requirements, and benchmarks used to determine the appropriate officiating level for each umpire.
  • Chair or oversee review panels responsible for evaluating umpire readiness and placement within the appropriate officiating pathway or level.
• Discipline & Escalation
  • Make initial determinations regarding:
    • Umpire performance issues
    • On-field enforcement concerns
  • Escalate significant matters to the Executive Director when required.
• Data Integration & Decision-Making
  • Utilize video and statistical analysis to:
    • Identify trends and inconsistencies.
    • Support decisions regarding officiating concerns and disciplinary matters.
    • Identify skills, experience, and demonstrated performance to appropriately position umpires within the officiating pathway.
    • Ensure officiating decisions are supported by objective and reviewable data.
• Event Oversight
  • Provide leadership presence at major USPA events.
  • Support high-level officiating decisions in real time.
  • Ensure IRO/replay systems are properly utilized.
• Key Success Metrics
  • Consistency of foul and carding decisions, supported by data.
  • Successful umpire development and progression through the P1–P4 pathway.
  • Reduction in officiating disputes.
  • Alignment between data analysis and on-field decisions.

Requirements

• Extensive experience as a high-level polo umpire or polo officiating authority.
• Deep knowledge of:
  • USPA Outdoor & Arena Rules
  • Umpire procedures and tournament conditions
• Demonstrated ability to evaluate officiating performance.
• Experience working with video/replay systems preferred.
• Strong leadership and decision-making ability under pressure.
• Ability to travel extensively for business purposes, including domestic and international travel.
• Computer literacy and technical proficiency, with the ability to understand and effectively use proprietary umpire tools, officiating technology, video/replay systems, and related digital platforms.

Schedule

This is a fully remote position requiring extensive domestic and international travel. The position requires an on-site presence in Wellington, Florida, from February through April during