association croquet
In Association Croquet the object of the game is to get both balls around a course of twelve hoops in a set order, and finish by hitting the centre peg, (which has given us the phrase "pegging out").
On your turn you have two options:
- To hit a ball through its next hoop (running the hoop). If you manage to run the hoop you get a free turn.
Or you can:
- Hit your ball so that it hits any of the other three balls. In this case you get 2 free turns.
This second option is the key to the game. When you hit another ball, you pick your ball up and place it against the ball you've hit. You then play your ball again (called a croquet stroke). This means you can send both balls to different parts of the lawn. After the croquet stroke you have another free shot with which you can aim for another ball or run your hoop. You're allowed to hit (and then croquet) each of the other three balls on your turn.
By careful play you should be able to manoeuvre your ball in front of its hoop. If you do that and then run the hoop, you're allowed to hit all the other balls again. By using the other three balls you can then get your ball in front of its next hoop, etc, etc.
Good players can make 'breaks' as in snooker, sometimes running all twelve hoops in a single turn. But....if the player miscalculates and fails to run the hoop or hit another ball, his turn comes to an end, and his opponent has the chance to make the running himself.
This above description gives the essentials of the game; all other rules and modifications can be picked up easily in the course of play.
Association Croquet laws 2000
(link to CA website)
Australian Association Croquet tournament regulations
(link from ACA website 102kb)
|
|
events in progress
recently completed events
|
|
association croquet news
 | Kevin Beard (Brunswick) won the Victorian Gold Cup gaining revenge for recent defeats by Robert Fletcher (Lismore) who finished 2nd. Greg Fletcher (Lismore) came 3rd. ...more |
 | Colin Clark (Williamstown) won the Victorian Silver Shield held at VCC on the 27th/28th Feb 2010. Wendy Dickson (Brunswick) was 2nd while Greg Freeman (Sale) finished 3rd. ...more |
 | David Wren (Essendon) won the Victorian Bronze Shield held at VCC on the 27th/28th Feb. In a tight event Brian Reither (Ballarat Alexandra) was runner-up followed by Judy Evans (Sandringham) ...more |
 | Adrian Palmer (MCC) won the Victorian Silver Medal held at VCC on the 23rd/24th January. Second place was taken by Malcolm Fletcher (Lismore). ...more |
|
