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)
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association croquet news
 | GB won the MacRobertson Shield defeating Australia 14-7 in the final test. Stephen Forster (Geelong Belmont) recorded a win on the final day against GB number 2 player David Maugham. ...more |
| Australia slipped to defeat at the hands of the fast-improving USA in the MacRob. Needing to win 5 of the 6 final day singles Australia was only able to win one losing the test 14-7 ...more |
 | The MacRobertson Shield test against the USA remains on a knife edge after the day 3 singles. Kevin Beard (Brunswick) was the only Victorian winner as the matches were tied at 3-3 and the test at 6-6 ...more |
| After two days of the MacRobertson Shield test against the USA matches are tied at 3-3. Each of the Victorians has won one of their two doubles matches so far. Day 3 is singles. ...more |
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