Croquet RulesTHE OBJECT OF THE GAME
The object of the game is to race around the circuit of hoops as shown in the diagram below with each player trying to manoeuvre both their own and their opponent’s balls to win points. Careful positioning of the balls at the end of each turn can restrict their opponent’s chances of gaining points for themselves.
Croquet is played with four balls;back and blue versus Red and Yellow. The first side to get both of their balls through the 6 oops twice in the order marked on the diagram and hit the peg is the winner.
Once a ball has completed the circuit and hit the peg (pegged out) it is removed from the game. The side which first completes this course with both balls wins.
SCORING
A hoop point is scored when a ball passes right through each hoop (runs a hoop) from the correct direction and in the correct order. The point is scored whether the ball is struck directly with the mallet or with another ball. On running the hoop the striker gets an extra stroke – a continuation stroke. If the striker’s ball causes another ball to run that ball’s next hoop (peeling) it’s player gains a point but does NOT gain a continuation stroke. To win 26 points are required – 12 hoops points and 1 peg point for EACH ball.
THE START OF THE GAME
The croquet court should be laid out on a grass area measuring 35 by 28 yards and should be laid out according to the diagram below.
Clips coloured to match the balls are placed on the hoops to indicate the nets point for each ball. The clips are places on the top of the hoop for the first 6 hoops, and on the side for the second circuit.
The Game starts with the the toss of a coin. The winner can make one of two choices; whether they take the lead and play first or which pair of balls they will play with. If they take the lead their opponent’s has the choice of balls and vice versa.
The sides take alternative turns. Each player starts by playing their balls into the court from the starting lines (baulk lines). Once the four balls are on the court a side chooses which of its two balls it shall play in turn.
A turn consists initially of one stroke only, but extra strokes can be earned in two ways:
1) If the players ball runs its next hoop, they are entitled to another stroke.
2) If the players ball hits another ball (makes roquet), they place their own ball in contact with the displaced ball and then strike their own ball so that the other ball moves (takes croquet). The player is then entitled to one further continuation stroke.
During each turn the player may roquet and then take croquet from each of the other three balls once, however, each time their ball runs its next hoop the may roquet the other balls once more. This enables the player to run many hoops in and one turn (making a break).
A turn ends when a player has made all teh strokes to which he is entitled, of if a ball is sent off the court in a croquet shot, or if a fault is committed.
After each shot, any ball which has been sent off court is placed a yard inside the boundary (on the yard line), nearest to where it went off. Any ball lying between the boundary and the yard line, except the players own ball, is also replaced on the yard line.
When a ball has scored its last hoop point (become a rover) it can score the peg point wither by the player directly hitting it on to the peg or by being hit on to the peg by another rover ball. The ball is then removed from the court.
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