1. The Game

A. The game is played between two sides, each having one or two players

[singles or doubles] and is won by the side gaining seven or more points [see 2A below].

B. A full size lawn is 35yards by 24 yards. A smaller lawn may be adapted.

The game is played on a lawn on which are six hoops and a stick [peg]. In a full game

each hoop is played twice [in a set order] followed by the stick [peg].

C. Four balls of different colours are used, one side taking blue and black, the

other side red and yellow. No player may strike a ball other than his own [see 3B below].

To start the game the balls are struck in colour order, from the starting line and the players

take turns in the order of blue, red, black, yellow, as shown on the stick [peg] throughout

the game.

D. Each hoop is competed for, in sequence and the players may not move to

the next, until the one in play is decided. A striker must NOT play solely to gain

advantage at the next hoop. Should he/she do so and the stroke is NOT condoned, the

strike shall be deemed invalid and any balls moved shall be replaced and the turn ends.

nb. It is legitimate for a strikers ball to come to rest near the next hoop, provided that a

cannon or bona fide shot has been made. [Equity in this situation is paramount].

2. Scoring

A. One point is gained by the side which gets both its balls through the hoops,

before the other side has done so. A ball may be moved through the hoop in stages.

B. To win the stick [peg] it must be hit by one side with both balls, before the

other side has done so. A ball that has hit the stick [peg] is immediately removed from

the lawn and its player takes no further part in the game.

3. The rules

A. A players turn consists of only one strike at his/her ball, unless that ball has

passed through the hoop in play. He/she is then allowed to take two more shots, at each

turn, provided that his/her ball has touched another ball on its first shot. If the first strike

sends the ball off the lawn, the second shot is forfeited . A player whose ball passes

through the hoop in play, must place the coloured clip on the hoop. The second shot

does not apply when the hoop has been won.

B. A deliberate strike at the ball constitutes a shot, even if the mallet does not

touch the ball. If a player accidentally plays the wrong ball, it shall be replaced without

penalty and the turn started again.

C. A player may not strike his/her ball if this necessitates swinging the mallet

over another ball. To ensure this, it must be possible to ‘ground’ the full head of the

mallet along the line of strike immediately behind his/her own ball.

D. A ball, which leaves the lawn, must be replaced immediately and played

from the exact point on the next turn, just inside the boundary line.

E. If on the last hoop in the game, the striker hits his/her ball through the hoop,

thereby winning the hoop [i.e. the second ball] and with this shot, hits the stick [peg], the

ball shall be deemed dead and the ball removed from play and its player takes no further

part in the game [see 2B above].

F. Deliberate jump shots are not permitted.

4. Fouls

There are many fouls in this game emanating from Association Croquet from where

we come. Many we do not embrace, because we play for enjoyment, however there are

just some we should adhere to:-

A. If, whilst making a shot, a player’s mallet first touches a ball other than his/

her own, or touches the hoops or stick [peg] before his/her ball, this is a foul and the balls

shall be replaced as they were before the strike. The player takes no further shot at that

turn.

B. If a ball is hard up against a hoop or very near it [this is known as ‘wired’], it

is a foul for the striker to hit this ball toward the hoop, so that his mallet, ball and hoop are

in contact at the same moment. [This is known as a ‘crush shot’] The balls shall be

replaced as they were before the strike and the player takes no further shot at this turn.

C. Either side can claim or acknowledge a foul.

5. Etiquette

A. Do not stand immediately in front or behind a player who is about to make

his/her shot.

B. Do not move or talk when a player is about to make a shot.

C. Do not proceed to the next hoop until all four players have made their initial

shot.

D. Mobile phones to be switched off or on silent. They are for emergency use

only and referring to them during a game is distracting to all players and is not condoned.