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.

• Aus/NZ Rankings [croquetrecords.com]
• World Rankings [croquetrecords.com]
• Laws [croquet.org.uk]
• Tournament Regulations [croquet-australia.com.au]

•  Victorian AHS-1 handicap reporting form
• Club and Tournament Handicapping - Reference Manual

• 2019 Eire Cup Team

To find and contact a club near you, use the Club Finder.

For resources to help grow your club see Growing Croquet in Victoria.

Please contact the State Coordinator if you have other questions.

	State Coordinator of Association Croquet Brian Reither 0488 539 000 breither@bigpond.com
	State Handicapper of Association Croquet Doron Gunzburg 0419 616563 dgunzburg@hotmail.com

2019-02-10	High level competition at VCC The AC Gold Cup, Silver and Bronze Shields are ranked events. The best players are invited to take part and those accepting are placed into the appropriate section.   This year the Gold Cup had six members of the State Team (Stephen Forster, Belmont; Kevin Beard, Yarrawonga; Chris Grant, Ringwood; Elaine Coverdale, Essendon; Lewis Mercer, Traralgon; and David Johnston, Ballarat Alexandra) plus the ACA Gold Medal contender (Simon Watkins, Brighton) and a former State Team Member (Kenn Boal, Rich River). read more...
2019-01-13	Association Silver and Bronze Medals The VCA AC Silver and Bronze Medal events were held at Cairnlea over the weekend. The weather was great, the courts in excellent condition and the events were very competitive. What more can you ask? read more...
2019-01-01	Victorian Open AC Singles This year's AC Open Singles attracted quality players from across Australia, and every state was represented in the finals. Entry numbers were limited to 20 and most play was double banked, as we had access to only five courts - the other seven courts at the VCC are being refurbished. read more...
2018-12-28	Victorian Open AC Doubles The Victorian Open AC Doubles Championship was played at VCC over the Christmas/New Year break.  Due to the work being done on the courts at Cairnlea we were restricted to 5 courts and thus had to advise players of the limitations. We ended up with a small, but quality-laden field of 9 pairs.  The top seeds were Greg and Malcolm Fletcher (Ballarat Alexandra) in one block and Robert Fletcher and Callum Hyland (Ballarat Alexandra / Sandy Bay) in the other. read more...

To submit a news item, email news@croquetvic.asn.au

Add a news item