9-Wicket "Backyard Style" Grass Croquet -
Rules: Preliminaries
Preliminaries
The Objective
The Objective - The main objective of croquet is to score more points (wickets and posts) then the opposing team. A player scores points by shooting through the wickets, or hitting the posts, in the proper sequence and, in the case of wickets, in the correct direction. A player earns extra shots by scoring (making) points and by roqueting other balls that the playing ball is alive on.
A player can make a point or points for the playing ball on a
direct shot at a wicket or post, or during a roquet or croquet of
another ball (see the rules concerning roqueting and croqueting
a ball for a point). The player can also make points for the
partner ball, or for the opponent, which is call "peeling" a
ball (see the rules concerning peeling). Any point(s) made for the player's ball, partner's ball, or opponent's ball or balls must
be counted, unless there is a foul or unless there is a
violation concerning clearance on a peel shot.
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The Order of Play - The order of play is always red,
yellow (sometimes white is used instead of yellow), blue, and
black, and, as such, partner's must always be red/blue and yellow/black.
It is customary for red to shoot first. However, if all
players agree, any color can start the game.
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Continuation of Play - Each player's ball's turn begins with
one shot. Additional shots, called continuation shots, are
earned by making points or roqueting balls that the shooting
ball is alive on. Each ball starts the game alive on all of the
other balls and may roquet each of the other balls one time before making the next point for the playing ball. Making a point for any ball makes that ball alive on all other balls again.
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"Ball in Hand" - "Ball in Hand" simply means a situation where it is legal to pick up and move a ball. The cases of legal ball in hand situations are:
- After a successful roquet, the playing ball is considered "ball in hand". It is not a foul to move the wrong ball in this situation, but any ball moved other than the playing ball must be reset before play may continue.
- When a ball goes out of bounds, the ball shot out of bounds must be moved to the appropriate place on the boundary line.
- After a foul, any ball or balls moved must be returned to the ball(s) original position(s).
- When a ball or balls are moved by an object ball (called a "cannon" shot) during a roquet or croquet, or by the playing ball after hitting the object ball on a roquet shot, any ball(s) so moved are to be returned to its/their original position(s).
- After roqueting a ball that is "on the spot", both the playing ball and the object ball are must be moved (see the rules concerning hitting a ball that is on the spot).
It is a foul for a partner or coach to physically position
a ball for a croquet shot.
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The Sequence - Each point must be scored in sequence and,
in the case of wickets, in the correct direction (see the diagram
below). It is not a foul to shoot through a wicket or hit a
post that is not the next point in the sequence, but the point
does not count as a made point. When play begins, each ball is
for the first wicket, also called the number one wicket. After
a ball makes number one, it is for the number two wicket, etc.,
continuing until all sixteen points have been made (see "posting
out" concerning the 16th point).
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Earning Extra Shots - The player shooting, called the shooter, earns one continuation shot for making a point for the playing ball. The shooter earns two continuation shots for roqueting a ball that the playing ball is alive on. Continuation shots are not cumulative for making a wicket and hitting a ball on a single shot or for making a wicket or roqueting a ball on the first shot after a roquet. Continuation shots cannot be saved for later. Continuation shots cannot be earned for any ball other than the playing ball.
Continuation shots are also not cumulative for making multiple
wickets on a single shot except for making the first two wickets
on the first shot of the game for each of the four balls. A
player shooting a ball's first shot of the game is entitled to
two continuation shots for making the first two wickets in a
single shot for the playing ball. If the shooter misses the first
wicket on a ball's first turn and then later makes the first
two wickets on a single shot, the shooter earns only one continuation
shot for the playing ball.
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Aliveness - A ball is alive on all other balls at the start
of the game, and is immediately alive on all other balls after
making a point.
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Repairs to the Court - A player, before or during his/her turn
of play or at the start of the game, may request that the ground,
wicket(s), post(s), boundary line(s), or other parts of the court
be repaired. It is up to the referee or other tournament official(s)
to decide what repairs can/should be made. No repairs should be
made during the game, however, without the consent of all players
involved.
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Coaching - A player with less than three years tournament
experience, in singles, or players with less than three years
tournament experience each, in doubles, are allowed to have
a coach on the court during his/her/their turn. The coach
may not be the referee. The coach is free to ask questions
of the referee or scorekeeper as may the player(s), and, in
general, acts as a non-playing partner. The coach may not
physically position a ball for a shot in any way.
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