GOLF  CROQUET  SIMPLIFIED RULES

The Turn

  • A turn begins when the striker strikes the ball with the mallet and ends when all the balls have stopped moving or have left the court.
  • The accidental touching of the ball with the mallet by thestriker is deemed a stroke.
  • An attempt to strike a ball which fails to connect (an air swing) is not a stroke or a fault and the player may          attempt another stroke.
  • If a ball leaves the court it becomes an outside agency. It is placed on the boundary line where it exited the court ready for its next turn. If it obstructs another ball it is temporarily removed.

Scoring

  • A ball scores a point by passing through the hoop in the correct order and direction. The hoop is “run” when the   ball stops clear of the plane of the playing side of the hoop.
  • If a stroke causes more than one ball to run the hoop, the ball nearest the hoop before the stroke scores the point.

Offside

  • A ball is offside if it is beyond the halfway position to the next hoop when the current hoop is won.  That is, unless the ball has made contact with an opponent’s ball in getting to its offside position.                               

     Action:

  • Once the hoop is won and before the next stroke, the opponents must direct the offside ball to the penalty spot   or leave the ball where it is. The ball is taken to the penalty spot immediately.
  • If nothing is said before the next stroke, it can be assume that the opponents are happy for the ball to remain in the offside position.

Playing the Wrong Ball

  • If a player strikes out of turn or plays the wrong colour, the wrong ball has been played

     Action:

  • If the ball belongs to the striker or his partner, no points are scored, the balls are replaced and the correct ball is played
  • If the ball belongs to an opponent, no points are scored  and the opponents decide whether to replace the balls or leave them where they are and they choose which colour they play next, the correct sequence continuing after that.

Non-Striking Faults

  • A non-striking fault occurs if any part of a player including his/her clothing or mallet touches any ball.
  • If the striker touches another ball while attempting a stroke or just after his/her ball is struck, they are also faults.

     Action:

  • No points are scored and the opponents opt to replace the moved balls or leave them where they are.
  • If it is a moving ball that is interfered with, the ball is placed where it is considered it would have ended up or if that is in doubt, the stroke is taken again.
  • The side that commits the fault loses their next turn.
  • If a striker commits a fault before his/her ball is struck, the stroke is cancelled. The opponents opt to replace the balls or not and the next player takes his/her turn. If the fault occurs after the ball is struck, the opponents opt to replace the balls or not and the side loses the next turn. No points are scored.

Striking Faults

Striking faults occur when:

  • The ball is struck with any part of the mallet (often the bottom edge) other than the end face.
  • The striking ball is struck twice by the mallet (double tap). This most often occurs when a stroke is played with a follow-through along the line of two balls close together.
  • The striking ball touches the hoop while still in contact with the mallet (crush), again the result of a follow-through stroke when the striking ball is close to, or touching the hoop.
  • The striking ball is pushed along with the mallet still incontact (shepherding).
  • The striker plays before the previous turn has ended, ie before the previous ball has stopped.
  • The lawn is damaged during the stroke and cannot be repaired before the next play.

     Action:

  • No points are scored and the opponents choose whether the balls are replaced or left where they stop. Play then continues with the next turn.

Interference

  • Interference occurs when a ball contacts an “outside agency” which is anything not connected with the game – animals, non-players, players or equipment from another game, accessories (like pegs on hoops), a ball on the boundary or a penalty spot and other stray objects. Twigs, leaves and nuts as part of the court, are not outside agencies although they can be removed before a stroke is taken.

      Action:

  • If an outside agency interferes with a moving ball, other balls hit are replaced and the stroke is taken again. If the outcome of the interfered stoke is not in doubt the struck ball is replaced where it would have stopped.
  • No points are scored for any ball experiencing interference.
  • Where a fixed object (boundary fence) or unlevel ground at the court boundary interferes with the striker’s swing, the opponents can agree that the striker move into the court to be free from the interference.

Etiquette

  • Maintain good standards of behaviour toward others, the courts and equipment.
  • Don’t leave the game without opponent’s agreement.
  • Don’t offer advice to anyone apart from your partner.
  • Don’t disturb other players during the game.
  • Don’t stand or move in front of the striker.
  • Don’t argue with opponents.
  • Don’t waste time.
  • Don’t play until a fault is investigated or balls replaced.
  • Be honest about a possible fault.