Rules of American Croquet

The Official Rules of the United States Croquet Association, Revised 2006 is also available for as a PDF file. It is large (over 1 MB), so please be patient when you click the link. You may need to get Adobe Reader to open it.

You may also want to review the USCA Rules Committee's rulings.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

INTRODUCTION TO SIX WICKET CROQUET

Rules Changes in the 2006 Edition

Official Rulings and Interpretations

An Outline of the Game

How Play is Made

The Turn

Strategy

Croquet Customs and Court Etiquette

Sportsmanship

Dress Code

Courtesy to Players

Presence on Court

Interference with a Shot

Spectators

Advice

Replacing Balls and Placing Clips

Calling Faults

Questionable Shot

When Players’ Opinions Differ

Referees

Conclusion of the Game

Detrimental Behavior

The Standard Court

Court References

The Standard Setting

Modified Court Size and Setting

Equipment

The Wickets

The Stake

The Balls

The Mallet

Court Accessories

Clips

Deadness Board

Clocks

Corner Flags

Check Fences

SIX WICKET CROQUET

Part 1. Object of the Game and Starting

1.1 Start

1.2 Clips

1.3 Order of Play and Starting Area

Part 2. The Turn

2.1 The Turn

2.2 Court Damage

2.3 Aiming Aids

2.4 Cleaning Ball

Part 3. Mallet Use

3.1 Mallet Use

3.2 Striking Period and Shot

Part 4. Scoring a Wicket

4.1 Scoring a Wicket

4.2 Clearing Deadness by Running a Wicket

4.3 Ball at Rest

4.4 Beginning the Wicket

4.5 Dead on Ball in Wicket

4.6 Dead on Ball Beyond Wicket

4.7 Wicket in the Wrong Direction

Part 5. Balls In and Out of the Game

5.1 Balls In and Out of the Game

5.2 Deadness Between Balls In and Out of the Game

5.3 Ball Not In the Game

5.4 Lifting Balls In and Out of the Game

5.5 Scoring Wicket and Hitting a Ball Not In the Game

Part 6. Shots

6.1 Continuation Shots

6.2 Roquet Shots

6.3 Wicket and Roquet

6.4 Croquet Shots

6.5 Ball in Hand

Part 7. Dead Ball

7.1 Deadness

7.2 Ball Cannoned

7.3 Special Relief from Deadness

Part 8. Out of Bounds

8.1 Ball Out of Bounds

8.2 Out of Bounds Defined

8.3 Ball Replacement

8.4 Opponent Replacing Ball

Part 9. Blocking and Wiring

9.1 Responsible for Position

9.2 Blocking Wicket

9.3 Wired Ball

9.4 Wiring Lift

Part 10. Rover and Finishing the Game

10.1 Rover

10.2 Stake Out

10.3 Rover Deadness

10.4 Winning

Part 11. Errors in Play

11.1 Out of Turn Play

11.2 Wrong Ball Faults

11.3 Dead Ball Faults

11.4 Interference with a Ball

11.5 Mallet Faults

11.6 Misplaced Balls

11.7 Incorrect Information

Part 12. Claims and Penalties

12.1 Limit of Claims

12.2 Penalties

Part 13. Tournament Play and Timed Games

13.1 Tournament Director

13.2 Referee’s Role

13.3 Intervention

13.4 Resetting Equipment

13.5 Referee Not Available

13.6 Appeals

13.7 Time Limits

13.8 Shot and Game Clocks

13.9 Time-Outs

13.10 Match Time

13.11 Last Turn

13.12 Missing Player

Part 14. Double Banking

14.1 Marking Balls

14.2 Interference Between Games

14.3 Court Etiquette

14.4 Interference Time-Outs

Part 15. Handicap Play

15.1 Bisques

15.2 Half Bisques

15.3 Doubles

15.4 Singles

15.5 Base Method Handicap Play

Part 16. Shortened Games

16.1 Fourteen Point Game

Part 17. Experimental Rules

17.1 Immediately in the Game

HANDICAP POINT SYSTEM

GLOSSARY