3. The ball must be struck, not pushed, and always with the full face of the mallet tip.1. The sequence of colors on the starting post determines the order in which players shall play. The top color shall be first to play, etc.
2. At the start of play, the ball must be placed in a direct line between starting post and wicket 1, and one-third of the distance from starting post to wicket 1.
3. The ball must be struck, not pushed, and always with the full face of the mallet tip.
4. The tour of the ball is from the starting point through wickets 1,2,3,4,5,6 and 7 to the turning post, and return through wickets 8,9,10,11,12,13 and 14 to strike the starting post, thus determining the order of finish. When partners are playing, a player may elect not to strike the finishing post after completing the wicket course, but instead make the ball a "rover" to aid a partner or partners.
5. The tour of the ball continues as long as it passes through a wicket or wickets, or strikes another ball or the turning post.
6. In starting, each player attempts to pass through wickets 1 and 2 with one shot. This entitles the player to two additional strokes, as does passing through wickets 6 and 7 in either direction on one shot. The player receives one stroke if the ball passes through wicket 1 only. One stroke is allowed for passing through each succeeding wicket. If a player fails to make wicket 1 on the first stroke, the ball remains in play and is "live" to all others.
7. Participants receive a single stroke after striking the turning post, and the ball must be played from where is comes to rest after striking the turning post.
8. After roqueting (hitting) a ball, you have three options:
i. Place your ball one mallet head's length away from the other ball in any direction and then take two bonus strokes.
ii. Place your ball in contact with the struck ball (where the struck ball has come to rest) then strike your ball so as to send both balls in the desired direction. This is called a croquet shot. The striker then has one bonus stroke remaining.
iii. Place your ball in contact with the struck ball (where it has come to rest) and place your foot on your own ball so as to render it immobile, strike your own ball so as to send the other ball off in the desired direction while your ball remains where it is. You then have one more bonus stroke remaining. If your ball moves from under the foot there is no penalty and the bonus stroke is taken.
9. A stroke counts, however slightly the ball is moved. A stroke is counted if the ball returns to its original position after the shot.
10. If a player misses the ball completely, one may strike again.
11. If a participant plays out of turn, all balls are returned to their original positions, without penalty, and the rightful player resumes play.
12. When the wrong ball is played, it is returned to its original position and the erring player is deprived of a turn.
13. If a player roquets another ball and then passes through a wicket, the player takes play in accordance with Rule 8 and must pass through the wicket again.
14. No ball (except a rover) can roquet the same ball twice until it passes through a wicket, roquets another ball, or strikes the turning post.
15. If a roqueting and croqueting ball both pass through the proper wicket with the same stroke, only one extra turn is conferred.
16. If a ball roquets more than one ball, play is taken from the first ball struck in accordance with Rule 8. Play off the other balls is then permissible.
17. If a rover in any manner comes in contact with the starting post, it is automatically eliminated from the game.
18. The player roqueting or roquet-croqueting a rover so that is strikes the starting post, has the privilege of continuing, but cannot croquet or roquet the eliminated rover.
19. Opponents alternate in partnership play.
20. When a player drives a ball out of bounds, the ball is replaced at the edge of the playing area where it went off.
21. A ball has not passed through a wicket (or is "bridged") if the handle of the mallet touches the ball when laid across the wicket on the side from which the ball was struck. When that player next resumes his turn, and exits the wicket, the bonus stroke is won; however if any part of his mallet comes in contact with the wicket, his turn ends without the bonus stroke.
22. When a player's ball is "bridged" as described in Rule 21, the player's mallet must not come in contact with the wicket when striking the ball. If the wicket is touched, the ball is returned to its original position and the turn is forfeited.
23. A bridged ball shall not prevent passage of another ball through the wicket, providing both balls properly pass through in accordance with Rule 23. The player knocking the bridged ball from within the wicket is then entitled to only one stroke. One may, however, play upon the previously bridged ball as provided in Rule 8.
24. He who is in last place is upon occasion allowed to surreptitiously re-position his ball (while not his turn) unless other players should notice and object.
©2005 Croqueters of America
The Honorable Russell T.
Hogcamp