Lawn Croquet Rules

• ORDER OF PLAY  Each team of players on a court can have up to 6 players.   Players begin each game by drawing colored clothes-pins/wicket-markers out of a container. Players then use the ball of the same color and play in order of how that color is represented on the end stake (Blue, Red, Black, Yellow, Green, Brown). Between turns they should place their clothespin on the wicket they need to go through. They should keep moving the clothes-pin/wicket-marker as the game progresses to keep track of where they are headed. They should be ready to play their turn and not leave the court during the game.

• OBJECT OF THE GAME The object of the game is for each player to move their ball through all wickets in the proper order and in the proper direction, and then peg-out by hitting the end stake.

• MALLET POSITION During regular play the ball and mallet come together on either circular end of the mallet.   Spread your feet apart, facing the ball to be hit, and swing the mallet back through your legs (like a pendulum) – hitting the ball when you move the mallet forward. This is called a stroke.

• STROKES PER TURN You are allowed one stroke per turn, but you can get additional strokes by:

a. Making your next wicket in the proper direction for one more additional stroke. If two wickets are made in one shot, you get two additional strokes.   You will never get more than 2 shots no matter the situation.

b. Hitting the turning stake for one additional stroke. After hitting the turning stake, your ball is “in hand” and can be placed one mallet-head from the stake before continuing.

c. Hitting your ball into an opponent’s ball for two additional strokes (the croquet stroke and the continuation stroke). If you hit an opponent’s ball then go through a wicket on the same hit, you only get the wicket-extra shot. If you go through a wicket then hit your opponent’s ball on the same hit, you get two extra shots only.

d. Additional strokes are not cumulative beyond two. You can never have more than two at any point in the game. Each wicket you pass through gets you one extra stroke, and when you hit the upper stake, you have one additional stroke.

CROQUET STROKE. After hitting an opponent’s ball, your ball is “in hand” and you have two more shots. On your first shot you play your “Croquet stroke” by either:

a. Placing your ball one mallet-head from the ball hit and hitting your ball again; or

b. Placing your ball in contact with the ball you hit and hitting your ball again, moving both balls; or

c. Placing your ball in contact with the ball you hit, putting your foot on your ball, and driving the other ball away-called a “foot shot”.

• CONTINUATION STROKE. After playing a croquet stroke, you get your second shot called the “continuation shot”.

• DEADNESS. At the beginning of each turn, you are “alive” on all balls, regardless of prior deadness. During your turn, you are “dead” on balls you have already played off (hit) until you clear your next wicket. Then you are “alive” on all balls, and can play off (hit) them again.

• CLEARING A WICKET. A ball is through a wicket and gains an extra stroke if it has been driven through in the proper direction to the point where no part of the ball can be seen on the approach side of the wicket. Clearing a wicket “clears” any extra shots you had prior to going through, and you will get the wicket extra stroke only. A player may go through a wicket a 2nd time or may go through a wicket in the wrong direction, but is not credited with having made the wicket and does not receive an additional stroke.

• FAULTS. All faults must be called before the next shot has been taken.

• OUT OF BOUNDS. Any ball driven out of bounds shall be brought back in bounds at the place nearest the point where it went out. The ball is placed directly in bounds one mallet-head length from the sideline.   Here are more spe cifics on out of bounds situations:

a. I hit only My ball out of bounds:   Ends your play for that turn. Put your ball one mallet-head length inside the boundary where it originally went out of bounds (not where it stopped)

b. I hit someone else’s ball. My ball went out of bounds but their ball is still in bounds. Your play is still active. You get two strokes. Bring your ball in bounds, and use one of these 3, two strokes options:

1. Place your ball one mallet-head length from the ball you hit.

2. Place your ball touching the one you hit and both balls move when you hit yours.

3. Place your ball touching the one you hit, putting your foot on your ball and driving the other ball away.

c. I hit someone else’s ball and my ball is still in bounds but their ball went out of bounds. This ends your play for the turn. Put their ball one mallet-head length inside the boundary where it originally went out of bounds.

d. I hit someone else’s ball and both balls went out of bounds. This ends your play for the turn. Put both balls one mallet head length inside the boundary where they originally went out of bounds.

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