The Laws of Association Croquet & Official Rulings Seventh Edition
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THE LAWS OF ASSOCIATION CROQUET SEVENTH EDITION 2021 THE WORLD CROQUET FEDERATION LAWS OF ASSOCIATION CROQUET SEVENTH EDITION with interspersed Commentary produced by the World Croquet Federation’s Association Croquet Laws Committee Copyright © 2021 Australian Croquet Association. The text of the Laws contained herein are Copyright © 2021 the World Croquet Federation and reproduced with permission. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including information storage and retrieval systems, without the prior permission in writing from the Australian Croquet Association. Croquet Australia gratefully acknowledges the preparation of this doument by Croquet New Zealand Seventh Edition February 2021. Previous editions published in 1961, 1968, 1972, 1984, 1989 and 2000. Published by the Australian Croquet Association 2/65 Tennant St, Fyshwick ACT 2609 https://croquet-australia.com.au i PREFACE The intention of this 7th Edition of the Laws of Association Croquet, the first major revision for 20 years, is primarily to clarify them, rather than to make any significant changes to the way the sport is played. Many of the changes incorporated here were in the commentary on the previous edition. Others have been the subject of discussion amongst players and referees, with agreement being reached that the changes are desirable. Stylistic changes recommended in the 6th Edition commentary have also been made, including a new numbering system; a Glossary, which defines terms which are italicised when they first appear in a Law; and more modern and gender neutral language. Greater commonality, in both substance and language, with the Rules of Golf Croquet has also been an objective: the hoops are now numbered 1-12, but with the historical naming retained as an alternative. Super-advanced, alternate stroke doubles and time limited games are now covered within the main body of the laws. The main change that players should be aware of is the introduction of the concept of critical strokes, for which the traditionally lenient treatment of accidental contact between mallet and ball, while casting or otherwise, no longer applies. For these strokes, such contact will now constitute a stroke (see the Glossary, Laws 8 and 36). Referees are given more guidance about dealing with unauthorised advice and slow play. The treatment of borderline cases and multiple errors and interferences has now been defined. The Laws, and Refereeing Regulations, are maintained by a committee of the World Croquet Federation and approved by its Council. A commentary has also been prepared by this committee and is incorporated in this document. Any rulings found to be necessary once games start to be played under the 7th Edition Laws, will be published in a companion document, the Official Rulings on the Laws of Association Croquet (ORLAC). These Laws have been adopted by the ACA and are effective from 1st July 2021 within Australia. STRUCTURE OF THE LAWS The Laws are divided into four numbered parts, which are in turn sub-divided into lettered sections. These four parts are preceded by a glossary, which also forms part of the Laws and defines terms that are used throughout the Laws. Accompanying the Laws and placed at the end of their text are two tables, seven appendices, a handicapping schedule and a comprehensive index. Part 1, Introduction, has three sections: 1A, summarising the game; 1B, containing laws relating to the court and its equipment; and 1C, containing laws relating to the turns and strokes that comprise the game and defining the status of the balls of the game. Part 2, Level Singles Play, has four sections. These contain the core laws of the basic level singles game. Section 2A describes the level singles game as it should be played. Section 2B contains general laws relating to errors and interferences with play, ii collectively known as irregularities. Section 2C then specifies the treatment of the errors, while section 2D similarly deals with the interferences. Part 3, Other Forms of Play, has five sections dealing with modifications to the laws of Part 2 applicable to other types of play: 3A, advanced singles play; 3B, super- advanced singles play; 3C, handicap singles play; 3D, doubles play; and 3E, shortened games. Section 3D contains laws applicable to two forms of doubles: the form that has traditionally been played, here termed ordinary doubles; and the form in which the players of a side play alternate strokes, termed alternate stroke doubles. Each form may be played as any of the four types defined above for singles: level doubles; advanced doubles; super-advanced doubles; and handicap doubles. Part 4, Conduct of the Game, has two sections. 4A contains general laws specifying the duties and responsibilities of the players for the conduct of the game. 4B contains laws relating to special formats of play plus the overriding law dealing with the interpretation of the other laws and specifying how breaches of those laws are to be handled. The two accompanying tables bring together and summarise how the laws deal with different situations. They are intended as a finding aid for players and referees. The first two appendices give detailed specifications for the court and its equipment. The next four state how the main laws are to be adapted for less common types of play. The final appendix sets out the procedure for resolving an impasse in play, previously included as an official ruling. Abbreviations used in the Commentary B, R, K and Y Blue, Red, Black and Yellow Balls Bab the player of Blue or Black Roy the player of Red or Yellow Betty, Ron, Ken, the players of Blue, Red, Black and Yellow respectively in Yvonne doubles ACLC the Association Croquet Laws Committee of the World Croquet Federation iii TABLE OF CONTENTS STRUCTURE OF THE LAWS ................................................ ii GLOSSARY ......................................................................... 1 PART 1 INTRODUCTION ............................................... 10 A A SUMMARY OF THE GAME ......................................................... 10 1 OBJECTIVE OF THE GAME ................................................................. 10 2 AN OUTLINE OF THE GAME............................................................... 10 3 ADDITIONAL LAWS GOVERNING OTHER TYPES OF PLAY .................... 13 B THE COURT AND EQUIPMENT ..................................................... 13 4 THE COURT ..................................................................................... 13 5 EQUIPMENT ..................................................................................... 15 6 ACCESSORIES .................................................................................. 22 C GENERAL LAWS GOVERNING PLAY ............................................ 23 7 START AND END OF A GAME AND TURN ............................................ 23 8 PLAYING A STROKE AND DEFINITION OF THE STRIKING PERIOD ........ 26 9 CHANGES IN THE STATUS OF A BALL ................................................ 33 PART 2 LEVEL SINGLES PLAY ....................................... 37 A LAWFUL PLAY .............................................................................. 37 10 DECISIONS ABOUT THE ORDER OF PLAY ........................................... 37 11 THE START OF A GAME .................................................................... 38 12 CHOICE OF STRIKER’S BALL ............................................................. 39 13 BALL OFF THE COURT ...................................................................... 40 14 BALL IN THE YARD-LINE AREA .......................................................... 41 15 PLACEMENT OF A BALL ON THE YARD-LINE ....................................... 42 16 WIRING LIFT ................................................................................... 44 17 ROQUET .......................................................................................... 49 18 CROQUET STROKE ........................................................................... 51 19 CONTINUATION STROKE .................................................................. 57 20 HOOP POINT ................................................................................... 58 21 STRIKER’S BALL RUNNING ITS HOOP AND HITTING ANOTHER BALL.... 62 22 PEG POINT ...................................................................................... 67 B IRREGULARITIES IN PLAY ......................................................... 69 iv 23 FORESTALLING PLAY ........................................................................ 69 24 MULTIPLE ERRORS AND INTERFERENCES .......................................... 72 C ERRORS IN PLAY ........................................................................ 77 25 GENERAL PRINCIPLES GOVERNING ERRORS ...................................... 77 26 PLAYING WHEN NOT ENTITLED ........................................................ 81 27 PLAYING A WRONG BALL .................................................................. 84 28 PLAYING WHEN A BALL IS MISPLACED .............................................. 86 29 FAULTS ........................................................................................... 97 D INTERFERENCE WITH PLAY ..................................................... 110 30 GENERAL PRINCIPLES GOVERNING INTERFERENCES ........................ 110 31 BALL WRONGLY REMOVED OR NOT REMOVED FROM THE GAME ....... 112 32 PLAYER MISLED BY FALSE INFORMATION