Instructions / Assembly

The Rules and Regulations of Croquet
As used by Croquet Canada and the USCA
RULES OF NINE WICKET CROQUET
PART 1. GAME OVERVIEW
1. The game can be played by 2, 3, 4, 5, or 6 players.
2. The game is designed to be played with 6 balls or 4 balls. The
game can be played between 2 sides or as individual (cut-throat) play
where each player is playing for him/herself with no partner.
3. Wickets may be up to twice the diameter of balls.
4. All terrain; close cropped grass is best.
5. Wicket clips are useful but optional.
6. The standard double diamond rectangular court may be adjusted
to fit the size and shape of the space available. In ideal situations,
use the nine wicket court diagram which shows a 50' x 1OO' court
with boundaries. Marked boundaries are optional.
7. A game usually requires from one to two hours to play to its
conclusion, that is, until one of the two sides has "staked out" by
striking the "finishing stake" with each ball on a team.
8. In games with time limits, the winner is determined by counting
points ( see rule 10 below) to see which side has progressed the
farthest around the court at the moment time has expired.
9. Each wicket made in the proper order and stake hit count as one point.
10. Each ball in a game can score 16 points for its side, 14 wicket point and 2 stake points. In the 6 ball
game there are 48 points that can be scored by each side (3 balls to a team). In the 4 ball game there
are 32 points that can be scored by each side (2 balls to a team).
PART 2. THE TEAMS
11. When playing with 6 balls the order of play is blue, red black, yellow, green and orange. When
playing with 4 balls the order of play is blue, red, black and yellow.
12. In team play with 6 balls, one side plays blue/black/green while the other plays red/yellow/orange.
13. In team play with 4 balls one side plays blue/black while the other plays red/yellow.
14. In singles, one person plays all the balls of one side. It is recommended that the four ball version be
used in singles. Blue and black oppose red and yellow.
15. In doubles, two players per side, each playing one ball. It is recommended that the four ball version
be used in doubles as in singles.
16. In triples, three players per side, each playing one ball. It is recommended that the six ball version
be used.
17. In individual (cutthroat) play each player is playing for him/herself with no partner. It is
recommended that the 6 ball version be used in individual play.
18. In games for two, four or six people, players play in regular sequence playing the correct ball in
rotation. If there are three or 5 players, two players on one side and one or three on the other, the side
with two players play in sequence with their balls playing in correct rotation, the other side can play in