Croquet Information Archives - World Croquet Federation

Advantage Target Scores Proposal

The ACGOC sub committee have been compiling a proposal in relation to the Target Scores scoring method in GC handicap play.

After undergoing trials in England, and Australia in 2025, and being examined by the Golf Croquet Rules Committee, the recommendation to move to the Target Scores method and remove to the Starting scores method as an option is now with the WCF Management Committee. The committee have done extensive work on this project including producing tables and support tools players will need to successfully transition to the new system. There will be a further announcement on the WCF website on the 26^th of February.

AC Rules 7th Edition Official Ruling – effective 1st November 2025

Advantage GC – Advice to Tournament Managers for Time Limited Games

It has recently been brought to the Management Committees attention by the WCF Advantage Rules Committee and Golf Croquet Rules Committee, that the current GC rules do not adequately cover how to determine the winner of Time-limited Advantage games if play is stopped before either side has reached its target score.

The intent is that this omission will be addressed in the next edition of the GC Rules. In the meantime, we advise National Governing Bodies to deal with this by releasing advice to the managers of their tournaments.

The GCRC recommendation is to use the concept of ‘Scoring Fractions’ to determine who has won once play has stopped, as defined by Rules19.1. Stated simply, this means dividing the number of hoops a side has actually won (when play has stopped), by the total number they needed to win at the start of the game.

Example:

Side A: started on -1 and therefore needed to score 8 points to win a typical 13-point game.

Side B: started on 2 and therefore needed to score 5 points.

If the score was 4:5 when play was stopped,

- - side A would have won 4 - (-1) = 5 hoops with a scoring fraction of 5/8 = 62.5%, and
  - side B would have won 5 - (2) = 3 hoops with a scoring fraction of 3/5 = 60%.

Therefore, Side A wins the game, having achieved the higher scoring fraction.

Unless the organising body has stated that tied games are allowed, if the scoring fractions are equal when play is stopped, play is to continue and the side that wins the next hoop is the winner of the game.

This advice only impacts Rules 19.1.4, 19.1.5 and 19.1.6.

GC Rules 6th Edition Official Rulings – effective 7th October 2024

AC Regeneration Working Group update

The group was re-launched in March 2024 and has now met several times to discuss the serious issue of AC decline across the World. We have a long way to go yet exploring how the WCF can help clubs around the World.

AC is the historic and traditional game upon which our sport was founded. Player numbers are declining in almost every country. In just the past 5 years there has been an 11% reduction in the number of 'live' AC players in the AC rankings.

Whilst it is great news that GC is growing, the lack of new players being exposed to both codes at our clubs is worrying. The two games have similarities, but are also very different, and each one appeals to different segments of our society. We would like to encourage Clubs to use this variety to attract a wider and more diverse membership, especially those clubs where the lawns are not in use 24/7.

For more information on the progress the group are making, please see the webpage: AC Regeneration

Swiss Tournament Management Spreadsheet – updated September 2024

Tournament Management Spreadsheet *Updated September 2024*

This a macro-driven Excel spreadsheet designed to assist Tournament Managers to run both formal and flexible Swiss tournaments.

It generates automated pairings, lawn allocations and results tabulation. Formal Swiss pairings are in accordance with the CA Tournament Regulations.

There is also an auto-management mode to allow the players to manage, whilst the Tournament Manager plays!

Download the spreadsheet: Swiss Tournament Management spreadsheet version 7.1.5

The following documents may also be downloaded:

Tournament Management Manual V7.1

Tournament Management Quick Start Guide V7.1

Sample Auto Manage Player Instructions

FAQs

I am having problems downloading the spreadsheet?
As the spreadsheet contains macros you may have have to amend your virus software settings to allow it to be downloaded. For example, With Norton anti virus software, Excel can give a 'file corrupt message' if opened automatically after the download but opens it OK if you subsequently manually open the file from your download directory.

How do I contact the developer?

Send an e-mail to secretary@worldcroquet.org

Does it work with Advantage GC?

One limitation is that it does not cope with Advantage GC games as it can not currently handle the possibility of a player having a -ve hoop score at the end of a game and the winner of a game going to time actually having a lower hoop score than the loser.

Why does the downloaded spreadsheet already has data in it?
The download is set up as a partially complete tournament so you can see how the program looks and can immediately try entering results and scheduling games before having to set up your own tournament.

Fixed Format Tournaments

For running fixed format GC tournaments there are some Excel templates generated by the GC Tournament committee that can be found on the Croquet England Website.

https://www.croquet.org.uk/?pup=y&p=tournament/management/gc

Launching Online GC Rules Training

Our smaller Members do not have the infrastructure or geography to support on lawn courses or exams. This material has been created to provide them with an online training course (and in due course a test). It will allow these countries to improve the quality of refereeing on offer.

The material covers all the GC Rules. It has been designed so that it can be used by players wishing to understand the GC Rules better with additional modules for those wanting to become qualified referees. Laid out as a study plan it takes students through everything they would need to pass the written elements of a typical GC Referees exam. It also covers, via video links, some of the on-lawn material, but obviously this is limited.

This material has been created for the WCF by Ian Shore of the Chiltern Academy as a global resource that will be available to all. The WCF are extremely grateful to Ian for producing this useful resource. The material sometimes links to material published on the Croquet England website and we thank them also for access to these resources.

To find out more, and to access the Study Pack, go to webpage: Online Referee Study Pack

Online GC Rules Study Pack

It can be used in multiple ways:

i) as above, by smaller croquet nations who cannot easily access examining referees;

ii) for existing fully qualified GC referees who want to refresh their knowledge on some or all of the content;

iii) as a training aid for those to use before attending a course;

iv) for anyone who wants to understand the rules of GC. It is generally considered that a good knowledge of the rules will help players to improve their play.

The introduction to the course includes a complete study guide and explanation, however, we list below some answers to typical questions.

How long does it take to complete the course?

There are 28 modules overall, including one designed specifically for those who wish to train as referees. All the rest are suitable for anyone wishing to learn the GC Rules better. We estimate each one should take around 1-2 hours to complete.

Each module stands on its own and can be studied in isolation. There is no requirement to do the whole course.

What support is available while studying?

- We have set up dedicated Facebook and WhatsApp groups. We invite both students and fully qualified examining or championship referees.
- For our small Member countries: Examining referees from around the world are being approached who will be able to provide telephone, email or conference call support for our remote learners. This volunteer resource is kindly offered and limited, so we will restrict their time to just those serious students forced to learn the rules remotely due to geographic constraints.

Does this provide a qualification?

Those who complete the on-line test will be issued with a "Certificate of Completion". The certificate will show the score they have achieved.

Will students be able to use this worldwide?

The main aim of the material is to improve the quality of refereeing within our smaller Member countries.

Each of our Members may decide for themselves how to work with students who have completed the on-line test.

Is it possible to upgrade to a Qualified Referee?

This must be done via a face to face exam including the on lawn elements. Many Croquet Academies around the World offer 1 or 2 days training courses. Students who feel they are ready without further study, would need to arrange to sit the exam with an Examining Referee.

THE TEST

When you have completed all the modules in the 'Online Rules GC Study Pack' and feel that you are ready to sit the test, please email Debbie Lines, the WCF Secretary-General @ secretary@worldcroquet.org.

Please do not request to do this too early. You may only resit the test once and we require at least a 3 month gap between sittings.

We will email out a link to the test, together with the necessary instructions.

After completion, the results will be sent out together with the correct answers. You will separately receive a 'Certificate of Completion' which will show the score achieved and the date.

Please note: it will be up to each Member to decide how to use this online certificate and to decide what authority it conveys. The WCF have not set a 'pass' or 'fail' mark. Holders of this Certificate of Completion are not qualified GC Referees. To become a GC Referee you will need to separately sit and pass an exam recognised by your Member Governing Body.

2023 Advantage GC Amendments now published

2023 Advantage GC - new tables now published

As some of you may have spotted Croquet England have had slightly revised documentation and tables on their website since February. This has meant that the WCF and CA information has not matched.

The proposed minor amendments to the tables and rules of AdvantageGC have to be approved by the WCF GC Rules Committee. Until this was done, it would have been incorrect to publish the revision.

I'm pleased to say that they have now approved the proposed amendments.

We should now match.

Please see the new updated page by clicking this link: Go to page: AdvantageGC

WCF 6th Edition Golf Croquet Rules now published

The WCF Management Committee are pleased to report that the 6th Edition of the WCF Golf Croquet Rules was approved by the required two-thirds majority, with 50 votes in favour and no votes against.

The new Rules will come into immediate effect for WCF Events. They can be found here: WCF GC Rules 6th Edition - Final 7.3.22

They can also be found on this website on page: The rules of golf croquet

The WCF Management Committee wish to express their thanks to the members of the GC Rules Committee for the many hours of hard work spent updating these rules.

WORLD CROQUET FEDERATION

Category: Croquet Information