Nine Wicket

Croquet Rules

1. Players should be careful (in playing with beginners) to avoid making plays that would discourage the beginner (such as hitting his ball repeatedly out of position, or sending his ball to the far corners of the court).  If the beginner desires help with strategy, rules, etc., the advice should of course be given freely.
2. Unless advice is requested, players and spectators should be careful in coaching players from the sidelines.  Partners should of course be in constant communication with each other.
3. In the absence of an official referee, one should be named prior to the start of the game.  He might be one playing a certain colored ball, or it could be the next striker, or someone else agreed to by all.  It could be the person who is keeping the deadness board up-to-the-minute.
   

1. Players may draw numbers to determine the order of play, with number one always playing the blue ball; two,  red; three, black; four, yellow; five, green; and six, orange.  This is the order of sequence of colors on the mallet handles and stakes in most croquet sets.
2. To begin play, each player (in turn) places his ball not closer than a 9" mallet-head length from the first wicket or arch.  He may place it farther from the first wicket, but not closer to it.  He may hit his ball at an angle to go through the first wicket if he chooses to do so.
3. If a player fails to make the first wicket on his first stroke, he picks up his ball, and his play ends until his next turn.
4. After a player makes his third wicket, his ball is alive; until then, he may not hit another ball, nor be hit by another ball.
5. When a player's ball passes through a wicket or hits the half-way stake, he is entitled to one additional stroke.  If one or two wickets are made and the half-way stake is struck on the same stroke, the striker is entitled to only one continuing stroke for hitting the stake.  He does not receive additional strokes for making the wickets just prior to hitting the stake.
6. When a player's ball passes through two wickets on one stroke of the ball, he is entitled to two additional strokes, except in 5 above.
7. After a wicket is made, a player should place a clip on the next wicket he is to make.  The clips should be the same color as that player's ball.  This is to indicate to that player and all other players how far the player has progressed and which wicket is his next one.
8. A ball is considered to be through a wicket when a straight edge, string, or rubber band placed behind the ball on the back (not the approach) side of the wicket does not touch the ball.  If the ball is not through the wicket, the player may continue forward on his next stroke, and it is not necessary for him to go back and start through the wicket again.
9. If a ball goes through a wicket in the wrong direction, it must go all the way through in that direction before it may be struck through in the right direction.  A ball must have started to run the wicket from the approach side.
10. If a ball goes through a wicket, but rolls back into the wicket, it has not made the wicket.
11. When a ball is struck by another ball, the striker's ball is brought to the struck ball, where the striker may do one of the following, making sure that he does not touch the other ball at any time:
1. He may place his ball a 9-inch mallet head length from the struck ball, and then take two shots; or
2. He may place his ball against the struck ball, and hit his ball so both balls move, after which he has one more shot; or
3. He may place his ball against the struck ball, hold his ball with his hand or foot, and hit his ball, which must not move.  If his ball slips or moves, this is considered to be his second shot, and his turn ends.  If not, he has one more shot.
12. If a ball hits another ball, it may not strike the same ball until that striking ball goes through a wicket or hits the half-way stake.  It is considered to be "dead-on" that ball after the first hit and until he makes a wicket or hits the stake.
13. If a ball hits a ball on which it is dead, the turn ends, and both balls are replaced to their location prior to the hit.  Care should be taken prior to the shot to mark the location of each ball.  If the game has a referee, he should place the balls in their proper locations.
14. A ball which is dead on another ball may not put that ball through a wicket, either accidentally or intentionally.  If it does, both balls are replaced to their prior location, and the turn ends.
15. If a ball strikes two or more balls on the same stroke, the first one struck is the one which counts, and is played on.  The others remain where they stopped.
16. If a wicket is made, and then an opponent's ball is struck on the same stroke, the wicket is counted, and the opponent's ball must be hit again if the player chooses to do so in order to get the additional two strokes.  The player cannot touch or pick up the opponent's ball until the opponent's ball is hit.  He may choose to take his continuation shot (for making the wicket) without hitting the ball.
17. If a ball is driven through a wicket by another ball on which it is alive, the wicket is counted.
18. When the half-way stake is hit, the ball stays where it stops, and the player gets another shot.  The ball may not be moved by hand, but is hit from its stopping place, as the player proceeds to his next wicket.
19. If a player attempts to make a wicket, but his ball hits a dead ball before his ball gets all the way through the wicket, the wicket is not counted, the turn ends, and both balls are replaced to their original position.
20. A player may block a wicket twice with his ball on which the opponent is dead, but the third time, he must lift his ball to permit his opponent access to the wicket.  After the opponent makes the wicket, the ball is replaced.
21. A player which hits an opponent's ball and then makes his wicket on the same shot may not count the wicket, but must continue play from the struck ball, and then make the wicket again.
22. When a ball goes out of bounds, it is brought in from the edge or string a nine-inch mallet-head length after every stroke.  If a ball stops at a point closer to the edge than a mallet-head length, it is also brought in a mallet-head length after every stroke.  If the struck ball is not brought in by the striker, the turn ends.  The striker's ball is not brought in a mallet-head length until the play is over.
23. If a player makes a wicket, and the ball goes out of bounds on the same shot, the turn is over, and the ball is brought in a nine-inch mallet-head length from the edge or the out-of-bounds line.  The wicket is counted as having been made.
24. When a ball is brought in from out of bounds, and the space is occupied by another ball, the ball is placed a nine-inch mallet-head length on either side of the other ball, at the discretion of the next striker.
25. If a ball being struck by another ball goes out of bounds, the turn ends, and the out-of-bounds ball is brought in a nine-inch mallet-head length from the edge or line.  The striker's ball remains alive on the struck ball, and is played from its stopping point on the player's next turn.
26. If a ball being struck by another ball stays in bounds, but the striker's ball goes out of bounds, the play continues, and the striker's ball is brought to the struck ball.
27. A ball becomes a rover ball when all wickets have been made, but the last stake has not been hit.  The rover ball is alive on all balls at the beginning of each turn, but it may hit the other balls only one time in each turn.
28. A rover's ball may be driven into the final stake by any other ball.  The rover's staked ball is then removed from the game.  The striker's ball is then placed a nine-inch mallet-head length from the stake, and he is entitled to two strokes.  If, however, the rover's ball was staked out on a croquet shot, the striker has only one stroke left (from the point where his ball stopped after staking the rover out).
29. If a rover's ball hits the final stake at any time, it is out of the game.
30. If a player plays out of turn, play stops, and the ball or balls are replaced.  He loses his next turn.
    
31. If a player plays the wrong ball, his turn ends, and the ball is replaced.  He loses that turn.
32. In the singles game, play may stop, or it may continue after the winner is out of the game, if it is desired to determine the second, third, or succeeding finishers.
33. If a ball goes through the last wicket and hits the stake on the same shot, it is not required to hit the stake again or another shot to count.
34. The mallet handle may be held with one or both hands, and any stance (center, side, or golf) may be used.
35. The ball must be hit cleanly (not shoved or pushed) with the head of the mallet (not the side).
36. A mallet may not be placed against a ball, and then that mallet hit with another mallet.
37. A ball may not be moved by hitting a wicket (arch) or a stake.
38. A player may not strike with his mallet any ball except his own.
39. If a player attempts to striker a ball, but hits the ground or a wicket, or misses the ball completely, it counts as his turn.
40. A mallet head may not exceed approximately nine or ten inches in length, but there are no restrictions on the shape of the mallet being used, nor in the material (wood, metal, or plastic) of which it was made.