Refs' Blog

A new section inviting Referees, Assistant Referees and Coaches to discuss points of etiquette and the laws with particular emphasis on helping improving players.

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Bisque after wrong ball

You probably know that if, during a break, you play the wrong ball this will result in the balls going back and end your turn. You may also recall that after that you can take a bisque. As usual in a bisque turn you must continue with the ball you were (supposed to be!) playing but what happens if you play the wrong ball at the start of a non-bisque turn? Can you take a bisque? The answer is yes! Law 37(f) says: If the striker plays a wrong ball in the first stroke of a non-bisque turn and the error is rectified, he may then play a half-bisque or bisque with either ball of his side that could lawfully have been played in the first stroke of the turn.

Posted by Peter Wilson (Referee) 4th July 2008

HANDY SUMMARY

Martin French has put togther a one-page summary of the Limits of Claims, outcomes and consequences of errors and interference reflecting the changes recently made. This document may be viewed here.

Posted by Peter Wilson (Referee) 22nd April 2008

AMENDMENTS TO THE 6TH EDITION OF THE LAWS

Although the amendments are quite extensive the bulk of the changes relate to infrequently visited areas of the laws where a referee would normally be called in any case.

My top three changes every player should know are:

FOOT SLIDING:
Sliding the mallet along the foot and using it as a guide is now a fault.

CANNONS IN THE LAWN:
Groups of balls can now be formed without one being on the yard line.

REPLACEMENT AFTER A FAULT:
In handicap games when a fault is committed the first step is for the non striker to decide if the balls are to be replaced or not. Only when the position of the balls has been decided does the striker decide to take [or not to take] a bisque.

Posted by Peter Wilson (Referee) 8th March 2008

WIRED BALLS

Leaving aside claims for lifts on the basis of impaired backswings, many players when considering if two balls are wired from each other will state 'I must be able to hit both sides of the ball or I have a lift'.

While this is basically correct the actual wording of Law 13 c) 1. states A ball ("the relevant ball") is wired from another ball ("the target ball") if any part of a hoop or the peg would impede the direct course of any part of the relevant ball towards any part of the target ball.

Notice the law states direct line and consequently the referee should not make allowances for any slopes on the lawn when determining the lift. Also note that it is only the peg or hoop which are considered. Other balls do not prevent a player 'seeing both sides' of another ball.

Posted by Peter Wilson (Referee) 18th July 2007

CROQUET STROKE - BALL OFF COURT

I have seen some confusion about how the game is to continue when, in a croquet stroke, the striker sends the croquet ball off the court while the strikers ball runs its hoop in order.

Law 20 (c) states the striker's turn ends if he sends off the court:
a) the croqueted ball, unless it is pegged out in the stroke;
b) the striker's ball, unless it makes a roquet or scores a hoop point for itself in the stroke.

This shows that the correct way to continue the game is to score the hoop and the turn ends.

Posted by Liz Wilson (Referee) 11th June 2007

CHANGING MALLETS

It is interesting to compare the laws between the disciplines.

Laws of Association Croquet section B. e) MALLETS

6. CHANGING A MALLET... A mallet may not be exchanged for another during a turn unless it suffers accidental damage which significantly affects its use.

Laws of Golf Croquet LAW 3 - EQUIPMENT

d) ... A mallet shall not be changed during a game, unless it has suffered damage affecting its use in the game, and if so changed may not be used again in that game.

Posted by Alan Morton (Golf Captain) 21st may 2007

TOUCHING A BALL WITH THE MALLET

There have been several incidents in matches where players did not appreciate the danger of committing the fault of touching another ball with the mallet during a shot.

Laws of Association Croquet 28. DEFINITIONS OF FAULTS (12)

Laws of Golf Croquet 13 - STRIKING FAULTS (11).

The most common position where this fault occurs is where there is a ball impeding the backswing. If you wish to play such a shot you must call for a referee. Sometimes in such hampered positions avoiding the touching fault leads to making a different fault such as prolonged contact or a double tap.

The fault can also turn up in thin take offs where the croqueted ball is only shaken or not moved very far. The danger is, as the mallet follows through, the back end of it twists towards the croqueted ball grazing it.

Watch out when playing forcing croquet shots around hoops. Take care the croqueted ball does not bounces back and hit the mallet.

Posted by Alan Morton (Golf Captain) 21st may 2007

SPECTATOR REFEREE

In the environment of teaching Croquet it is often necessary to correct errors as they occur during the game.

However, during tournament play it is vital that spectators only offer their observations according to the Tournament Regulations.

TR(R5) is a lengthy and exacting list putting a big demand on the average spectator, so in tournament practice most spectators who see something wrong discreetly consult other spectators to confirm their intervetion will be correct.

Unless a spectator is absolutely certain of their actions then the best course of action is to do nothing.

The TR(R5) list of when a spectator can intervene is as follows:

ERRORS To ensure that play is lawfully continued after an error is claimed or admitted.

ERRONEOUS INFORMATION. If he hears a player giving erroneous information on the Laws to his adversary.

BALL WRONGLY REMOVED. In a handicap game if a ball is wrongly removed from the game.

VOLUNTEER INFORMATION. To volunteer relevant information to a Referee On Appeal.

BECOME IN CHARGE. To apply to the Tournament Referee to be placed in charge of a game. If so appointed after he has observed that a particular error has been committed, he may not act in respect of that error or draw attention to a misplaced clip until the error has been claimed or admitted or the limit of claims has passed.

Posted by Peter Wilson (Referee) 7th September 2006

MISCELLANEOUS LAWS OF CONDUCT

Law 51(a) states ... The adversary must not interrupt, distract, interfere with or offer advice to the striker...

This law is often broken, albeit inadvertently, as a player walks off the lawn and speaks to the oncoming player as their paths cross (typically to explain what they have just done wrong etc).

It is important to remember that when your turn ends your opponent immediately becomes the striker and so should not be disturbed.

In tournament play, when your turn ends do not initiate a conversation as you leave the lawn, however if the striker speaks first then there is no problem in replying.

Posted by Peter Wilson (Referee) 4th September 2006

REPLACEMENT OF A BALL oN THE YARD-LINE

Law 12(e) states ... The striker must replace balls on the yard-line with his back to the court...

I have recently seen this law frequently broken at several tournaments I have refereed in. Perhaps this is bercause as we are taught to play Croquet we are not subject to the full set of laws from the very beginning.

After all, at that time there are many more important things to get right such as when to bring a ball on never mind how to do it!

As time goes by perhaps we never have this law explained to us.

The reason behind the law is all to do with wiring balls or not wiring balls. Replacing a ball with your back to the court is not only sticking to the rules but good etiquette as you show to your opponent there is no chance of you taking advantage of any sighting as you replace the ball.

Posted by Peter Wilson (Referee) 30th August 2006