MALLET SPORTS
Two forms of mallet sports are currently played at Euroa, with others
being investigated from time to time.
Association croquet is the traditional form of the game. Golf croquet is
a modern variation.
A brief summary of each follows.
Association Croquet (singles or "turn-about" doubles)
You are only allowed to strike one of 2 balls with your mallet - either
blue and black or red and yellow. You must not strike a ball of the
wrong colour.
When your turn ends, ensure that the clip representing the striker's ball
is placed on that ball's next hoop in order.
You may choose either of your balls to be the striker's ball in your next
turn.
There are 12 hoops and a centre peg to be won, making a total of 26
points possible with both balls.
Types of play:
1. Rush (to roquet) - using the striker's ball to push another ball further
afield.
2. Roll (from croquet) - sending two balls forward at once, in the same
or different directions.
3. Split (from croquet) - sending two balls in different directions.
Each of your balls must go through each hoop, in the correct order
Roquet: Select whichever ball you wish to play (your "striker's ball")
and aim to hit it onto one of the other 3 balls. If you don't hit a target
ball, your turn ends there.
Croquet: If you do hit a target ball, pick up the striker's ball and place
it in a position touching the other ball. (Exactly where you position
your ball depends on where you want each ball to go next.) Strike the
striker's ball again. The ball from which you took croquet is now "dead"
and you may not use it again unless you put your ball through a hoop.
Continuation: You must now use the striker's ball either to go through
a hoop or to hit onto one of the 2 balls you have not yet used.
If these three shots are repeated and you have used all 3 target .balls but
not sent one of your own through a hoop, your turn ends there. (All
used balls are "dead".)
When one of your balls goes through its next destination hoop ("hoop
in order"), all balls become "live" again and the three-shot cycle
recommences, using the same striker's ball but heading for the next
hoop in order.
Golf croquet (singles or doubles)
You are only allowed to strike (with your mallet) your own ball or
balls. You must not strike an opponent's ball or balls. However, you
may hit your ball onto any other ball to send it away.
Balls are played in the strict order of blue, red, black and yellow, one
shot per turn.
When one ball has made a hoop, the side (single player or pair) takes a
point and all balls head for the next hoop in order.
The game ends when the requisite number of points (usually 7 or 13)
have been scored by one side.
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