Rules

Sticky Wickets Croquet Rules

Based on the USCA Backyard Croquet Rules with clarifications drawn from the USCA Official Rules

Game Overview

The standard double-diamond rectangular court officially measuring 50 feet wide and 100 feet long may be reduced to fit the size and shape of the space available. (If the court is reduced, try to maintain a six-foot separation between the Starting/Turning stake and the adjacent wickets, and between these wickets; a shorter distance constricts the playing space and affects game tactics. Also, try to maintain the six-foot distance from the outer wickets to the boundary.)

A game is played until one team has "staked out" by scoring all the wickets and striking the Finishing Stake with all the balls on its side, or for 50 minutes. At the end of time, the current turn is completed and the other team has one final turn.

The Sides

There are always only two sides, with the "hot colors" (red/yellow/orange) competing against the "cool colors" (blue/black/green).

The Players

When the number of players equals the number of balls on a side, each player plays only one ball throughout the game. When the number of players does not equal the number of balls on a side, the players on that side alternate turns and may play any one ball on their side in a turn. Team captains may be chosen, and players may confer to decide which ball should be played in each turn.

Starting the Game

A coin-toss gives the winning side the choice of playing first or second. Each of the balls must be brought into play in the first round of turns, in the order of the colors on the stake: blue/red/black/yellow/green/orange. The starting "tee" is one mallet-length (i.e. 3 feet) in front of Wicket #1.

Ball in and out of game

A ball that has not scored the #1 wicket is known as a ball "not in the game".

A ball that has scored the #1 wicket is known as a ball "in the game".

Ball not in the game

A striker ball not in the game shall have only one shot per turn, unless it scores the #1 wicket and earns a continuation shot.

A striker ball not in the game may hit any other ball that is not in the game but no Roquet (see definition in Bonus Stroke section) is made. If the other ball is peeled through the #1 wicket that ball is now in the game but not entitled to a continuation shot.

Lifting balls not in the game

The striker of a ball not in the game may have any ball not in the game marked and lifted before the shot is played.

Any ball lifted is replaced at the end of that shot. If the marked space has become occupied by another ball, the interfering ball is lifted and the original lifted ball is replaced. The interfering ball shall be placed on the ground up to nine inches, but not in contact, in any direction the striker chooses from the replaced ball.

"Liveness" at the beginning of the game

Any ball that is "in the game" (i.e. scored the #1 wicket) is alive to an opponent ball that is "in the game", and can be roqueted for bonus strokes.

The Turn

A turn consists of one stroke plus any additional bonus strokes earned by the ball in play. After the first round of turns, a side may play any one of its balls in each turn.

At the conclusion of a turn in which a wicket or stake point is scored, the wicket clip of the color corresponding to the ball should be placed on the next wicket or stake to be scored by that ball. (If your set does not include wicket clips, you may use colored clothespins.)

"Deadness" and "Aliveness"

Once you roquet a ball, you are considered "dead" on that ball, and you may not hit it again until you score your next wicket, thereby "clearing" your deadness. Whenever you score a wicket, you are "alive" on all the other balls - that is, you are again eligible to hit them to earn bonus strokes.

"Aliveness" is also restored at the beginning of a team’s turn.

The penalty for hitting a ball you are "dead" on is an immediate end of turn. The balls are returned/replaced to their original position before the fault was committed.

Deadness between balls in and out of game

A striker ball not in the game is considered dead on all balls in the game.

A striker ball in the game is considered dead on all balls not in the game.

Scoring A Wicket

Wicket Point

A ball scores a wicket point when it passes through a wicket in the proper order and direction, and comes to rest clear of the plane of the playing side (side entered).

Clearing deadness by running wicket

When a ball (not a rover ball) scores a wicket, it is cleared of all deadness and is "alive" on all other balls that have scored the #1 wicket.

Beginning the wicket

If a ball is on the non playing side of its wicket, it may be played through the wicket for position on the playing side, providing it comes to rest clear of the plane of the non-playing side before being played back through the wicket to score a point.
A striker may take croquet from a ball in a wicket. If the striker ball is in position to score the wicket on the croquet shot, the striker may do so as long as no part of the striker ball is breaking the plane of the non-playing side of the wicket when the striker ball is placed in contact with the ball in the wicket.

Dead on ball in wicket

A striker ball that is "dead" on a ball encroaching into the striker's wicket shall not hit that ball at any time when scoring the wicket. The striker may perform a jump shot to score a blocked wicket or stake, but must not hit the blocking ball at any time during the shot (except after hitting the stake when staking out). If the striker ball does hit the blocking ball, both balls are returned to their original positions and the turn is over.

Bonus Strokes

There are two ways to earn bonus strokes: by scoring wicket and stake points or by hitting (also called "roqueting") an opponent's ball with the ball in play.

Wicket or Stake Bonus Stroke

One bonus stroke is earned for passing through your proper wicket in the order of the course. One bonus stroke is earned for striking the Turning Stake after scoring Wicket #7. These strokes must be played from where the ball lies after the point is made. No bonus stroke is earned by a ball that "pegs out" by striking the Finishing Stake.

Roquet Bonus Strokes

You get two bonus strokes when your ball hits (or roquets) a ball in the game (i.e. scored Wicket #1) of the other side.

(a) The Croquet Stroke is the first of these, played either in contact with the roqueted ball or from one mallet-head's distance. The contact Croquet Stroke is played by placing your ball in contact with the ball you hit (roqueted) and striking your ball to make both your ball (the striker's ball) and the other ball (the croqueted ball) move. If you wish, you may place your foot on top of your ball to keep it place while you strike it, sending the croqueted ball in the desired direction.

(b) The Continuation Stroke is the second of the two roquet bonus strokes, and it is played from wherever the striker's ball lies after the Croquet Stroke.

At the beginning of every turn, a player is eligible to roquet any opponent ball(s). Each opponent ball may be roqueted for bonus strokes only once in a turn, unless the striker scores a wicket (or the Turning Stake). Scoring a point entitles the striker to roquet each of the opponent balls again, and a skillful player may score several wickets in one turn.

Bonus strokes may not be accumulated: only the last-earned bonus stroke(s) may be played. On the Croquet Stroke, if the striker's ball clears a wicket, the Continuation Bonus Stroke is lost, and only the Wicket Bonus Sroke may be the played. On the Croquet Stroke, if the striker's ball roquets another ball on which it is entitled to take bonus strokes, the Continuation Stroke from the first roquet is lost, and you are entitled only to the two newly-earned bonus strokes.

If your ball clears a wicket and in the same stroke hits an opponent ball on the other side of the wicket, the hit does not count as a roquet. You may, however, choose to then roquet the opponent ball with your Wicket Bonus Stroke (the First Action Rule).

There is one exception to the rule against accumulating bonus strokes. You may earn two bonus strokes by scoring two wickets in one stroke. (This commonly occurs at the Starting Stake and the Turning Stake, when you may score both wickets in one stroke so you can use the two consecutive bonus strokes earned to attack the position of the other side. Bonus strokes can not be accumulated for hitting the Turning Stake.

If another player sends your ball through its proper wicket (or into its stake), your ball does score the point; however, there is no bonus stroke. Only the ball in play may earn bonus strokes during its own turn.

Winning the Game

The team that scores all the wickets and strikes the Finishing Stake with all its balls wins the game. If, at the end of 50 minutes, neither team has won, the current turn is completed and each team has one more turn. The side with the most points wins.

Ties are permitted.

Boundaries

String or other marked boundaries for the nine-wicket court shown in the illustration are not essential. Natural boundaries such as a sidewalk, a precipitous cliff, the surf line, or the neighbor's petunia bed will work as well. To forestall disputes, make specific agreements on boundaries before starting.

Boundaries designated by a string or special markings should be at least 6 feet beyond the outer wickets and stakes.

Boundary Balls

All balls sent out of bounds are brought to the point where they crossed the designated Boundary and placed one mallet-length inside the court before play resumes. There is no penalty or loss of strokes for sending any ball out of bounds. Out-of-bounds balls are simply placed in bounds, and play resumes.

Aiming Aids

A player may indicate a spot (i.e. by foot, mallet or a finger) for the partner to shoot at, but must remove the aid before the shot is taken.

Rover Balls

Rovers are balls that have completed the entire course except for striking the Finishing Stake.

Rovers may earn bonus strokes by roqueting any opponent ball. A Rover does not earn a bonus stroke for clearing a wicket.

Deadness on all opponent balls is cleared at the beginning of the team’s next turn.

Rovers may be staked out - that is, driven into the Finishing Stake, with any legal stroke by any player at any point in the game.

Faults and Penalties

You must strike the ball only with the face of the mallet. The mallet may not touch any other ball except the striker's, nor may it strike a wicket or stake, nor may it "crush" a ball against a wicket or stake to make the stake or wicket bend or move.

Other than the Dead-on-Ball-In-Wicket, there are no penalties for faults. Out-of-turn plays and all faults should be corrected by replacing the balls to their positions before the fault occurred and replaying the shots correctly. No penalty is assessed, no deadness is incurred, no points are scored and play is resumed in the proper order.
There is no penalty for a stroke that misses the ball entirely.
The word of the striker should be accepted in disputes. In disagreements on replacement of balls to replay fouled strokes, the offending side must accept the judgment of the opponent.