Although we've all heard of this classic game, a lot of us don't know how to play Croquet. There are different variations of croquet as a game, and therefore you may come across different types of croquet rules. The croquet rules are simple but the game is very tactical which will become apparent as you learn how to play.

There are different variations of croquet as a game, and therefore you may come across different types of croquet rules. Here we aim to give players a simple, easy-to-understand explanation of the rules of these different ways to play the game.

These rules for croquet have been written to provide a simple guide for the most popular version of croquet for up to 6 players and will show you how to play croquet with any of the sets we have available. They are the most commonly adopted rules of play in the UK, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa called the International Association Croquet Rules.

Croquet is played with up to six balls according to the number of players.
Players can be organised as follows:

"One Ball" with each player having one ball.

"Singles" with each player using 2 balls: Black and Blue vs Red and Yellow.

"Doubles" with two pairs - each player having one ball: one pair with Black and Blue and the other with Red and Yellow. "Alternate Strokes Doubles" with two pairs - each player playing alternative strokes during the game using either of that pair's balls.

"Teams of 3" with one team playing the Blue, Black and Green balls and the other playing the Red, Yellow and Brown balls. "3 Teams" where the sides consist of Blue and Yellow, Red and Green & Black and Brown.

The game starts with the toss of a coin. The winner can choose which balls they will play with or to play first. The sides take alternate turns. Each player starts by playing (one of) their ball(s) into the court from the starting lines (baulk lines). Once the four (or six) balls are on the court, a player can choose which of its two (or three in the case of a 6-player game) balls it shall play in each turn.
The player who is playing the ball at any point in time is called the "Striker"
The Striker takes one shot, after which play passes to their opponent unless extra shots are earned.

A player can gain a further shot by...

• Running a hoop in the correct direction and order, or
• If their ball hits another ball (this is referred to as a roquet).

If this occurs, the player then places their own ball in contact with the affected ball and then strikes their own ball in order to move the other ball. (This is referred to as 'taking croquet'). The player is then entitled to one further continuation stroke.

The Striker may roquet and take croquet once from each of the other balls during each turn and for every ball that runs its next hoop, the player may roquet the other balls again. This allows the croquet player to run a series of hoops within one turn, also known as 'making a break'.

Once a player has taken all of the strokes he is entitled to, the turn is then ended. A turn also ends when a ball is inadvertently knocked off the playing court during the player's croquet turn, or if a player faults.

After each shot, any ball which has been sent off-court is placed a yard inside the boundary (on the yard line), nearest to where it went off. Any ball lying between the boundary and the yard line, except the player's own ball, is also replaced on the yard line.

A player scores a point when their ball passes through a hoop in the correct direction and in the correct order. In order to score a point, your ball needs to pass right through the hoop (run a hoop). The point can be scored if it is hit with the mallet directly or with another ball.

When the ball passes through the hoop, the striker achieves another stroke (also known as a 'continuation stroke').

During the stroke, if the strikers' ball makes a roquet, which causes the other ball to run its next hoop (called peeling), the owner of the ball that has been peeled gains a point and the striker is not allowed a continuation stroke.

Points are kept track of by attaching a clip to the hoop each time the intended ball passes through. The clip is colour coordinated in relation to the colour of the ball so that your progress is visible and easy to follow. During the first circuit the clip is attached to the top of the hoop, and during the second circuit the clip is attached to the side.

Once each of the players' balls have been manoeuvred around the circuit twice, they must hit the peg to score 1 final peg point. The peg point can be scored in either of two ways; the player hits the ball directly into the peg OR the player hits another rover ball which in turn hits the ball in question, and this ball in question then hits the peg. The ball which has now scored its peg point is removed from the court.

During the stroke, if the strikers' ball makes a roquet, which causes the other ball to run its next hoop (called peeling), the owner of the ball that has been peeled gains a point and the striker is not allowed a continuation stroke.

Once and the peg has been hit at the end of the second circuit by each of the balls, 26 points will have been scored. This consists of 12 points from running the hoops and 1 peg point for each ball. The team or player scoring 26 points first is the winner.

• The striker touches the head of the mallet with a hand
• The striker rests the handle of the mallet or a hand or arm on the ground, some other object or their legs or feet.
• Striking the ball by throwing, kicking, hitting or dropping the mallet
• Striking the ball with any part of the mallet head other than the end face
• If the ball being struck is hit more than once, or not in a clean single stroke.
• Striking the ball against the hoop whilst it is still in contact with the mallet.
• Striking their ball against another ball whilst it is still in contact with the mallet, unless they were already in contact
• Striking a ball which is in contact with a hoop or the peg towards the hoop or peg
• Hitting a hoop or peg with the mallet to move a ball
• Pushing or pulling the ball with the mallet
• Playing before the previous player's turn ends
• The opponent then chooses whether the balls remain where they are after the fault has occurred or to return them to their previous positions. No point is scored for any ball.

• A moving ball touches any part of a player, his mallet, clothes, or shoes
• A player touches, moves or shakes a stationary ball with any part of their body, mallet, clothes or shoes
• A player causes damage to the lawn
• Opponents can choose to have the balls replaced or leave them where they are. Opponents then restart playing using the next ball in sequence. If the player who commits the fault is not the striker, then the defaulter (or his team) loses his (or its) next turn. No points can be scored.

"Doubles" with two pairs - each player having one ball: one pair with Blue and Black and the other with Red and Yellow

The court layout is the same as in Association Croquet. Balls are played in turn from a position one yard from the south east corner of the court. Play is in the following order: Blue, Red, Black, Yellow for 1st colour balls or Green Pink, Brown, White for 2nd colour balls.

Once and the peg has been hit at the end of the second circuit by each of the balls, 26 points will have been scored. This consists of 12 points from running the hoops and 1 peg point for each ball. The team or player scoring 26 points first is the winner.