Croquet - Overview
Croquet is a classic way of spending boring summer afternoons. It is an interesting way of grooming both physical and mental skills at the same time. It is an interesting and fun game to enjoy in the backyard. The backyard dimension to support this game is 35x28 yards. This game is played in soft mount and flat grass.
People can simultaneously enjoy with friends while playing this game. For this game, six cast-iron hoops are required to be set strongly on the ground along with a peg. The design always remains the same. Croquet is played with four balls each weighing one pound with diameter 1/32 less than the inside width of the hoop.
Croquet is considered to be a household game in the UK. It can be played in numerous ways. While people enjoy Croquet as a social garden game, it is also played at the international level with championships authorized by the World Croquet Federation. Mostly, we see two forms of Croquet, they are Garden Croquet and Golf Croquet. We will be discussing about these in the coming chapters.
As there are two forms of Croquet, the objectives of both the forms are bit different. In Golf Croquet, every player aims to get the ball in each hoop first. For every turn, the player is allowed one stroke. While in Garden Croquet, numerous strokes are allowed to achieve different goals. Unlike Golf Croquet, the player’s balls have to pass every hoop and hit the peg to win the game.
History
The origin of Croquet is very doubtful. It is believed that this sport was introduced by Ireland and England in 1830s. Croquet gained popularity and became a pass time for the upper classes in the later part of the 19th century and the early 20th century. It was played by both the genders, male and female, with the same interest. However, after the introduction of lawn tennis, the popularity of croquet started declining.
It is believed that Croquet is behind the origin of Snooker. There was a decline in Croquet in between 1920-1960s. After which there was an increase in free time especially for retired people and the market was again flushed with Croquet sets making it a worldwide interest.
It is believed that Croquet is behind the origin of Snooker. There was a decline in Croquet in between 1920-1960s. After which there was an increase in free time especially for retired people and the market was again flushed with Croquet sets making it a worldwide interest.
Participating Countries
Croquet is a highly sociable sport. Presently, only 10 countries own full membership for this sport. In every country, Croquet clubs are affiliated to a National Croquet Association, which monitors the administration of the game, attends marketing problems, publishes newsletters and mostly takes care of developing clubs financially. International membership for Croquet is given by the World Croquet Federation to a country.
