Association Croquet

Coaching others to a higher level can greatly improve your own game. This course is for qualified Club-Level Coaches who now want to develop their coaching skills and upgrade their qualification to either Grade 1 AC or Grade 1 GC status. To become a Grade 1 AC Coach you are expected to have a handicap of 12 or below; to become a Grade 1 GC Coach the threshold is 6 or below. This is a blended learning course. In preparation for the day, candidates are required to study a Pre-Course Pack closely and take an online test in either the Laws of AC or the Rules of GC. The day itself will include elements of coaching for coaches, practical exercises and assessment.

A subsidy of £25 per person is available for CqE subscribers who have not already received the subsidy; use coupon code CQE in the shopping cart if you are such a subscriber.

Some Federations may also be able to offer further support. If you're also a member of the Yorkshire Croquet Federation use coupon code YCF in the shopping cart as full payment.

At Club level and beyond, games are won or lost as much by technique as by tactics. So getting the basics right can make all the difference to your game. This practical one-day course is for both AC and GC players. The fundamental principles of stance, grip and swing are explored, together with tried and tested procedures for reliable positioning of any shot in GC and AC play. The day then considers a wide range of other techniques including two-ball shots (GC players need them too!) and jump shots (surprisingly useful in AC!). This course is for players of all abilities. It will be largely outdoors and will offer plenty of opportunity to put principles into practice. Get your technique right and start winning!

These two complementary one-day courses are for intermediate-level AC players (around handicaps 8-16) who now aspire to push their handicap down into single figures, or who have already achieved single figure handicaps and now want to develop their game. The days can be booked separately or, for the full experience, together. Topics will be distributed between Day 1 and Day 2 as the course leader determines. Over the two days the course is being planned to include such topics as break hygiene, making reliable leaves, three-ball breaks and endings, strategies against low handicappers, defensive play, peeling, the mental game, tips and tricks to hone your competitive edge, and more!

If booked together with 'Winning Ways (2)' (Wednesday 29 April) reduced price for 2 days is £75. This will be calculated automatically at the checkout.

This is the second of two complementary one-day courses for intermediate-level AC players (around handicaps 8-16) looking to develop their game. Book the day on its own or book both days as a pair.

Details as for Winning ways (1), reduced price for 2 days is £75. This will be calculated automatically at the checkout.

This one-day course is open to players of both codes, and should appeal both to those starting out in AC, and also to GC players who want to diversify into AC play and use their skills to give them a head start in the original game.  It is also for coaches looking for a simple way of introducing AC into their own clubs through Short Croquet. The day offers a full introduction to both AC and SC, covering distinctive aspects including croquet shots and building a break, and helping participants play with understanding and pleasure. It will include guidance on how the skills can be easily learned, a supported game, and plenty of opportunity for individual help.

Ever felt you don’t make the best of your bisques? Not always sure how to build a break, or how to put it right if it goes wrong? If so, then this one-day course is for you. It is designed for higher-handicap AC players familiar with basic technique who want to play more sustained breaks and improve their bisque use – essential for winning games. The day covers when and how to successfully set up a break with bisques, including bisque openings, bisque budgeting and identifying break opportunities. It also considers where and how to best place balls to create breaks and sustain them. Participants will be encouraged to discuss the concepts and will have ample opportunity to practise them on the lawn. 

This one-day course looks at the lighter side of croquet and offers a potpourri of accessible games ideal for visiting groups, for Club summer dos and socials, and for light-hearted pleasure to fill any spare time at the end of Club sessions. Pirates is not the only alternative! We will also play a range of short games which successfully engage children in mallet sports – all proven to appeal to adults too. The day is for GC and AC players alike, and for players of any ability. Ramp up your sense of fun and be an ambassador for friendly, easy-to-learn games that bring a smile to the croquet lawn!

Becoming a GC Referee brings its own rewards. It improves your knowledge and understanding of the Rules, builds your confidence on the lawn, and helps others play to the rulebook. To help candidates learn the Rules, a 16-session WCF Online GC Rules Study Pack is available here: https://worldcroquet.org/online-rules-training-and-study-pack/  As an essential step in this blended learning course, candidates must also, before attending on 3 June, pass the two parts of an online, self-study, open book, multiple choice, immediate feedback, GC Rules Theory test which can be retaken if needs be until a pass is achieved: https://www.croquet.org.uk/?p=games/golf/rules/RulesQuiz  The day of the course itself will be largely on-lawn and will include practical sessions on how to apply the Rules in various scenarios, followed by a short multiple choice Basic Test, and an on-lawn practical test. A pass in both the written exam and the practical test leads to a qualification as a registered Croquet England GC Referee and a red GC Referee badge.

A subsidy of £25 per person is available for CqE subscribers who have not already received the subsidy; use coupon code CQE in the shopping cart if you are such a subscriber.

Some Federations may also be able to offer further support. If you're also a member of the Yorkshire Croquet Federation use coupon code YCF in the shopping cart as full payment.