Croquet Practice Routines

Introduction:
Coaching and Practice In the pages which follow, outlines of practice routines are provided for each grade level. These are not intended as coaching guides which are available either through club or Association coaches and through other printed information already available through clubs or Croquet New Zealand. (See the list of publications on this site.) While some players may wish to purchase their own coaching manuals, clubs could also establish libraries for use by their own members. Suitable reading material for each grade level is provided with the suggested practice routines. Index:
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General Principles Beginners' Practice Routines 18 to 24 Bisque Practice Routines 10 to 16 Bisque Practice Routines 4 to 9 Bisque Practice Routines 0 to 3 Bisque Practice Routines

Philosophy behind the routines: Subject to any physical limitations, players should, from the start, adopt a centre stance and hold the mallet with the hands together at the top of the shaft. This is the foundation of all future play. Players who use a split grip should consider altering to a hands-together hold. Shots should be practised within the context of break play so that time is spent on those strokes which are most important for each individual player, and so that the practice undertaken can be applied in games. Practising shots in isolation is less likely to improve overall play. Setting objectives: At any level, players will have different levels of ambition. The equation: More practice = greater improvement applies, and those entering tournaments will need to spend more time practising in the period leading up to the competition. A player should spend time practising skills at the level above their current expertise in order to progress. It is for each player to decide the skills they have and the time they wish to spend improving their play. Remember an hour of practice is roughly equivalent to 3 hours of game play. How material is presented: At each grade level the following pages provide 1. an overall objective,

2. descriptions of three levels of skill, 3. practice duration times; and 4. suitable reading to enhance any personal coaching which may be obtained.
Feedback: The material given was prepared in discussion with other coaches but is based on the experience of one. This is not an official publication. Anyone wishing to comment on the material is welcome to contact me through the email address at the foot of this page.

A. General Principles
1. Set a goal For each practice session you must set yourself a goal - just hitting a ball or even practising shots without a focus will not improve your game. The goal will depend on the skills you currently have and your previous practice sessions as well as what you are trying to achieve. 2. Practise shots in context For most players, this means practising breaks. The shots you need to lay out a break and keep one going are the shots you need most. Have you ever found that you have practised a particular shot over and over again until you get it right and then this doesn't work in a game? 3. Practise when you play and play when you practise When playing a match you have the opportunity to put what you have practised into play. Even the first ball you hit on to the lawn can be used as roquet practice - try and hit the exact spot you plan the ball to reach. When you play practice games with someone else, treat every shot - even the easy ones - as if that is the shot which will win you the game i.e. concentrate hard all the time. 4. Get help If you are not sure how to play a shot, or what to do during a game, get help from your club coach or a more experienced player. There is also reading material you can obtain which help describe methods of playing shots and tactics to employ. These are listed at the back of the NZCC Yearbook. Should your club buy some of these for its library? General books on the game worth reading include: Croquet [Link] 1989 A & C Black, London; Croquet: The Skills of the Game" Bill Lamb 1990 Crowood, Swindon; and Play Better Croquet" Geoffrey Naylor 1999 Hazard, Christchurch (see Yearbook)

5. Practise success If you make a mistake, practise the shot again - but not more than three times or you will end up practising your mistakes. After repeating a mistake, just place the balls where they should have gone and carry on to the next stage of the break. 6. What level of play do you wish to work towards?

National tournaments? Association tournaments? Interclub competitions? Club competitions? Club social play?

The greater your ambition the more time you should spend in practice. Time spent this way should increase leading up to a tournament. If you want success at Association or particularly National level, you should spend time on ensuring you have an accurate swing with your hands together - it does not matter if this is a Standard, Irish or Solomon grip - whichever works for you. The split standard grip will limit your ability to progress.

Beginners' Practice Routines To understand how the game is played and the sequence of roquet, croquet and continuation shots. To be able to approach a hoop and make it and to understand how to make more than one hoop in succession during a single turn.
Early-stage Beginners The most important skill of all is learned at this time - that is how to swing a mallet and hit a ball cleanly. A measure of this is the ability to make a hoop or roquet another ball. If you hope to become a good player, learn to hold a mallet at the top of the handle with your hands together. This will help you develop the swing which is the basis of all croquet play. At this stage it is FAR more important to develop a good swing than it is to be able to control the direction of your ball - that will come with more practice. Middle-stage Beginners Croquet or 2-ball shots should be learned. This includes the drive, the take-off, the roll shot and the stop shot. If lessons are not provided, find someone to demonstrate these for you. With striker's and another ball lined up, rush that other ball to a hoop, play a croquet stroke to get in front of the hoop, make the hoop and then roquet the other ball again. Advanced Beginners Using all 4 balls, practise the roquet, croquet and continuation shot sequence until you are comfortable with it. Get help to lay out the balls so that you have a short rush to the first hoop, another ball is at the next hoop ahead (called the pioneer ball), and the remaining ball is approximately 1/3rd of the way between the first hoop and the second. Make the first hoop as above and then use the shot sequence to get to and make the second hoop. If you start from hoop 4, you may be able to make more than two hoops. The game: In addition to practising, you will also need to learn about the game from other players. This includes how to set out hoops, peg and flags (called "dressing the lawn"); understanding how the game is played (hoop sequence, breaks etc.); some understanding of the basic laws of the game and croquet etiquette.

Practice duration: The more time you can spend practising, the sooner you will feel comfortable playing with others. If your aim is to become a good player, you should try to practise 5 or more times a week - particularly if you want to develop a good swing which will be the basis of your future in this sport. Reading: Approaching Croquet series (Parts 1,2 & 3) Croquet Beginners Coaching Course - Kevin Fellows A Circuit of Croquet Skills - S & L Edwards (Activities 1 - 10)

18 to 24 Bisque Practice Routines: To make four-ball breaks using a central pivot ball, pioneer ball (at the next hoop ahead of the current one) and two balls to make the current hoop.
Starting Players (at this level) Practise shots around a hoop. e.g. use hoop approaches to rush your ball in front of a hoop; practice roll shots to a hoop, or use stop shots to send a ball ahead to be roqueted when you make the hoop. Making the hoop is the way you measure success. Set out balls and practise the routine of roquet, croquet and continuation shots until it becomes second nature - the continuation shot should lead to the making of a hoop, or, another roquet. Making the hoop or roquet is your measure of success. Middle-order players Extend the roquet, croquet, continuation shots so that you make a hoop and then move on to another - the start of a break. It is easier if you start at hoop 4 and then try and make hoops 4, 5, 6 and 1-back - easier because the distances between hoops is not great. The number of hoops you make in the break is your measure of success. Advanced players Set out the balls with two near hoop 1, a pivot ball at a point 1 yard east and 1 yard south of the peg, a pioneer ball about 1 yard south of hoop 2, and your other two balls so that one has a rush to hoop 1. You are trying to play a 4-ball break right round to the peg, using the pivot ball to get from 1 hoop to the next. As you make a hoop, the non-striker's ball is sent two hoops ahead as your next pioneer. Again the number of hoops you make is your measure of success. Practice duration. Sessions should be between 3/4 hour and one hour, 1 or two times a week for ordinary club play. This will of course be interspersed with social games and other matches. If you want to become a good player, ensure you learn to play from the start with your hands together at the top of the mallet. Try and practise three to five days a week.

If you are leading up to a tournament, gradually increase the number of days you practise each week - up to between five and seven during the last fortnight. Reading: Practice with a Purpose - John Prince (Chapters 3, 8, 14 & 15) Developing Croquet - Kevin Fellows (Split croquet shots, 4 ball break & important croquet shots I) A Circuit of Croquet Skills - S & L Edwards (Activities 1 - 10) Croquet Technique - John Riches

10 to 16 Bisque Practice Routines To make four-ball breaks with confidence and learn to make 3-ball breaks and the skills of constructing breaks especially at the start of a game or following a 4-back leave.
Starting players (at this level) Practise 4-ball breaks starting from hoop 1 with two balls at hoop 1, a pivot ball near the peg and pioneer at hoop 2 until you can make 9 or even 12 hoops with confidence. If you have difficulty playing one particular type of shot, lay out the balls so that you need to be successful with that shot in order to continue a break. The number of hoops made without error is your measure of success. Middle-order players Begin learning the techniques of recovering a break when balls go out of position. These include replacing an out-of position pioneer with the pivot ball (replace), sending the pivot ball near the out-of-position pioneer (reinforce), and moving the pivot ball towards the side of the lawn where the out of position pioneer is (back it up). You should by now be rushing the pivot ball around so that it is always in the best position to continue a break rather than simply using it as a take-off point. Advanced players You should be confident with 4-ball breaks and start practising 3-ball breaks. You should also practise establishing a break from standard openings. Try establishing a break when the opponent balls are together on a line somewhere. A break from this position may take one, or two turns to establish. This is your best attack and defence against the "Aunt Emmas" of the game - the two-ballers. Finally you should know how to spread the balls across the lawn for a 4-back leave. Practice duration: Becoming confident with break play will take at least two and possibly more hours of practice a week on your own. You will also be playing other games or matches, or perhaps receiving coaching as well. Remember a half hour of practice gives you the equivalent amount of time on court to 1-2 hours of match play. If you have a tournament coming up, you will need to ensure that you are playing each day - either practice or game - for a few weeks prior to the tournament. Serious practice games against an opponent of equivalent skill can be valuable - i.e. make every point count - this forces you to concentrate. Reading:

Practice with a Purpose - John Prince (Chapters 3, 4, 8, 9, 10, 13, 14 & 15) Developing Croquet - Kevin Fellows (Moving pivot, Damage control in the break, Establishing the break, etc. up to Cannons) Take a Bisque - Nell Hass A Circuit of Croquet Skills - S & L Edwards. (Activities 10b - 15) Croquet - Next Break Strategy - John Riches Croquet - Error Correction - John Riches Croquet - Finer Points - John Riches

4 to 9 Bisque Practice Routines

To make 3-ball breaks with confidence and further develop the skills of constructing breaks from openings, following leaves or with balls out of position.
Starting Pplayers (at this level) You should be able to make 4-ball breaks with few errors in practice. You should also be practising 3-ball breaks regularly. You should practise standard openings - to establish a break if you hit with the 4th ball, or from the fifth turn. If you have a problem with a particular form of shot, lay out the balls so that you must use this shot in order to get a break started. The number of hoops you make is a way of measuring your progress. Middle-order players Continue practising 3-ball breaks and add variations. For example, how can you get the break started with balls widely spread? Will you need to use two (or even more) turns to get the break started? (This is called a next-break strategy). You are now concerned as much with learning strategies, as you are with playing breaks. Perhaps you need to practise with someone who is also at this level so that you can learn from each other. Advanced players To break play you must add some understanding of how to deal with situations which may arise regularly. You should know how to set out a diagonal leave, and what you would do when your opponent creates a leave. You should know how to make use of standard cannons from the four corners of the lawn to develop or continue breaks. In general play you should be rushing balls into position, rather than having to use takeoffs and should set the balls out to create rush opportunities to establish breaks. Practice routines While much of your practice time will be involved with break play, you may also be spending time practising specific routines. These should be developed by knowing the sort of problems that you have encountered in matches with either tactics or particular shots. (It can be a good idea to take a notebook to matches to record situations in which you have found difficulty.) Discussing such problems with a more advanced player or coach may help with the development of routines which suit your needs. Practice duration:

You need both practice time on your own (or with a partner) and serious games against someone of equivalent level with whom you can discuss tactics. For general play 2-3 hours per week should be sufficient, but for matches or tournaments you may need to increase the time spent so that you spend time on the lawn every day for a few weeks before the event. Reading: Developing Croquet - Kevin Fellows (Cannons, Wiring; Hammer stroke; Important croquet strokes II) Practice with a Purpose - John Prince (Three ball breaks & 3 ball game; To peg out or not; Single peel finish; Corner cannons; Wiring) Croquet - Lessons in Tactics - John Riches Croquet - The Mental Approach - John Riches Croquet - Next Break Strategy - John Riches

0 to 3 Bisque Practice Routines To play breaks and a full range of croquet shots with confidence; know how to establish breaks and leaves; be familiar with a range of opening strategies; and to recognise and respond to other standard situations during a game.
Starting Players (at this level) Practise establishing breaks from standard openings or following an opponent's leave. Learn how to set a leave after making 4-back - diagonal, old standard leave, new standard leave. Practise wiring balls as part of a break - across a hoop, the peg or more widely across the lawn. Learn how to get opponent balls off the line whether they are together or apart in order to establish a break. During practice games employ a next break strategy whenever the prospect of an immediate break is not apparent. By now you should also be familiar with the principles of making cannons from anywhere on a line and able to employ wafer cannons Middle-order players Continue break practice especially building from 2-ball to 3-ball breaks with balls from difficult positions. Practise single peels as part of a break, ensuring that the peelee is in a good position together with an escape ball. Also practise Irish peels and the straight peel at Rover. If a jump shot, half jump shot, and sweep shot are not in your armoury, now is the time to acquire them. Practise the vertical leave - useful after your second ball has reached the peg and the first ball remains on 4-back. Once these, or any other shot you may have problems with has been practised, build it into your break play. Advanced players Practise establishing an immediate break with wide-spread balls especially by rushing balls into position. Practise peels during a 4-ball break seeing how many you can make in a round. Practise the straight double peel - penult and rover followed by a peg-out. Become familiar with a standard triple peel and the tactics you could employ against an opponent who might use this strategy against you. Practice Routines At the more advanced levels, routines which suit your needs can be developed by you in discussion with more experienced players or advanced coaches. Books can also be helpful - Wylie's "Expert Croquet

Tactics" discusses strategies which can be used in games at this level. The more matches you can play the better. Practice Time: You need both practice time on your own (or with a partner) and serious games against someone of equivalent level with whom you can discuss tactics. For general play 2-3 hours per week should be sufficient, but for matches or tournaments you may need to increase the time spent so that you spend time on the lawn every day for several weeks before the event. Other Reading: Practice with a Purpose - John Prince The Delayed and Straight Triple Peel - John Prince Croquet - Lessons in Tactics - John Riches Croquet - The Mental Approach - John Riches