These Tournament Regulations have been approved by the Croquet Association's Tournament Committees to be published on 1 February 2020. They are effective from the start of the 2020 playing season. They apply to both Golf and Association Croquet, except where stated. Older (obsolete) editions of these Regulations are available for reference in the Regulations for Tournaments Historic Index.

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Contents

I. INTRODUCTION C. CLUBS AND OTHER TOURNAMENT ORGANISERS C1 Calendar Fixtures C2 Tournament Programme C3 Procedures for Dealing with Entries F. FORMATS FOR EVENTS F1 Knockout Events F2 All-Play-All (American) Block Events F3 Swiss Events F4 Progressive Swiss Events F5 Flexible Swiss Events F6 Egyptian Events F7 Class Events F8 Incomplete or Unfinished Games H. HANDICAPS H1 Handicaps H2 The Tournament Handicapper H3 Short Croquet L. APPROVED LAWS / RULES VARIATIONS L1 Ball Jammed in Hoop L2 Impasse (AC) L3 Super-Advanced Variation to Laws (AC) L4 Alternate Stroke Doubles Play (AC) L5 State of the Game L6 Trial GC Sequence Umpire L7 One-Ball - Handicap Play (AC) L8 Trial Use of Video to Support Refereeing L9 Short Croquet Court Sizes (AC)

M. THE TOURNAMENT MANAGER M1 Duties of the Tournament Manager M2 Powers of the Tournament Manager O. OFFICIALS P. PLAYERS P1 Eligibility to Compete in Calendar Fixtures P2 Conduct P3 Entries P4 Conditions of Play P5 Handicaps P6 Trophies R. REFEREES R1 Definitions R2 Powers and Duties of an Active Referee R3 Powers of an Inactive Referee R4 Restrictions on Using Information Obtained Earlier R5 The Tournament Referee and his Duties R6 Appeals R7 Players Performing Functions of Referees R8 Other Regulations T. TIME LIMITS T1 Permitted Time Limits T2 Expiry of Time Limit T3 Limit on Number of Turns T4 Golf Croquet APPENDIX 1 - Hoop Setting, Ball Specification and Inspection Requirements APPENDIX 2 - CA Trophies APPENDIX 3 - Example of the Use of Matchpoints to Resolve Incomplete AC Blocks APPENDIX 4 - Example of the Resolution of Ties ('Who beat Whom') in Complete Blocks

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Changes since the Previous Version

The changes made since the 2019 edition are as follows:

1. Changes have been made throughout to reflect the new CA governance model. Some responsibilities and powers previously falling to the CA Council now fall to the Executive Board.
2. C1(c): Removal of the requirement to include a list of handicap changes from the requirements for returns from tournaments. It is now the players responsibility to update their handicap. The regulation has also been updated to recognise the existing procedure relating to the Levy for tournaments that use the online tournament entry system.
3. C2(a)(9), C3(a)(1) and P3(b): The definition of the Allocation Date has been made consistent. Entries received before the Allocation Date should be considered together on that date.
4. C2(b)(3): When a Championship knockout is preceded by a Swiss or Blocks, the knockout must contain at least four players (i.e. a play-off between block winners is insufficient for a Championship knockout).
5. C2(b)(6): The word 'Charity' within event titles will have a defined meaning from the 2021 season. This will relate to the nature of the charitable cause and the proportion of money raised to be donated to the charity. Approval will be required before its use.
6. C3(a)(3): For events where allocation is by ranking grade, players with no such ranking grade are only to be allocated places after all players with a ranking grade have been accepted. Such players are allocated by lowest handicap.
7. C3(a)(3), F1(a)(3), F2(a)(1): For players who have not played sufficient ranking games, their ranking grade should be reduced by 50 points per year. This provision has existed for many years for allocation, but was not well known and so has been made clearer and extended to seeding for events. This ensures that a player who has essentially retired from the game for many years does not receive an out-of-place seeding when returning to the game until they have played sufficient games for their ranking grade to have begun to adjust to any change of form. The threshold for 'sufficient' ranking games has been retained at 10 games for AC and increased to 15 games for GC.
8. R6(d): In GC, a player may not appeal against a refereeing decision after that player has played a stroke. This is much shorter than the previous limitation and mirrors the WCF refereeing regulations update during 2019.
9. Safeguarding and Equality Policies. An explicit mention of compliance with these, and other CA Policies, has been added to Regulations C (clubs), O (officials) and P (players).

Many other changes have also been made for clarity or to remove typographic or formatting errors, but without any change of intent. This includes:

• C1(b)(7): The tournament Levy is now specified in the regulations, to save clubs having to search for it. The amount of the Levy is unchanged.
• C2(b): Clarification that Regulation C3 defines the detailed entry process for all events. Some unnecessary text which was the source of confusion has been removed.
• C3(a)(2)(B): clarification that players from other WCF Member countries who are not resident in England are considered together with CA Premium members for tournament entry, in accordance with WCF Status 164.
• C3(a)(3): clarification that allocation by ballot applies to all handicap events.
• F1(a)(3): the practice of secondary seeding (treating groups of seeds equivalently) is now explicitly permitted.
• M1(k): the phrase "safeguard the interests of players" has been changed to "protect the interests of players" to avoid any confusion with Safeguarding requirements.
• M1(i): the regulation relating to presentation of trophies has been made consistent with the Tournament Director's responsibilities, and a reference to Regulation O included.
• M2(c): modified to make it clear that the manager can impose, modify or remove time limits from games. The old clause permitting the manager to "Allow extra time for double-banked games, or in an emergency." has been removed, as this is already provided for under Regulation T2(c)(3).
• P1(b): clarification that professionals are defined by the amount of "retained prize money", and that this phrase excludes expenses.
• Uses of "Ranking" and "Grade" reviewed throughout for consistency, and to ensure that phrases such as "highest ranking" clearly relate to the grade of the player (i.e. the world ranked No. 1 player has the highest ranking grade).

 

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I. Introduction

1. JURISDICTION. The Council of the Croquet Association and the governing bodies of croquet in Australia, New Zealand and the United States of America have agreed that Regulations for Tournaments held within their respective jurisdictions are a domestic matter for the governing body concerned.
2. TERMINOLOGY.
   1. The Croquet Association, its Council and Executive Board are referred to herein as the "CA", "Council" and "Executive Board" respectively. The Council and Executive Board may delegate their powers to their committees.
   2. The online Fixtures Calendar and the publication entitled "Fixtures Book" are referred to as the "Calendar".
   3. A tournament or competition advertised in the Calendar to be played within the domain of the CA is referred to as a "Calendar Fixture".
   4. The club or other body responsible for a Calendar Fixture is referred to as the "Organising Body".
   5. "CA Events" are those organised by the CA, with the assistance of host clubs, and for which the CA (acting through the relevant Tournament Committee) is the Organising Body.
   6. "He" and "his" are used for simplicity, and should be taken as "he or she" and "his or her" throughout.
   7. Except when indicated to the contrary, these Regulations apply to both Association and Golf Croquet. The initials "AC" and "GC" shall be taken to read Association Croquet or Golf Croquet as appropriate.
   8. Except when indicated to the contrary, "ranking grade" refers to the most recent available [AC: Dynamic Grade (DGrade)] [GC: CGS Grade].
3. SCOPE.
   1. These Regulations shall apply in all Calendar Fixtures, together with any conditions consistent with them which are specifically published for a particular tournament or event. These Regulations take precedence over any extracts of Regulations printed elsewhere, such as in Laws, Rules or Fixtures books.
   2. Variations to Regulations C3 (Procedures for Dealing with Entries), F (Formats for Events), L (Approved Laws/Rules Variations), P4 (Conditions of Play), and T (Time Limits) may be included within the Special Conditions or Event Conditions of any Calendar Entry. Otherwise, variations may be introduced only in accordance with these Regulations (for example, as described in Regulation M2(c))
4. LAWS/RULES. Games shall, subject to the authorised variations in Regulation L and international or CA rulings, be played under the latest edition of one of the following sets of Laws or Rules:
   1. for Association Croquet, the current Laws of Association Croquet as published by the CA, together with any official rulings; or
   2. for Golf Croquet, the current Rules of Golf Croquet as published by the CA.

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C. Clubs and Other Tournament Organisers

C1 Calendar Fixtures

1. REQUIREMENTS FOR INCLUSION IN THE CALENDAR. The following are eligible for inclusion in the Calendar, subject to payment of whatever fees are appropriate and agreement to comply with CA Policies (including, but not limited to, Safeguarding and Equality):
   1. Tournaments run by Member Clubs or Federations run under the CA Regulations for Tournaments and for which the CA Tournament Levy applies.
   2. Events organised by the CA.
   3. Events in which the CA selects participants (such as a World Championship).
   4. Coaching Events (see below).
   5. Other events explicitly approved by the relevant tournament committee, for which a fee might be applicable in addition to, or instead of, the CA Tournament Levy (such as an event taking place outside the CA's domain).
2. REQUIREMENTS FOR TOURNAMENTS. If a tournament is to appear in the CA Calendar, the Organising Body must:
   1. submit, by the date determined by the CA Manager, the proposed dates of the tournament to the CA Office or other nominated person, to enable the Calendar to be assembled for the following year;
   2. send, by the date determined by the CA Manager, a tournament programme which complies with Regulation C2 to the CA Office or other nominated person, for insertion in the CA Calendar;
   3. provide standard or modified courts laid out and equipped in accordance with the [AC: Laws] [GC: Rules], with hoops set to the standard specified in Appendix 1;
   4. provide balls of identical manufacture and type;
   5. agree with the Tournament Manager the maximum number of entries that the capacity of the courts available will allow;
   6. process entries according to Regulation C3;
   7. include in the entry fee for each event the CA tournament Levy, which is 25% of the entry fee charged to CA Premium members (minimum £1.50 per event, 75p per player in doubles). Players who are not CA Premium members pay an additional levy through their entry fee of £5 per scheduled day for each event. CA Premium members include Overseas and Young Person CA members, and overseas players claiming reciprocal rights through the World Croquet Federation;
   8. unless otherwise stated, provide lunches and teas (the Organising Body may charge for this);
   9. unless otherwise stated, make players honorary members of the host club for the duration of the tournament.
3. REQUIREMENTS FOR RETURNS FROM TOURNAMENTS. The Organising Body must arrange to send to the CA Office as soon as possible after the tournament:
   1. the full results of the tournament in the form notified by the CA (send a copy to results#croquet.org.uk);
   2. an account and payment of the total sum of Levy due, unless the tournament is in the on-line entry system, in which case it must be updated if necessary to ensure that it correctly records the people that played;
   3. any tournament report (send a copy to news#croquet.org.uk);
   4. receipt forms for any CA trophies held;
   5. details of any incidents alleged or dealt with under Regulations P2, P3(h), P5(b), P6(b), M2(g), or the most serious actions, such as disqualification, by a referee under [AC Law 55] [GC Rule 16.4]. (These are for the attention of the CA Honorary Secretary.).
4. REQUIREMENTS FOR COACHING EVENTS. The CA welcomes the inclusion of Club Coaching Courses in the Calendar as consistent with the CA policy of supporting competitive croquet by improving players' skills and increasing the number of competitive players. Since inclusion carries the CA's imprimatur, Clubs and Federations must ensure such courses meet the following criteria:
   1. They must be croquet-related.
   2. They must be led by a competent person, defined as follows.
      1. For courses on croquet playing techniques or tactics:
         • A CA-qualified coach with the relevant qualification for the course being run (i.e. Grade 1, etc.); or
         • A widely-acknowledged expert in the particular subject matter who has teaching experience relevant to the style of the course. In this case, the course must be called a Masterclass or Workshop.
      2. For a Coach Training Course: a CA Examining Coach, who must adhere to the CA coach training process.
      3. For other courses (such as how to manage a tournament, or sports psychology applied to croquet): an acknowledged expert in the subject matter who has teaching experience relevant to the style of the course. Such a course must not be called a coaching course.
   3. A reduced price for CA Premium Members.
   4. Attendees must be requested to complete a feedback form, and a summary report sent to the CA Office and the Coaching Committee Chairman within 14 days of the end of the course.
   5. Note that the CA may wish to reserve the term Academy to apply to a specific style and set of courses and gives notice that from 2017 it may restrict its usage in the Calendar.

C2 Tournament Programme

1. CONTENTS. A tournament programme must give the following information:
   1. The dates and venue of the tournament.
   2. The nature of each event, any qualifications or restrictions (including handicap or grading) and the entry fee (inclusive of Levy).
   3. Notice of any seeding (see Regulation F1(a)).
   4. Notice of any authorised variations (see Regulation M1(j)).
   5. The dimensions of any modified courts.
   6. The type of ball to be used.
   7. The width of the hoops if not as in Appendix 1.
   8. The time play will begin on the first day.
   9. The allocation date: The date before which entries must be received by the Tournament Secretary for inclusion in the initial allocation of places. The allocation date is recommended to be 4 weeks before the event for Championship events and 8 weeks for others.
   10. The closing date: The date before which entries must be received by the Tournament Secretary for inclusion in the list of entries passed to the Tournament Manager. The closing date is recommended to be 2 weeks before the event.
   11. The draw date (if known): The date on which the draw will be conducted and published.
   12. The names of the Tournament Manager, Tournament Referee and Tournament Handicapper (if known) and the name and address of the Tournament Secretary.
2. TITLES FOR EVENTS. In order that the names of tournaments run within the CA domain are consistent and players understand the significance of the titles, the following definitions will apply. Exceptions will be considered where there is a historical justification, for example when the term "Championship" is used within the name of a long-standing trophy. In all cases entries are processed in accordance with Regulation C3.
   1. WORLD. This word must only be used when the tournament is organised by the World Croquet Federation in the CA domain with the assistance of the CA.
   2. EUROPEAN. This word must only be used for European events organised by the European Croquet Federation. Normally these will have a major input from the CA and the host club.
   3. CHAMPIONSHIP. Permission to use this designation must be obtained from the relevant Tournament Committee. Grades of Championship are as follows:
      1. GRADE 1. These events are top-level Championships organised by or in association with the CA. [AC: Singles events will be Level Super-Advanced Play, whilst Doubles events may be Level Advanced Play or Level Super-Advanced Play.] [GC: The events will be Level Play.] They will use hoops set to Championship standards and be best-of-three (or greater) knockouts, possibly preceded by qualifying rounds in the form of blocks or a Swiss (in which case the knockout portion must contain at least four players). The only permitted restriction on entries is by gender.
      2. GRADE 2. These are events designated or approved by the CA. They will be Level [AC: Advanced or Super-Advanced] Play, use hoops set to Championship standards and be best-of-three (or greater) knockout or draw and process format, possibly preceded by qualifying rounds in the form of blocks or a Swiss (in which case the knockout portion must contain at least four players). The only permitted restriction on entries is by age or gender.
      3. GRADE 3. These are other Level Play events organised or approved by the CA. The only permitted restriction on entries is by age or gender. Special conditions may be imposed.
   4. OPEN. Tournaments containing this word must be Level Play and have no restriction on entry other than as provided for in Regulations P1 and C3.
   5. FIRST-CLASS EVENTS. A First-Class event is an event played under the conditions of [AC: Advanced or Super-Advanced Level Play] [GC: Level Play], with unrestricted entry except for restrictions excluding men, women, non-members (of the CA), players with handicaps over a stated level, ranking grade below a stated level or other restrictions approved by the CA Council.
   6. CHARITY. From the 2021 season, conditions will apply to events containing this word in the title. These conditions will relate to the identification of the charitable cause, and the proportion of money raised which will be donated.
3. ALTERATIONS. No alterations may be made to the tournament programme without the agreement of the Tournament Manager (see Regulations M2(c) and M2(d)).
4. DOUBLE-BANKING. The expectation is that double-banking will be used.

C3 Procedures for Dealing with Entries

1. ACCEPTANCE.
   1. Entries received before the allocation date should be held and considered together on or as soon as possible after that date.
   2. If the number of entries then exceeds the number of places available, the entry is split into three Priority Groups:
      1. Places are reserved for the Tournament Manager, current trophy holders, two Under 21 players (under 21 years of age on the first day of the tournament and either a Premium or Young Person Member) and any other groups identified in the tournament's special conditions, subject to the entrants meeting any general restrictions (for example age or handicap).
      2. Priority is then given (for individual/doubles events, but not team events) to any entrant who is a Premium, Young Person or Overseas Member of the CA. (A player who is a member of another WCF Association, is not resident in the CA's domain, and is visiting for no longer than one 60-day visit in a calendar year can claim reciprocal rights under WCF Statute 164. For the purpose of allocation of tournament places, such players are treated as Premium members for the duration of their visit.)
      3. All other entrants.
   3. If no further criteria are specified in the tournament's special conditions, then taking entrants in each Priority Group in turn (starting with Priority Group A):
      1. for a Championship event, entrants with the highest ranking grade at that date shall be selected; or
      2. for a First-Class event, either entrants with the highest ranking grade at that date shall be selected, or places shall be allocated by ballot; or
      3. for any other event (which, for the avoidance of doubt, includes all handicap events), places shall be allocated by ballot.
      For this purpose, the ranking grade of a player who has played fewer than [AC: 10 ranking games] [GC: 15 ranking games] during the previous 12 months shall be reduced by 50 points for each consecutive year in which the player has not played that number of ranking games. If allocation is by ranking grade, then entrants with no ranking grade shall only be allocated places (based on lowest handicap) after if all entrants with a ranking grade have been allocated places.
   4. If not oversubscribed at the allocation date, all the entries submitted should be accepted. Entries received subsequently should be accepted in order of receipt until the event is full or the closing date is reached.
2. WAITING LIST. Surplus entrants should be notified as soon as possible and, if so requested on the entry form, placed on a reserve list in the order they would have been accepted if additional places had been available.
3. LATE ENTRIES. After the closing date, entries may be accepted only with the agreement of the Tournament Manager, and a surcharge of 50% of the entry fee may be imposed.
4. REFUNDS. Entry fees must be refunded in full to unsuccessful applicants. See P3(g) for refunds to players who withdraw.
5. REFUSAL. An Organising Body may refuse an entry on grounds other than those of over-subscription or ineligibility but must, on request, give the reason(s) to the person refused.

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F. Formats for Events

The following text is intended to apply to both Association and Golf Croquet events.

[GC: However, normal practice in most International and National Golf Croquet events has been to use American blocks initially with one or more leading players from each block then either competing in a knockout or progressing to a National Championship final. This has been found to meet most needs in the Golf Croquet Calendar, though the Tournament Manager may adopt one of the alternative formats described below if he feels that it could apply to his particular circumstances. For deciding the placings in American blocks, the relevant paragraphs of Regulation F2 shall apply unless alternatives are published before the start of the tournament.]

F1 Knockout Events

1. SEEDING IN LEVEL PLAY EVENTS.
   1. In a seeded draw, the seeds will be placed on the draw sheet in the positions indicated by the following sequence: 1, 16, 9, 8, 5, 12, 13, 4, 3, 14, 11, 6, 7, 10, 15, 2.
   2. Fewer seeds may be used as required, but the order of those used will be maintained. Seeds 1 and 2 must be in separate halves of the draw, 1 to 4 in separate quarters, 1 to 8 in separate eighths, and 1 to 16 in separate sixteenths. The byes are then allocated as per Regulation F1(c)(3).
   3. Identification of seeded players.
      1. Seeds should be identified based on the most up-to-date ranking grades available at the time of the draw. For this purpose, the ranking grade of a player who has played fewer than [AC: 10 ranking games] [GC: 15 ranking games] during the previous 12 months shall be reduced by 50 points for each consecutive year that he has not played that number of ranking games. After the first four seeds, the Tournament Manager may choose to treat groups of four seeds (e.g. 5-8, 9-12 or 13-16) equally and randomly place those players in the appropriate positions in the draw.
      2. If a knockout follows a block stage, block positions may be used instead of ranking grades.
      3. Other methods to identify seeds, such as by committee, are permitted if this is stated in the Calendar Fixture conditions.
   4. Consecutive seeds can be deemed to be equal and drawn by lot into their respective positions.
2. SEEDING IN OTHER EVENTS. In other events the draw may be adjusted only in order to avoid as far as possible an early meeting between:
   1. players from the same club; or
   2. close relatives; or
   3. players already drawn to meet in the first round of another event.
3. SINGLE-LIFE EVENTS. Subject to (a) and (b) above, the draw is compiled as follows:
   1. Subtract the number of entries from the power of 2 (i.e. 4, 8, 16, 32, 64, 128, 256) greater than or equal to the number of entries. This gives the number of byes.
   2. If seeding is to be used, place the seeds in the first round of the draw sheet in accordance with (a) above.
   3. Distribute the byes in the first round of the draw sheet as follows:
      1. If the number of byes is odd, one more bye is placed at the bottom than at the top (or vice versa, as determined by lot).
      2. If the number of byes is a multiple of 4 (i.e. 4, 8, 12, 16, etc.), half are placed at the top and half at the bottom.
      3. In all other cases (i.e. 2, 6, 10, 14, etc.), either (at the choice of the Tournament Manager, but consistently for an entire draw):
         1. half of the byes are placed at the top and half at the bottom [this will continue to ensure an even distribution of byes throughout the draw]; or
         2. two more byes are placed at the bottom than at the top (or vice versa, as determined by lot) [this will distribute byes approximately evenly, but in a way to ensure at most one 'hanging bye' (i.e. so that at most one player does not have a game that could be started immediately)].
      4. Within each half the byes may be distributed between the two quarters according to the same principle; similarly within each quarter between the two eighths, etc.
      5. Byes are placed on alternate rows of the draw sheet. When a bye appears to need to be placed in a position already occupied (by a seed), the bye is instead placed as if drawn against that seed.
      6. Byes can be omitted from a published draw sheet, with those players who are subsequently drawn against them promoted to the second round. This is a presentational change which does not affect the actual draw.
   4. The names of the players are then drawn at random and entered on the empty rows of the draw sheet in the order in which they are drawn, starting at the top.
   5. If a bona fide entry is omitted, the name of the player is inserted on the draw sheet at the position an additional name would occupy if the number of entries were one greater, and any necessary consequential adjustment is made. If there is more than one omission, or more than one possible position, the matter is decided by lot.
   6. If an entry is included in error, it is struck out and the draw remains valid. If the event has not yet started and it is practicable to do so, the Tournament Manager may instead decide to adjust or re-do the draw under Regulation M2(e).
4. TWO-LIFE EVENTS (DRAW AND PROCESS).
   1. The knockout draw for the first life, known as the Draw, is made in accordance with (c) (Single Life Events) above, except that (c)(3)(C)(ii) shall not apply.
   2. Each player (but not the byes) in the first round of the Draw is numbered sequentially in the order written on the draw sheet from top to bottom (not seed order); remaining numbers required to make the next power of two are byes. (for example, in the case of an 11 player two-life event, positions 1-11 are taken in order from the Draw and positions 12-16 are allocated as byes).
   3. The knockout draw for the second life, known as the Process, is compiled as follows:
      1. Enter on a second draw sheet the appropriate series of numbers from the table set out below.

         Entries	Process Order
         1 to 4		1				3				2				4
         5 to 8		1		5		3		7		2		6		4		8
         9 to 16		1	9	5	13	3	11	7	15	2	10	6	14	4	12	8	16
         17 to 32	1st 16	1	17	9	25	5	21	13	29	3	19	11	27	7	23	15	31
         	2nd 16	2	18	10	26	6	22	14	30	4	20	12	28	8	24	16	32
         33 to 64	1st 16	1	33	17	49	9	41	25	57	5	37	21	53	13	45	29	61
         	2nd 16	3	35	19	51	11	43	27	59	7	39	23	55	15	47	31	63
         	3rd 16	2	34	18	50	10	42	26	58	6	38	22	54	14	46	30	62
         	4th 16	4	36	20	52	12	44	28	60	8	40	24	56	16	48	32	64

      2. For 65 to 128 players, additional columns are generated by adding 64 to each number for "33 to 64" entries and insetting the result immediately to the right of that number.
      3. Next to each number is entered the name of the player next to that number in the Draw (as numbered in (d)(2) above); for each number higher than the number of players, 'Bye' is entered.
      4. Byes can be omitted from a published Process, with those players who are drawn against them promoted to the second round. This is a presentational change which does not affect the actual format.
   4. The winner of the Draw plays an extra match against the winner of the Process to decide the event winner. If the same player wins both halves of the event, the defeated finalists in the Draw and Process may play off for second place.
5. TWO-LIFE VARIATIONS. These variations reduce a two-life event to a single-life event, so for a First-Class event (as defined in C2(b)(5)) advertised as two-life they may be introduced only in an emergency.
   1. VARIATION A. This is introduced when both lives have reached the semi-final stage and there are fewer than eight players involved. The draw is compiled on a draw sheet containing positions numbered from 1 to 8.
      1. 7 players: the player in both lives is placed in position 1 and receives a bye (i.e. position 2 is blank); the other players are drawn by lot to fill positions 3 to 8.
      2. 6 players: the two players in both lives are placed in positions 1 and 8 and receive byes (i.e. positions 2 and 7 are blank); the other players are drawn by lot to fill positions 3 to 6.
      3. 5 players: the three players in both lives are drawn by lot to fill positions 1, 3 and 8 and receive byes (i.e. positions 2, 4 and 7 are blank); the two remaining players placed in positions 5 and 6.
      4. 4 players: all players are drawn by lot to occupy the four semi-final places.
   2. VARIATION B. This is introduced when both lives have reached the final stage and there are fewer than four players involved.
      1. 3 players: the player in both lives plays the winner of a game between the other two players.
      2. 2 players: they play each other once.
6. XY AND XYZ EVENTS.
   1. THE X EVENT. The players are drawn in accordance with (c) above.
   2. THE Y EVENT. Players who lose their first match in the X enter the Y automatically in the same order as they were drawn in the X.
   3. THE Z EVENT (if played). Players who lose their second match in the X or their first match in the Y enter the Z automatically, but in any order the Tournament Manager thinks fit.
   4. Byes and, in XY events, walkovers do not count as wins. Competitors who scratch from the X or Y may not enter the Y or Z.

F2 All-Play-All (American) Block Events

1. CONCEPT. An all-play-all (historically known as an American) block event is one in which the players are arranged into one or more blocks according to the conditions advertised for the event.
   1. Players are allocated to N blocks in accordance with A, B or C below:
      1. Players may be randomly allocated to blocks. Up to N-1 byes should be distributed between blocks to ensure the same number of 'players' in each block.
      2. If a fully seeded block is required, all players should be placed into descending seeding order. Seeds should be identified as set out in F1(a)(3) above. If byes are necessary, they should be placed at the end of the list. A zigzag pattern should be followed to distribute players between the blocks. The example below is based on placing 24 players in 4 blocks. The method is scalable to any number of blocks of arbitrary size.

         Block A	Block B	Block C	Block D
         1	2	3	4
         8	7	6	5
         9	10	11	12
         16	15	14	13
         17	18	19	20
         24	23	22	21

      3. If desired, the top multiple of N players may be seeded (in accordance with B) with the remainder (which should normally be the larger part of the draw) placed randomly (in accordance with A). Any required byes should be placed in accordance with A.
   2. Each block is then played independently of the others, except that a play-off between players from different blocks, arranged according to their final placing within their blocks, may follow.
   3. In each block, every player in the block is scheduled to play the other players in the block the same, pre-arranged, number of times. A single-series block is one in which each player is scheduled to meet each of the others once only; in a multiple-series block each player is scheduled to meet each of the others two or more times.
   4. Unless otherwise advertised in advance, or announced before the start of the event, the method of determining the final placing of players in an all-play-all block is described below.
2. COMPLETE BLOCKS (ASSOCIATION CROQUET).
   1. Players are placed in descending order of the number of games they have won.
   2. Where two or more players are tied on an equal number of games won, and the tie must be resolved (e.g. for the purpose of awarding prize(s), a play-off between players in different blocks, or qualification for another event) and there is not time for a play-off, then the players in the tie are placed relative to each other in descending order of the number of games they have won in the games played between them. If necessary, this procedure may be repeated. (See Appendix 4 for a worked example.)
   3. If there is still a tie that needs to be resolved, Regulation M2(c)(6) should be applied.
3. COMPLETE BLOCKS (GOLF CROQUET). A match shall be defined as a single contest between two players and can comprise either a single game or the best-of-three or best-of-five games. Where play in a block requires each player to play all of the others twice, each of these games will be regarded as a single-game match.
   1. Players are placed in descending order of the number of matches they have won. Where tied games are permitted, a tie shall be regarded as half a win. Tied games shall not be permitted in best-of-three or best-of-five matches.
   2. If there are two or more players with the same number of wins, placings shall be decided as follows:
      1. Only in the case of best-of-three or best-of-five matches, the group of players shall be separated by the net games won in all their matches in the block.
      2. Any group of players still tied shall be separated by net points across all the games they played in the block.
      3. Any group of players still tied shall be separated by the number of matches won in the matches played between those players. (See Appendix 4 for a worked example.)
      4. Only in the case of best-of-three or best-of-five matches, any group of players still tied shall be separated by the net games in the matches between those players. If this produces a partial resolution then the group or groups of players still needing to be separated shall be placed by returning to step 2C.
      5. Any group of players still tied shall be separated by the net points in the games between each of these players.
      6. If none of the above produces a result, Regulation M2(c)(6) shall be applied.
   3. Best Losers: On occasions it may be that the number of players who are due to progress from the block stages of a tournament is not a multiple of the number of blocks. Where this is the case, the following method will be used to determine who goes through:
      1. An equal number of players from each block will progress automatically by virtue of their placings, so that the number of 'best losers' needed is fewer than the number of blocks. Only players who missed out in their blocks by one position will be considered for the purposes of determining the best losers.
      2. The players will first be separated by the percentage of matches won in their block.
      3. Any players still tied will be separated by the percentage of games won in their block.
      4. Any players still tied will be separated by the average net hoops per game they achieved in their block.
      5. Any players still tied will be separated by the average number of hoops they scored per game in their block.
      6. If none of the above produces a result, Regulation M2(c)(6) should be applied.
4. GENERAL TREATMENT OF INCOMPLETE BLOCKS. The validity of the block format depends on all the games being completed and on players making the same effort to win in each of their games; a wilful failure to do so is misconduct and Regulation M2(g) applies. Nevertheless, there will be circumstances, such as illness or weather, which prevent all the games scheduled being completed. (e) and (f) below describe how to deal with this, for single- and multiple-series Association Croquet blocks respectively; (g) describes how to deal with incomplete Golf Croquet blocks.
5. INCOMPLETE SINGLE-SERIES BLOCKS (ASSOCIATION CROQUET).
   1. Any player whose final placing under (b) above, had the block been completed, could be predicted to be the same whatever the outcome of the uncompleted games shall be given that placing.
   2. Any player for whom results are available for fewer than half of the largest number of games completed by any player in the block, or who has failed to win a game in the block, shall be treated as having withdrawn from the block and the results of any games he has played in it shall be ignored for the purpose of deciding the remaining placings.
   3. Having applied (2) above, if results are available for all the games between the remaining players, then (b) above is applied to determine the remaining placings not established under (1), as though the block had contained only those players.
   4. Otherwise, the remaining placings for the block are determined by a method of pairwise comparison, under which matchpoints are awarded to each player as follows, and are used to construct a matchpoint table, analogous to the American Block results table.
      1. For each pair of players in the block the following comparison is performed:
         1. subject to (B) below, in comparing the available results of two players, only the results of the game played between them, and of their games against other players whom they both have played, shall be considered.
         2. if the results considered give both players equal numbers of wins, they are each awarded one matchpoint; otherwise, the player with the greater number of wins is awarded two matchpoints and the other player none.
      2. If (other than for reasons beyond his control) a player has failed to start one or more games, he shall be deemed to have played and lost them by the maximum margin, and all his matchpoints (but not those of his adversaries) shall be recalculated on that basis.
      3. A composite table is then constructed, in which each player is considered to have won the number of games they actually won, plus half the number of matchpoints awarded for the incomplete results. Players are placed in descending order of games won in this composite table, followed by descending order of the number of matchpoints awarded.
      4. Where two or more players are tied on an equal number of wins in this composite table, and the tie must be resolved (e.g. for the purpose of awarding prize(s), a play-off between players in different blocks, or qualification for another event), then the players in the tie are placed relative to each other in descending order of the number of games they have won (included those awarded, with drawn games counting as half a win) in this composite block in the games played between them. If necessary, this procedure may be repeated.
      5. If there is still a tie that needs to be resolved, Regulation M2(c)(6) should be applied.
      6. Appendix 3 provides a worked example of the application of matchpoints, for further clarification.
   5. For doubles, team or best-of-N formats, in (1)-(4) above "player" should be read to mean "side or team", and "game" should be read to mean "match", as appropriate.
6. INCOMPLETE MULTIPLE-SERIES BLOCKS (ASSOCIATION CROQUET).
   1. The games played in a block are divided into series, such that the first game scheduled to be started between any two players belongs to the first series, the second game between the same two players to the second series and so on.
   2. Any series for which results are available for fewer than half of the games scheduled in it shall be treated as having been abandoned and the results in it shall be ignored for the purpose of deciding the final placings.
   3. Having applied (2) above, any player whose final placing under (b) above, had all the other series been completed, could be predicted to be the same whatever the outcome of the uncompleted games shall be given that placing.
   4. Having applied (2) and (3) above, any player for whom results are available for fewer than half of the largest number of games completed by any player in a series, or who has failed to win a game in a series, shall be treated as having withdrawn from that series and the results of any games played in it by him shall be ignored for the purpose of deciding the remaining placings.
   5. Having applied (2), (3) and (4) above, if all the non-abandoned series are complete with respect to the players deemed to have competed in them, then (b) above is applied to determine the remaining placings not established under (3), as though the block had contained only those players and series.
   6. Otherwise, the procedure defined in (e)(4) above is applied, except that the following clause applies instead of (e)(4)(A).
      1. For each pair of players in each of the series the following comparison is performed:
         1. Subject to (B) below, in comparing the available results of two players, only the results of the game played between them, and of their games against other players whom they both have played in that series, shall be considered.
         2. If the results considered give both players equal numbers of wins, they are each awarded one matchpoint; otherwise, the player with the greater number of wins is awarded two matchpoints and the other player none.
   7. For doubles, team or best-of-N formats, in (1)-(6) above "player" should be read to mean "side or team", and "game" should be read to mean "match" as appropriate.
7. INCOMPLETE BLOCKS (GOLF CROQUET) If for any reason a block is not completed, the final placing will be left to the Tournament Manager's discretion; however the following should be considered:
   1. Any player for whom results are available for fewer than half of the largest number of games completed by any player in the block, or who has failed to win a game, shall be treated as having withdrawn from the block and the results of any games he has played in it shall be ignored for the purpose of deciding the remaining placings.
   2. A player who has won not more than 25% of the games he has played may be deemed to have lost the remainder of his unplayed games.
   3. If a player who is reasonably placed fails to complete a game in his block for a reason totally outside his control, e.g. weather, the Tournament Manager may award the game to the player whom he feels, on the basis of other games played, would most probably have won.
   4. For doubles, team or best-of-N formats, in (1)-(3) above "player" should be read to mean "side or team", and "game" should be read to mean "match" as appropriate.

F3 Swiss Events

1. CONCEPT. A format in which every player plays in every round, with players paired, as far as possible, against adversaries on the same score. No player should meet a player more than once. The number of rounds should normally be at least two greater than the number of rounds required in a single-life knockout event for the same entry.
2. DETERMINATION OF PAIRINGS. The following rules are applied in the order in which they appear below.
   1. Positions in the draw for the first round are determined by lot.
   2. No player may play the same adversary more than once except in the final round as a tie-break under Regulation M2(c)(6).
   3. After each round all players are grouped in order of their cumulative scores. The players within each group are then ordered as in the previous round.
   4. Pairings for the next round are generated by pairing players as follows:
      1. The top two players.
      2. The bottom two players.
      3. The top two unpaired players.
      4. The bottom two unpaired players; and so on until all players are paired.
   5. A player who cannot be paired under (4) above is paired instead with the unpaired player whose record is closest to his own. If the draw becomes blocked, so that no such pairing is possible, then it will be necessary to 'rewind' some of the pairings made in order that another pairing can be made to resolve the blockage.
3. BYES AND DEFAULTS.
   1. If the number of players is odd, or becomes odd by a player withdrawing, then, for pairing purposes, an imaginary player named Bye is introduced whose score is permanently zero. If a real player is paired with Bye in any round, he is deemed to win by the maximum margin. Bye is withdrawn if the number of real players later becomes even.
   2. If a player defaults in any round, his adversary is deemed to win by the maximum margin.
   3. No player may be paired with Bye more than once.
4. DETERMINATION OF THE WINNER.
   1. The winner is the player who has won the most games.
   2. If there is a tie between two players who have played each other, the winner is the winner of the game between them.
   3. If there is a tie between more than two players, all of whom have played each other, the winner is the player who has won the most games in the games between the players in the tie. (See Appendix 4 for a worked example.)
   4. If there is a tie between more than two players, one of whom has played and defeated all of the other players in the tie, the winner is that player.
   5. If there is still a tie, Regulation M2(c)(6) may be applied.

F4 Progressive Swiss Events

1. CONCEPT. A Progressive Swiss is a Swiss played as a consolation event for a single-life knockout competition, which players enter as they are eliminated from the main event.
2. DETERMINATION OF PAIRINGS. After each round, the players eliminated from the corresponding round of the main event are included, credited with their record in the main event. They are inserted in draw order, above any players in the consolation event with the same number of wins. Pairings are then determined as in a Swiss.

F5 Flexible Swiss Events

1. CONCEPT. A Flexible Swiss is similar to a Swiss in that players are paired against those with similar records, with the exception that players need not play the same number of games. A player may, with the Tournament Manager's agreement, choose to declare himself unavailable for the time being.
2. SUITABILITY. A Flexible Swiss format may be used for consolation, qualifying or other events where determining a single winner is not of prime importance.
3. DETERMINATION OF PAIRINGS. When the Tournament Manager decides that games are to be started, the available players who have been waiting longest, up to the number required to fill the available courts, are ranked according to the percentage of games they have won in the event (including any main event for which this is a consolation) so far. They are then paired as in Regulations F3(b)(4) and F3(b)(5).
4. DETERMINATION OF THE WINNER. The winner, or qualifiers, shall be those with the greatest percentage of games won, subject to any minimum number of games declared by the Tournament Manager. In the event of a tie between two or more players who have all played each other, the winner is the player who has won the most games in the games between them. If this does not resolve the tie, Regulation M2(c)(6) may be applied or the title shared.

F6 Egyptian Events

An Egyptian event is played as a Flexible Swiss except that players are assigned a rating which is adjusted in accordance with a published procedure depending on the result of each game. Players may be paired arbitrarily when games are to be started and the winner is whoever has the greatest increase in rating rather than percentage of games won.

F7 Class Events

1. DRAW. When there are events played in classes according to handicap, players must be drawn in such classes as their official handicaps entitle them to enter, subject to Regulation M2(c)(5).
2. SUBSEQUENT CHANGE. If a player is correctly drawn in a class but becomes ineligible before he begins to play in that class, he may at the Tournament Manager's discretion be removed from that class and treated as an entry accidentally included therein and accidentally omitted from the class to which he now belongs (see Regulations F1(c)(5-6) for knockout events).

F8 Incomplete or Unfinished Games

The following general principles should be applied to all tournaments, irrespective of format.

1. If one of the players withdraws or is scratched from a game that has started, the other player is deemed to have won it by scoring the points he had yet to make. Handicap index points and ranking results should be calculated as if the game was completed on this basis.
2. Games otherwise unfinished, or which were scheduled but not started for any reason, should not be counted for handicapping or ranking purposes.
3. No player should gain an advantage from failing or being unable to start or complete any of his games.
4. No player should be placed at a disadvantage by being unable to start or complete any of his games for reasons beyond his control.

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H. Handicaps

H1 Handicaps

1. PLAYING OFF THE CORRECT HANDICAP. In all events a competitor must play each game at his correct handicap as it was at the start of the event. For competitions that run over several weeks, such as the [AC: Longman or Mary Rose] [GC: Murphy Shield], each round shall count as a separate event for the purposes of this Regulation. A player should seek an official handicap before entering any handicap-limited event.
2. HANDICAPPING PROCEDURES. The Executive Board is empowered to issue procedures for giving new handicaps and altering existing handicaps, which are published from time to time and appear on the CA website; see:
   • Association Croquet Handicapping Guidelines and Procedures;
   • The Golf Croquet Handicapping System.
3. OFFICIAL HANDICAPS. Once assigned an initial handicap, players are responsible for recording their results and calculating any change in their handicap arising from operation of the published procedures. They must ensure that any change is notified to interested parties in accordance with the procedures described in (b) above. Handicaps of Members will be recorded on the CA database and may be published in the CA Directory.
4. HANDICAP RANGE. For Association Croquet, handicaps range from -3 to 5 in half-bisque increments, from 5 to 12 in whole-bisque increments and above 12 in two-bisque increments (i.e. even-numbered handicaps). For Golf Croquet, handicaps range from -6 to 12 in single-stroke increments and above 12 in two-stroke increments (i.e. even-numbered handicaps).
5. HANDICAP LIMITS. There is no general maximum handicap for CA events, although certain events may have a minimum or maximum handicap stipulated. Players outside any specified handicap range may not be asked to, nor agree to, play off an incorrect handicap in order to gain entry into an event (but see (f) below).
6. ELIGIBILITY FOR EVENTS. Limits on the handicaps of players or teams eligible to take part may be set for some events. Where this is the case, a player or team whose handicap falls outside the set limits will still be eligible to play provided that it was within the set limits at or after the allocation date for entries or, if no allocation date is published, one week prior to the start date of the event. For competitions played over several weeks, such as the [AC: Longman or Mary Rose] [GC: Murphy Shield], each round is considered to be a separate event, and the allocation date to be one week prior to the round being played.

H2 The Tournament Handicapper

1. APPOINTMENT. Where a CA Handicapper is available to act, he shall be appointed as Tournament Handicapper. Where a CA Handicapper is not available but a Club Handicapper is, he shall be appointed as Tournament Handicapper. Where neither a CA Handicapper nor a Club Handicapper is available, the Tournament Manager or another suitable person shall be appointed by the Organising Body.
2. POWERS AND DUTIES. The powers and duties of a Tournament Handicapper are as follows.
   1. CONFIRMING. To ensure that players' handicaps are checked as soon as possible at the start of a handicap event, and by the end of the first day at the latest.
   2. ADVISING. To advise players about the correct operation of the handicapping system.
   3. ALTERING. To alter official handicaps before or after an event, when necessary, according to [AC: published procedures] [GC: published procedures].
   4. ENFORCING. To act as necessary under Regulation P5(b), and report any action taken to the Honorary Secretary of the CA (see Regulation P2(c))
3. APPEALS. An Appeals Committee established under Regulation O(c) may overturn the decision of a Tournament Handicapper only if it is chaired by a CA Handicapper.

H3 Short Croquet

• The reporting requirements in this section do not apply to Short Croquet, for which there are separate handicapping regulations.

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L. Approved Laws/Rules Variations

The following [AC: Laws] [GC: Rules] variations are approved by the CA Council under Clause 27(b) of the CA Constitution.

L1 Ball Jammed in Hoop

1. [AC: The replacement for Law 35(b) offered by Law 53(b)(2), as interpreted by the Official Ruling released in July 2015, shall apply:
   • If a player suspects that the outcome of a stroke he has just played was materially affected by a ball being in contact with both uprights of a hoop simultaneously, he is entitled to have the equipment checked and, if necessary, adjusted or replaced. The time taken to do this is restored.
   • If it is found that the ball does touch both uprights of that hoop on some axis and he had attempted to get the ball through the hoop, he may elect to replay the stroke, attempting to do so again, unless his turn has ended for another reason. If he does not attempt to do so, or elects not to replay the stroke, the outcome of the original stroke stands, with any ball jammed in a hoop above ground being placed on the ground in the centre of the hoop.]
2. [GC: Reference should be made to Rule 9.5.]

L2 Impasse (Association Croquet)

• DECLARATION OF AN IMPASSE
  1. An impasse exists if the tactical situation is not evolving and neither side appears to be willing to attempt to score a point or otherwise to make a tactically significant move.
  2. The striker may request a Referee to declare that an impasse exists, or a Referee in charge may do so.
  3. Any subsequent impasse within a single game shall be treated as a separate event.
• PROCEDURE FOLLOWING DECLARATION OF AN IMPASSE
  Once the Referee has declared an impasse, play will continue normally for ten further turns. If the tactical situation has changed during this period, the impasse will be declared to be at an end and play will continue normally. Otherwise, all balls are removed from the court to be played from baulk back into the game, which will proceed as follows:
  1. Two balls in play both for the peg:
     1. A tiebreak shall be played in which the last four hoops and the peg are contested.
     2. Both clips are removed and placed on the 3 back Hoop.
     3. A coin toss will decide which side may choose to play first or second.
     4. Play shall proceed normally except that no roquet will be allowed until the first stroke of the earlier of:
        • the eleventh turn after the restart; or
        • the turn after a turn in which the striker's ball scores a hoop point for itself.
        If, during the prohibition on roquets, the striker's ball hits, or starts a turn in contact with, the adversary's ball, the stroke will be treated as though the adversary's ball was dead.
     5. The tiebreak is a new game for the purposes of Advanced Play.
     6. The winning score will be recorded as 26-25.
  2. Two balls in play, which are not both for the peg:
     1. Clips remain in their current positions.
     2. A coin toss will decide which side may choose to play first or second.
     3. The restriction on roquets in clause A(4) above will apply.
  3. Three balls in play:
     1. Clips remain in their current positions.
     2. The player with two balls remaining in play, plays first.
     3. The game shall proceed normally.
  4. Four balls in play:
     1. Clips remain in their current positions.
     2. A coin toss will decide which side may choose to play first or second.
     3. The game shall proceed normally.

L3 Super-Advanced Variation to Laws (Association Croquet)

Unless specified otherwise in the conditions for any tournament, this variation applies if both players (or sides for doubles) agree to its use.

Law 36 is modified by inserting clauses (f) and (g):

6. LIFT, CONTACT OR FREE PLACEMENT:
   1. A lift as specified in Law 36(a) is also available if the striker's ball of the preceding turn scored hoop 4 for itself in that turn.
   2. A lift or contact as specified in Law 36(b) is also available if the striker's ball of the preceding turn scored both hoops 4 and 1-back for itself in that turn and its partner ball had not scored hoop 4 before that turn.
   3. If the striker's ball of the preceding turn scored hoops 4 and 4-back for itself in that turn and its partner ball had not scored hoop 4 before that turn, the striker may start his turn:
      1. as in Laws 36(a)(1), 36(a)(2) or 36(b)(2); or
      2. subject to (4), by lifting either ball of his side that can lawfully be played, even if it is in contact with one or more balls, and playing it from any unoccupied position on the court (including a position within the yard-line area). This is known as a free placement.
   4. Neither player is entitled to a free placement if any ball has been pegged out in the game.
   5. Law 36(e) and other Laws applicable to Law 36 (e.g. Laws 6(c)(2)(A), 8(b), 9(b)(1), 14(d)(4)(B), 27(g) and Appendices 5 and 6, but not Laws 27(f) or 45) also apply to this variation, with the addition of a free placement as one of the striker's options when available.
7. RESTRICTED OPENING.
   If, in the first stroke of the game, the striker's ball does not:
   1. leave the court; or
   2. hit or pass through a hoop; or
   3. hit the peg
   then the adversary may, before the first stroke of the second turn, elect either:
   1. to leave the ball where it lies; or
   2. to have the ball placed on any point on either baulk-line as its owner chooses.

L4 Alternate Stroke Doubles Play Variation (Association Croquet)

Unless specified otherwise in the conditions for any tournament or before the start of play, this variation applies if all four players agree to its use. The Laws of doubles play apply subject to the following modifications.

1. NON-APPLICATION OF VARIOUS LAWS. The second sentence of Law 40(a) does not apply.
2. ALTERNATE STROKE PLAY. Subject to (c) and (d) below, the players of each side play alternate strokes in every turn throughout the game. The partner of the player who played the last stroke of a turn must play the first stroke of his side's next turn.
3. ERRORS
   1. PLAYING OUT OF SEQUENCE
      1. A stroke played out of the sequence defined in (b) above is an error in play.
      2. If a player observes that a player is about to play out of sequence, he must forestall play immediately.
      3. If a player plays out of sequence and the error is discovered before the offending side has played two further strokes, the error is rectified and the player who should have played the first stroke in error then plays.
      4. If the error is discovered after the limit of claims, play is deemed to have proceeded as if the player had not played out of sequence and play continues according to the sequence thereby established.
   2. OTHER ERRORS. If rectification of any other error requires a stroke to be replayed, the same player replays it. Otherwise, the partner of the player who played the first stroke in error starts that side's next turn.
4. INTERFERENCES
   1. If play is deemed not to have occurred following discovery of an interference under Laws 30 to 32, the player who played the first affected stroke plays the next stroke to be played by his side.
   2. If a stroke is to be replayed following discovery of an interference under Laws 33 to 35, the player who played the first stroke in error plays the replayed stroke.
5. HANDICAP PLAY. In the case of Handicap Alternate Stroke Doubles Play, Law 43 also applies, subject to:
   1. Laws 37(f) and 43(b) are replaced by: If a player plays a wrong ball in the first stroke of a non-bisque turn and the error is rectified, his partner may then play a half-bisque or bisque with either ball of his side that could lawfully have been played in the first stroke of the turn.
   2. Law 43(c) does not apply.
   3. For Full Bisque Handicap Alternate Stroke Doubles Play, Law 3(a) of Appendix 3 applies, but not Law 3(b).

L5 State of the Game

For the benefit in particular of players with a Colour Vision Deficiency, the information on the state of the game [AC: Law 47] [GC: Rule 14.1] which a player, if asked, must tell the adversary includes information about any of the balls and clips in their game, and the colour and position of clips and balls in any other game on the court.

L6 Trial GC Sequence Umpire

See R1(a)(3).

L7 One-Ball - Handicap Play (Association Croquet)

A revised One-Ball Handicap system has been adopted by the CA. Paragraph 4 of Appendix 6 of the Laws is replaced with:

4. Handicap Play.
   1. A player's One-Ball Handicap shall be the lowest of:
      • his AC handicap (but the table in the existing Appendix is used to adjust AC handicaps below 2)
      • 2.5x his GC handicap (for positive handicap players) or his GC handicap (for handicap zero or better)
      • 20
   2. The number of bisques to be given is one third of the difference between the handicaps of the players, rounded to the nearest half or full bisque.

This page provides further guidance, and also a downloadable poster which may be useful to clubs or Tournament Managers.

L8 Trial Use of Video to Support Refereeing

Video recording equipment is becoming more common at croquet tournaments, and may offer potential for more accurate refereeing, particularly if a Referee was not present during the stroke in question or when details of the error are unclear. The CA Tournament, AC Laws and GC Rules committees have agreed to experiment with the use of such technology and consequently have approved this trial. Tournament Referees not wishing to participate in this trial should make this clear in a notice to players prior to the start of play.

R2c is amended by addition of:

4. At his discretion, a Referee may make use of any photographic or video evidence that may exist to assist in his decision about an incident that has already occurred. This should not be considered an acceptable alternative to having an active referee on request to adjudicate a stroke.

Feedback is requested on any situation in which video evidence was used, whether or not it resulted in a different decision from that which may otherwise have been made. This will allow further evaluation about the types of incident in which after-the-event video evidence is useful or decisive.

L9 Short Croquet Court Sizes (Association Croquet)

In order to regularise the use of half-size courts for Short Croquet, Appendix 7 Paragraph 1 of the Laws is replaced with:

The standard court is either:

• a rectangle measuring 24 by 16 yards. The four outer hoops are 4 yards from the adjacent boundaries and the two inner hoops are 6 yards north and south of the peg; or
• a rectangle measuring 28 by 17.5 yards (which is exactly half a full-size court). The four outer hoops are 4 yards from the E/W boundaries and 5 yards from the N/S boundaries and the two inner hoops are 6 yards north and south of the peg.

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M. The Tournament Manager

M1 Duties of the Tournament Manager

The duties of the Manager of a tournament are as follows.

1. ENTRIES. To advise the Organising Body of the maximum number of entries that can be accommodated.
2. DRAW. To superintend or make the draw or to nominate another to do so on his behalf.
3. HOURS OF PLAY. To decide when play shall start and finish each day of the tournament. Play may only continue after civil dusk under artificial light if this has been advertised in advance of the event.
4. WARM UP. To decide when players may warm up on the courts, and to inform them if they are not permitted to practise, in accordance with Regulation P4(e).
5. ORDER OF PLAY. To decide the order in which events and games are played.
6. COURTS. To allot courts to competitors and to declare any court to be unfit for play. Decisions about whether a court is fit for play should take into account the views of the host club, particularly if there is a concern about damage to the courts. If a court is declared unfit for play, the Manager may suspend play until conditions improve and/or move a game, even if it is in progress, to another court.
7. BALLS. When double-banking is used, to allocate 1st colour balls whenever possible to competitors who have registered a Colour Vision Deficiency.
8. INFORMATION. To keep players and spectators informed of any alterations to the programme and of the progress of the tournament. If so agreed with the Organising Body, to submit results and other information for wider publication and to assist anyone reporting or sponsoring the tournament.
9. TROPHIES. To support arrangements for the presentation of any trophies (see Regulation O(d)(3)).
10. CONSULTATION. To discuss with the Organising Body prior to the event, and agree any alterations to, the published tournament programme.
11. EMERGENCIES. To take such other actions as may be appropriate in an emergency to protect the well-being and interests of players, spectators, the Organising Body and any host club.

M2 Powers of the Tournament Manager

The powers of the Manager are as follows. These should be exercised by the Manager as required in the overall interests of the event, but must be used in a manner which is both consistent and equitable.

1. ADJOURNMENT. To adjourn an unfinished game, provided that no ball is in a critical position [AC: (see Law 6(d))], and to record the state of the game or to nominate another to do so on his behalf.
2. LEAVE. To grant or refuse leave of absence to players (see Regulation P4(c)). Players who are absent when they have been refused leave by the manager may be scratched from those games for which they are not available.
3. PROGRAMME. To alter the tournament programme in any of the following ways:
   1. Impose, alter or remove time limits under Regulation T1 or T4(a).
   2. Shorten AC games in accordance with Laws 44, 45 and 46.
   3. Play the final rounds of an event in which the games have been shortened as a full game.
   4. Play a single-life event as two-life, best of three, American or Swiss, or play later rounds of an event advertised as best of three as best of some larger odd number.
   5. Alter handicap limits in class events and make consequential adjustments to entries.
   6. Impose tie-breaks. If the procedure to be used is not as defined in Regulation F, the procedure to be used should be advertised before the event starts. If nothing is so advertised, then Regulation F should apply. If Regulation F does not result in a solution, the Manager should use his discretion. The recommended solution is for a shortened tie-break game (under the same Laws as the rest of the event) consisting of as many hoops as the Manager considers there is time for with such time limit as the Manager thinks expedient. Net hoops (first across all games and then in the games between tied players) may be used for a level play event. If there is no time for, or if conditions prevent, further play and sharing a trophy (or position) is considered unacceptable, lots may be drawn.
   7. Introduce a two-life variation under Regulation F1(e).
   8. Introduce double-banking.
   9. Specify the width of the hoops within the range advertised for the event, in the light of the conditions and standard of play.
4. LATENESS. If a player is late, absent or otherwise unavailable for play (other than in accordance with Regulation P4), and it is thought or known that the player will not be available following a short delay, to impose sanction as follows.
   1. If it is both possible (within the constraints of Regulation F) and practicable, without significantly delaying other games or unduly disrupting the schedule, start a different game.
   2. Allow one player of a doubles pair to start a game in the absence of his partner, [AC: declaring the other ball] [GC: leaving the other ball as an outside agency], without incurring any other penalty. The missing partner may join the game later, but may not play a turn until after the adversaries have:
      • [AC] started at least one turn knowing that he has joined the game.
      • [GC] played at least one turn knowing that he has joined the game.
   3. Start the game late as soon as both players are present.
      • [AC] Except in Championship events, the subsequent game may be adjusted as necessary, including by one or more of the following methods.
        1. If the late player is receiving bisques, the number of bisques may be reduced by the proportion of time for which the player was unavailable (rounding down to the nearest half-bisque). If the late player is giving bisques, no adjustment should be made.
        2. The time limit for the game may be reduced by the length of time by which the player was late. If the game is not completed by a player pegging out, the player who was available at the start shall be deemed to have won by 26 points to the number of points scored by the player who was late.
      • [GC] The subsequent game may be adjusted at the Manager's discretion, after taking into account all the circumstances.
   4. If none of these is possible (or practicable because of the degree of lateness), to declare the late player to have lost the game (or match). Normally a player would have to be at least an hour late for this to apply for a first offence. The adversary of the late player is credited with a win only if it is necessary for the progress of the event (for example in the case of a knockout (F1) or strict Swiss (F3) event); in block events (F2) where the game cannot be rescheduled, the block should be treated as incomplete [AC: noting Regulation F2(e)(4)(B)]; in more flexible formats (such as a Flexible Swiss (F5) or Egyptian (F6) event), the Manager should arrange another game for the missing player's adversary. Note also Regulation F8.
   5. General Principles.
      1. Lateness applies to all matches, not just at the start of the day.
      2. Doubles pairs should be considered as a single unit for the purposes of lateness.
      3. Repeat lateness in the same event should be dealt with more severely than the first offence.
      4. In extreme cases, disqualification of the offending player can be appropriate.
5. WITHDRAWALS. In the event of a late withdrawal (see Regulation P3(h)) or disqualification (see (g) below), to make amendments as follows.
   1. If the event has not yet started and it is practicable to do so, adjust or re-do the draw.
   2. If the event has started, or it is not practicable to adjust the draw, then:
      1. In a Knockout event (Regulation F1), treat the withdrawn player as having lost the match with the adversary progressing to the next round. In no circumstance can a beaten player be reinstated following a withdrawal.
      2. In a Block event (Regulation F2), apply Regulation F2(d).
      3. In other events, when possible and practicable without significantly delaying other games or unduly disrupting the schedule, remove the withdrawn player and allocate another game. If this is not possible (or a withdrawal occurs during a game), the withdrawn player should be considered to have lost the game; this Regulation should be reconsidered for the following round.
6. LATE ENTRIES. In the event of a late entry (see C3(c)), to apply one of the following:
   1. In a Knockout event (Regulation F1), apply Regulation F1(c)(5).
   2. In a Block event (Regulation F2), adjust or re-do the draw.
   3. In other events, adjust or re-do the draw.
7. SANCTIONS. To impose such sanction as he sees fit on any player who is found to be in breach of any of these Regulations, including, in the last resort, disqualification. Action taken under this Regulation must be reported to the CA in accordance with Regulation P2(c).

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O. Officials

1. APPOINTMENT.
   1. Every tournament must have a Tournament Manager, Tournament Handicapper and Tournament Referee appointed by the Organising Body. The appointment of the Tournament Handicapper must be made in accordance with Regulation H2(a).
   2. The Organising Body may appoint a Tournament Director to act on its behalf. If it does not do so, then the powers and duties of the Tournament Director as set out in this Regulation remain with the Organising Body.
   3. A person may be appointed to more than one of these posts.
2. POWERS AND DUTIES. These officials are together responsible, each so far as his powers and duties are herein defined, for the interpretation and enforcement of the Laws and Regulations and the administration of the tournament.
   1. DIRECTOR. Specific powers and duties of the Tournament Director are set out paragraph (d) below.
   2. MANAGER. Specific powers and duties of the Tournament Manager are set out in Regulation M.
   3. HANDICAPPER. Specific powers and duties of the Tournament Handicapper are set out in Regulation H2(b).
   4. REFEREE. Specific powers and duties of the Tournament Referee are set out in Regulation R.
3. APPEALS COMMITTEE.
   1. The Organising Body may also appoint an Appeals Committee to hear appeals against decisions of the Manager or (in accordance with Regulation H2(c)) the Tournament Handicapper, or allegations that the Tournament Referee is acting improperly.
   2. Where possible, an Appeals Committee should comprise at least three suitable individuals, including one member of the Organising Body, to determine finally any appeal or complaint from a Player, provided that the Player has first attempted to resolve the matter with the relevant Tournament Official.
   3. The Appeals Committee will not hear appeals against decisions on matters of the Laws/Rules made by Referees. In these matters a decision made by the Tournament Referee will be final.
4. DIRECTOR. The powers and duties of the Tournament Director are as follows:
   1. PLANNING THE EVENT
      1. Prepare the Calendar Fixture entry, in accordance with Regulation C1(b) and C2, acting under any specific guidance issued by the Organising Body.
      2. Establish contact with the assigned host club for the event or final no later than 1 April for the season under consideration, and discuss practical arrangements including the number of courts required and mowing regime expected.
      3. Ensure that all necessary Tournament Officials are appointed (see paragraph (a) above).
      4. Liaise with the Tournament Manager about the format and plans for the events, and under Regulations M1(h-k) in particular.
      5. Work with the CA Office and Trophy Holders to ensure the return of trophies to the Office no later than 2 months before the next event, and help resolve difficulties as necessary, which may include (as a last resort) the CA's courier service.
   2. BEFORE THE EVENT
      1. Oversee the acceptance of entries to the event (see Regulation C3). This includes monitoring entries to the event or final, considering any appropriate action to encourage additional entries.
      2. Liaise with the host club if any entries require special arrangements made in accordance with the CA's Safeguarding or Equality policies. This could include adjustments for players with disabilities, colour vision deficiency (CVD), or vulnerable groups.
      3. Liaise (at least one month prior to the event or final) with the CA Office to confirm delivery arrangements for the trophy or trophies to the event or final.
      4. Liaise with the assigned host club for the event or final to confirm all arrangements are on course.
   3. DURING THE EVENT
      1. Carry out, or appoint someone to carry out, activities including:
         1. Submitting articles to the CA Gazette to inform the croquet community of changes to or issues with the event, or to sustain interest in and understanding of the event.
         2. Presenting trophies to event winners.
         3. Submitting a report to the CA website as soon as possible after the completion of the event.
         4. In cooperation with other Tournament Officials, any 'live' reporting such as to CroquetScores.com.
      2. Monitor the conduct of the event and seek resolution of any issues as necessary. Matters arising during an event should be deferred to the relevant other Tournament Official (see paragraph (a) above) in the first instance, but the Tournament Director may (if present or otherwise available) act in the event of dispute.
   4. AFTER THE EVENT
      1. Ensure that the requirements of Regulation C1(c) (returns from tournaments) are met.
      2. For CA trophies, inform the CA Office of the name of trophy holders, and where the trophy will be located if retained by the trophy holder. If a trophy (or part of a trophy) is not retained, to inform the CA Office of the interim location and arrange to return it to the CA Office.
      3. Ensure that the CA is informed of any issues that may necessitate changes to the CA Tournament Regulations or any other aspect of CA policy.
      4. If requested, provide a review of the event to the Organising Body highlighting any issues or changes that will allow the event to develop.
      5. Report, in accordance with Regulation P2(c), to the Honorary Secretary of the CA any breach or suspected breach by a player of any Tournament Regulations or any CA Policy. Any action taken by the Tournament Manager under Regulation M2(g), a Referee under AC Law 55(b)(1) or GC Rule 16, or the Tournament Handicapper under Regulation H2(b)(4) shall also be reported.

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P. Players

P1 Eligibility to Compete in Calendar Fixtures

1. MEMBERSHIP OF THE CROQUET ASSOCIATION.
   1. Subject to (2) and (3) below, only Members of the CA and members of any overseas Associations for which reciprocal arrangements apply (see WCF Statute 164), may compete in Calendar Fixtures.
   2. The CA Council may remove or relax this restriction for certain Calendar Fixtures ("exempt fixtures"). The following are currently exempt:
      • The AC and GC Open Championships
      • The AC and GC All-England Handicap Championship
      • The AC and GC Student's Championships
      • The National Schools' and Juniors' AC Championships
      • The GC Grass Roots Golf Croquet Tournament
   3. For CA inter-club team competitions, teams must represent Full Member Clubs of the CA, and players must be Individual Members of the CA and playing members of the clubs they are representing.
2. PROFESSIONALS.
   1. A professional croquet player may not compete in a Calendar Fixture if notice has been given in the tournament programme, in accordance with Regulation C2(a)(2), that professionals are excluded therefrom.
   2. A professional croquet player is defined as a player who has received and retained total prize money (including appearance money, but excluding expenses) exceeding the aggregate prize limit in the twelve months preceding the relevant Calendar Fixture.
   3. The aggregate prize limit will be determined from time to time by the CA Council. It is currently £5,000.
3. ASSUMED NAMES. A Member may compete in a tournament under an assumed name if he has registered it with the CA Office and paid a fee of such amount as is determined from time to time by the Executive Board. The fee is currently £5.

P2 Conduct

1. DOPING.
   1. Doping is forbidden, in order to protect the rights and health of players and to protect the values of fair play in sport.
   2. The substances and procedures prohibited are those included in the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) Prohibited List, excluding caffeine and alcohol.
   3. An offence under this Regulation is committed when:
      1. a player is found to have or admits to having used a prohibited substance or procedure; or
      2. a player is found to have or admits to having assisted, induced or caused another player to use a prohibited substance or procedure
      unless the substance or procedure was prescribed for medical reasons.
   4. A player found to have committed an offence under (3) above, or comparable regulations of other Associations recognised by the CA Council for this purpose, shall be disqualified from any events in which he was competing at the time of, or subsequent to, the offence and shall remain ineligible to compete in Calendar Fixtures for such period as shall be determined by Executive Board.
2. GAMBLING.
   1. A player may neither accept bets on himself nor place bets on his immediate adversary.
   2. A player or Tournament Official may neither bet, nor take bets, of a significant amount on an event whose outcome he could influence.
   3. A player or a Member of the CA, whether or not he is competing in an event, may not offer any inducement to another player or Tournament Official to influence that event, nor may such an inducement be accepted.
3. MISCONDUCT. A player who contravenes these Tournament Regulations or any CA Policy is liable to disciplinary action by the CA, which may include disqualification or a period of ineligibility to play in future Calendar Fixtures, in addition to any sanction imposed during the event. Any action taken by the Tournament Manager under Regulation M2(g), a Referee under AC Law 55(b)(1) or GC Rule 16, or the Tournament Handicapper under Regulation H2(b)(4) shall be reported to the Honorary Secretary of the CA for this purpose.

P3 Entries

1. PROCEDURE. For clubs enrolled with the CA's online tournament entry system, the preferred method of entry is via the CA Website. For other tournaments, or if the player prefers not to use the website, entries for each individual tournament must (unless otherwise stated within the Calendar entry) be made to the advertised Tournament Secretary on a separate copy of the official CA form, giving all the information requested thereon. Copies of the form can be downloaded from the CA website. Any subsequent changes to the information supplied must be notified to the Tournament Secretary before the closing date, if possible, or to the Tournament Manager thereafter.
2. TIMING. For the best chance of acceptance, entries should be sent so as to arrive before the allocation date (see Regulations C2(a)(9) and C3(a)): all the places may be allocated on that date if sufficient entries have been received. Between then and the closing date, entries will be accepted or placed on a waiting list in order of receipt. Thereafter, entries will be accepted only at the discretion of the Tournament Manager, who should be approached direct, and may be subject to a surcharge of 50% of the entry fee. The surcharge will generally be applied to CA events.
3. DOUBLES. Entries for doubles events should include the name of the partner, failing which the Tournament Manager will allocate one if available.
4. PAYMENT. Unless otherwise stated, entries should be accompanied by the advertised entry fee, either in the form of a cheque payable to the host club for paper entries, or through the on-line payment system for on-line entries. The entry fee includes the CA Levy and any appropriate gratuities. An entry may be refused if the fee has not been paid prior to the advertised date of the draw; however, if the entry is accepted the player becomes liable to pay the total fee, and may be disqualified for non-payment.
5. CONFIRMATION. On-line entries through the CA website will receive immediate confirmation of receipt; for paper entries, a stamped, addressed envelope should be sent if confirmation of receipt is required. Most clubs will confirm acceptance by email but, if the player prefers, a second s.a.e. can be provided for such confirmation.
6. REFUSAL. Entries to events that are oversubscribed will be dealt with under Regulation C3. Tournament organisers reserve the right to refuse an entry on other grounds, but are required under Regulation C3(e) to give their reason(s) to the entrant on request.
7. WITHDRAWAL. If an entrant withdraws before the closing date, the entry fee will be refunded, less an administrative charge not exceeding £5 for each refund. An entrant who withdraws after the closing date is not entitled to a refund, and none will be made for CA events.
8. LATE WITHDRAWAL. Only in the case of illness, injury or personal emergency may a player withdraw after the advertised date of the draw, or default during an event: in a knockout event, any withdrawal must be made by informing the Tournament Manager and any scheduled adversary (scratching if the match in progress) as soon as the player becomes aware of his inability to start or complete the event; in other events, he should inform the Manager as soon as possible and seek direction. Contravention of this Regulation shall render the player liable to disciplinary action and shall be reported by the Organising Body to the Honorary Secretary of the CA for this purpose. For the avoidance of doubt, withdrawal in a multi-event tournament from a secondary event (such as a plate event) prior to the start of that event shall not be an offence under this Regulation.
9. OVERCOMMITTAL. All entries are accepted on the condition that a player may not continue to compete in more than one event if the Tournament Manager considers that the progress of the tournament is thereby being unduly delayed. However, if a player is scratched from an event for this reason before he has played a game, his entry fee must be refunded.
10. UNDERTAKING. By entering, players agree to abide by these Regulations, CA Policies (including, but not limited to, Safeguarding and Equality) and any advertised variations.
11. DATA PROTECTION. Players should be aware that by entering a tournament or other event, their personal data, including contact details, handicaps, ranking grade, payment information and CVD information, may be used for administering, managing and reporting that event. This includes tournament administration, management, reporting, publicity, handicapping, ranking and selection purposes, and may also include the capture and broadcast of photographs or video. Payment information will not include credit card details, as payments are processed by a separate organisation (SagePay).

P4 Conditions of Play

1. HOURS OF PLAY. Unless otherwise advertised, play will commence at 9.30 am; the Tournament Manager may vary this time at his discretion. Players must be prepared to play until civil dusk, or later if the use of artificial light has been advertised.
2. REPORTING. All players must report to the Tournament Manager on arrival and before leaving each day. Any player who is not present or is otherwise unable to play when called upon to do so is liable to be penalised under Regulation M2(d). Players must report game (or match) results to the Tournament Manager promptly upon completion of the game (or match).
3. LEAVE. Unless otherwise stated, no leave will be granted until the draw is made. Applications for leave on the first day will be considered immediately after the draw; leave at other times should be requested as early as possible. The Tournament Manager may refuse leave in the interests of the tournament.
4. ATTIRE.
   1. In all events, flat-soled footwear, without significant ridges or sharp edges, must be worn on the courts and, unless otherwise permitted, predominantly white clothing should be worn. Recognised international croquet team clothing, of a country that the player is eligible (under WCF Regulations) to represent, is permitted.
   2. In team events, such as the Inter-County Championships and Inter-Club events, teams may, subject to any dress code of the host club, elect to wear other colours of clothing, provided all team members (other than those wearing white) are wearing the same design.
   3. Variations to this policy are to be agreed by both the Organising Body and the Host Club.
5. WARM-UP. Unless otherwise informed by the Tournament Manager, players may warm-up during the ten minutes prior to the advertised start of play on the court allocated for their first match, taking care not to loosen the hoops or the peg. During the warm up period, hoop-running may only be attempted using strokes no harder than would be required to send the ball seven yards unimpeded, so as to not disturb the setting of the hoops. Practice at any other time (for example after the end of a day's play) requires the permission of the Manager and will be subject to the needs of the event. A warm-up period for players with a late start would not normally be withheld.
6. COURT CONDITIONS. All players in a game must bring to the attention of the Tournament Manager any conditions which may result in their allocated court being declared unfit for play under Regulation M1(f).

P5 Handicaps

1. BEFORE PLAY.
   1. Every player is obliged to record on his entry form his current official handicap (see Regulation H1(c)) and, if different, his current club handicap. Any subsequent alteration must be reported to the Tournament Secretary before the draw (or to the Tournament Manager thereafter) if it may affect the block or class into which the player is drawn, or to the Tournament Manager on arrival at the tournament otherwise.
   2. A player who enters an event that is restricted on handicap may play in the event if his handicap is outside the specified range only under the conditions stipulated in Regulation H1(f). If a player is no longer entitled to play because of a handicap change, he must immediately inform the Tournament Secretary (and Tournament Manager if the draw has already been conducted).
   3. A player must bring his handicap card to any handicap or handicap-restricted tournament so that it is available for confirmation by the Tournament Handicapper (see Regulation H2(b)(1)). If a player maintains his handicap card in another format, he must make sufficient information available to allow substantiation of his handicap to the Tournament Handicapper.
2. DURING PLAY.
   1. The calculation of the number of [AC: bisques] [GC: extra strokes] to be given in a game is the joint responsibility of the players, who should personally confirm the handicap(s) of each other rather than rely on published lists. Once the game has started, the number of [AC: bisques] [GC: extra strokes] may not be changed and the result will stand.
   2. If a player
      • plays in a handicap event having claimed a handicap higher than that to which he is entitled, or
      • plays in a class event that his handicap does not entitle him to enter, or
      • is unable to substantiate his handicap
      he may be disqualified.
   3. In Knockout events in which he has not been defeated, a disqualified player's place is taken by his last adversary; in American, Swiss, or Egyptian events his record is deleted from the event.
   4. As an alternative to disqualification, the Tournament Manager may allow the player to continue to play at his incorrect handicap if it is in the interests of the tournament, but the player may not win any prize.
3. AFTER PLAY. Any player whose handicap has changed automatically at the end of a tournament must report that change in accordance with normal procedures. See Regulation H1(b).

P6 Trophies

1. CONDITIONS FOR HOLDING. Unless otherwise stated, winners of trophies may hold them for one year or until next competed for, whichever period is shorter. Winners of CA trophies may hold them only under the conditions set out in Appendix 2.
2. FAILURE TO RETURN. Trophy holders are responsible for returning trophies before the end of the period during which they may hold them under (a) above. Disciplinary action, including a ban on holding trophies, may be taken against a trophy holder who fails to do so and any such cases shall be reported by the Organising Body to the Honorary Secretary of the CA for this purpose.

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R. Referees

[GC: This Regulation shall be read in conjunction with Rule 15 of the Rules of GC on refereeing, and in this section read 'Rule' instead of 'Law'.]

R1 Definitions

1. AUTHORISED REFEREE. A person nominated or permitted under these Regulations to assist players by making decisions on Laws and facts. An authorised referee can be performing one of several roles:
   1. A referee on request, who generally may act only at the invitation of a player. A referee on request is said to be inactive when first authorised. He becomes active when he responds to a request by a player to exercise a power or a duty or, exceptionally, intervenes in a game. He becomes inactive again when he quits the court believing that his duties have been discharged.
   2. A supervising referee, who may act on his own initiative and thus is always active for games he is supervising. A supervising referee who looks after only one game is also called a referee in charge.
   3. [GC: A sequence umpire, who is appointed to watch a particular game with the power of a referee to forestall in circumstances in which a player or referee should forestall under Rule 10.1 to stop play after he observes any wrong ball play under Rule 10.] (This is a temporary variation; see L6.)
2. QUALIFIED REFEREE. A person on an official list of referees, but not necessarily authorised for the tournament.
3. TOURNAMENT REFEREE. The official with responsibility for nominating and allocating authorised referees, and hearing appeals. The Tournament Referee is also an authorised referee.

It is not expected that the role of Supervising Referee will normally be used in the Domain of the CA but will be acceptable under special circumstances as it is commonly used in other parts of the world.

R2 Powers and Duties of an Active Referee

The following powers and duties apply to both supervising referees and referees on request while active, subject to the restrictions in R4 on using certain information.

1. GENERAL POWERS AND DUTIES.
   1. An active referee has power to decide all questions of fact and Law. However, if a referee is asked to rule on a matter for which he is insufficiently qualified, he should seek advice from or refer it to an authorised referee who is able to deal with the matter.
   2. An active referee must try to ensure that the match is played in accordance with the Laws and conditions for the event.
2. STATE OF THE GAME.
   1. An active referee has the power to ask the players for information on the state of the game. He must do so when he requires it to make a decision, but should otherwise avoid questions that might suggest a line of play. The players are obliged to answer to the best of their knowledge.
   2. If an active referee has reason to think that there is any disagreement about the state of the game, he must investigate and settle the matter before play continues. This applies especially to a referee who is put in charge of a game that is already in progress.
   3. A referee must ask about any apparent discrepancy between the position of a clip and the course of play that he notices while he is active. [AC: This is subject to Law 23(b).]
3. RULING ON A PAST INCIDENT THAT IS IN DISPUTE. The following Regulations apply if an authorised referee is asked to rule on an incident that has already occurred.
   1. The referee must tell the players anything he has seen that may affect his decision. He must hear what both sides have to say, and may question them. He has the discretion to hear other witnesses. He will then give a decision to the best of his ability.
   2. The referee may declare a fault only on the basis of his own observations, the evidence of the striker, or, at his discretion, the evidence of well-placed witnesses who have sufficient understanding of the Laws. He may not do so solely on the evidence of the adversary.
   3. As a last resort the referee may give a compromise decision. This may involve arbitrary adjustment of the positions of the clips and balls, the number of [AC: bisques] [GC: extra strokes] outstanding or the amount of time remaining and the order of play or even restarting the game.
   4. At his discretion, a referee may make use of any photographic or video evidence that may exist to assist in his decision about an incident that has already taken occurred. This should not be considered an acceptable alternative to having an active referee on request to adjudicate a stroke. (This paragraph is a temporary variation; see L8.)
4. FORESTALLING. An active referee who observes or suspects that an error or interference is about to occur must forestall subject to the conditions that apply to the adversary ([AC: under Law 23, he must not forestall while Law 23(b) applies] [GC: he must forestall play if he believes that a wrong ball is about to be played but must not forestall play if a player is about to run a hoop out of order]).
5. BEFORE WATCHING A STROKE. If about to watch a questionable stroke, an active referee has the power to:
   1. Ask the player what stroke he intends to play. The player must provide the referee with this information.
   2. Choose the position from where to watch the stroke.
   3. Ask another authorised referee to watch the stroke from a different position and tell him what he observes.
   4. Tell the striker when he may play the stroke. If the striker plays before the referee is ready, the referee may order the stroke to be replayed.
6. REFEREE GIVING INFORMATION TO PLAYERS. A referee may give information to a player subject to the following Regulations:
   1. If asked about the state of the game at any time, an active referee should do what he can to inform a player [AC:, subject to (g) below].
   2. An active referee must state the Law on any matter if asked by a player, and may volunteer it at his discretion.
   3. A referee may explain the reasons for a ruling at his discretion, and must do his best to explain the reasons if a player asks him.
   4. A referee may not otherwise give information or advice to a player. [AC: In particular, a referee must not state whether a ball has been moved or shaken when a wiring lift may ensue unless asked by a player or unless a fault has occurred.]
7. [AC: TESTING FOR A WIRED BALL. Referees are reminded of the following Laws:
   1. A decision whether one ball is wired from another may not be given unless the striker is claiming a wiring lift. The referee must confirm that the claimant has not played a stroke in this turn and that the adversary is responsible for the position of the relevant ball. (Law 13(e)(1))
   2. When judging whether one ball is wired from another, the benefit of any doubt is given to the claimant. (Law 13(e)(2)) ]
8. ADJUSTING COURT SETTINGS. An active referee may arrange for the settings of the court to be adjusted or for special damage to be repaired, where the [AC: Laws] [GC: Rules] permit it. In doing so, he must:
   1. consider the effect on any other game on the court;
   2. [AC: act consistently with Law 2(b)(5) (which forbids some types of adjustments), and Laws 3(a)(3) and 3(b)(3) (which place restrictions on adjusting a hoop or the peg).]
9. ENTERING THE COURT. A referee should go onto the court only when necessary and should be mindful of any double-banked game.

R3 Powers of an Inactive Referee

An inactive referee may intervene in a game on his own initiative only in the following cases:

1. To ensure that play is lawfully continued after an error or interference is claimed or admitted, but only if the players appear unable to deal with the issue themselves and no referee is active. If one is, and the inactive referee has relevant evidence, he may offer himself as a witness.
2. On hearing a player give erroneous information on the Laws to his adversary.
3. [AC: If a ball is pegged out in breach of Law 38.]
4. [GC: if he is personally watching the game and is able to forestall play before a wrong ball is played or stop play immediately after a stroke in which a wrong ball has been played or a hoop has been run out of order.]

R4 Restrictions on Using Information Obtained Earlier

1. The following restrictions apply only to an active referee on request and to a supervising referee who is allocated to a game after it has started. They override the powers and duties specified in R2.
   1. A referee may not use, or draw attention to, knowledge about the state of the game that he acquired while he was inactive.
   2. The same applies to knowledge acquired while he was active on a previous occasion, but only if at least one stroke has been played since he acquired the information.
2. These restrictions do not apply to knowledge relating to an issue:
   1. to which a player has drawn attention; or
   2. for which the referee has intervened under R3; or
   3. which would be apparent to a referee who had not previously seen the game.

R5 The Tournament Referee and his Duties

1. TOURNAMENT REFEREE. The Organising Body responsible for the tournament must arrange for the Tournament Referee to be appointed.
2. APPOINTMENT OF DEPUTY TOURNAMENT REFEREES. The Tournament Referee must appoint a deputy if he becomes unavailable at any time. If play occurs at more than one venue at the same time, he must appoint a deputy for each venue where he is not present or ensure that appeals can be made by telephone. Such a deputy has the powers and duties of the Tournament Referee while the latter is absent.
3. NOMINATION OF REFEREES. The Tournament Referee has the power to nominate authorised referees from an official list of referees. If there are not enough qualified referees available, he has the power to nominate other suitable persons. These powers are subject to any conditions made by the Organising Body responsible for the tournament. (The Tournament Referee may find this template helpful for nominating authorised referees.)
4. ALLOCATION OF REFEREES.
   1. The Organising Body responsible for the tournament has the power to decide whether authorised referees will be supervising or on request.
   2. Subject to any such direction, the Tournament Referee may allocate himself or other authorised referees to supervise or be available to act on request for one or more games or courts.
   3. Irrespective of any such direction, the Tournament Referee has the power to allocate himself or another authorised referee as a referee in charge of a game.
   4. The Tournament Referee must ensure that the players are told of any referees allocated to their game or court and whether they are supervising or on request.
   5. If no referee has been allocated to a game, any authorised referee may act on request for it.
5. CHECKING COURTS AND EQUIPMENT. The Tournament Referee must ensure that the courts and equipment are checked for conformity with the Laws, Regulations and advertised conditions. Hoop settings must be checked at the start of each day and may be checked between games.
   [GC: Because of the harsher treatment of the hoops in GC, the Tournament Referee should check hoop settings or arrange for them to be checked at regular intervals throughout the day dependent on his assessment of the likely changes in them, which will depend on ground conditions and the standard of play.]

R6 Appeals

1. GROUNDS FOR APPEALS. Appeals may be made by a player against a decision of a referee only on:
   1. questions of Law, Regulations or tournament conditions; or
   2. [AC: rulings under Law 55] [GC: rulings under Rule 15.3]; or
   3. compromise decisions under R2(c)(3).
2. POWER TO HEAR AN APPEAL. The Tournament Referee or a deputy Tournament Referee has the sole power to hear and decide appeals, except that if such an official is a party to the appeal, either as a player or referee, someone independent must be appointed to do so.
3. APPEALS ARE FINAL. The decision on an appeal is final for the game.
4. LIMIT OF CLAIMS. A player cannot appeal if he has played a stroke after the ruling was given, or [GC: an opponent has played a stroke] [AC: if the adversary has played two strokes. However, in a singles game, if the adversary is absent and performing official duties, the adversary may appeal before the first stroke of his next turn].
5. REPORTING OF APPEALS. If a situation that is subject to appeal does not seem to be covered by the Laws or Commentary, the Tournament Referee must report the facts and the decision to the appropriate national association for reference to the [AC: WCF AC Laws Committee] or [GC: WCF GC Rules Committee].

R7 Players Performing Functions of Referees

1. PLAYERS WHO ARE QUALIFIED REFEREES. Players who entered the tournament and who are qualified referees may act as referees on request, unless the Tournament Referee or the Organising Body responsible for the tournament directs otherwise.
2. OTHER PLAYERS. Unless the Tournament Referee directs otherwise, all players in the event who have played in more than three previous tournaments may decide the following matters, but only if requested by the striker or his adversary:
   1. Watch a stroke to decide:
      1. where a ball crosses the boundary;
      2. [AC: whether a ball hits the peg or another ball];
      3. [AC: whether a ball is moved or shaken, but only if specifically asked].
   2. Decide whether a ball:
      1. is on or off the court;
      2. breaks the plane of a hoop.

R8 Other Regulations

1. The presence of a referee does not relieve a player in a game of the duty to draw attention to an irregularity that he thinks the referee may have overlooked.
2. [AC: The Organising Body of a tournament may modify these Regulations in accordance with Law 54.]
3. Only an authorised referee may intervene in a game. However, any qualified referee may report a problem to the Tournament Referee or his deputy.

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T. Time Limits

Regulations T1 to T3 apply to Association Croquet only. Regulation T4 applies to Golf Croquet only.

T1 Permitted Time Limits

1. BEFORE A GAME. The Tournament Manager may impose a time limit on each game in any round of an event. Time limits advertised in advance or announced at the tournament before the start of the event may be removed in accordance with Regulation M2(c)(1).
2. DURING A GAME. If no time limit has been imposed under (a) above, the Tournament Manager may impose a time limit of one hour on any game that has been in progress for at least 2 hours.
3. STANDARD TIME LIMITS. If the manager has imposed a time limit under (a) above, but not specified its length, the following time limits apply:
   1. For single games, 2½ hours (level-play) or 3 hours (handicap play).
   2. For matches that are best of three games, cumulative limits of 4, 7 and 9 hours for each game; for matches that are best of five games, cumulative limits of 3, 5½, 7½, 9 and 10½ hours for each game. Time taken to complete a game after time has expired is deducted from that available for subsequent ones, subject to each game having a minimum time limit of 1½ hours. These are known as standard time limits.
   3. For 18-point games on courts between full and ¾ size, 1¾ hours.
   4. For 14-point games on courts between full and ¾ size, 1½ hours.
   5. For Short Croquet, or games on courts that are less than ¾ size, 1 hour.

T2 Expiry of Time Limit

1. GENERAL PROCEDURE.
   1. When a time limit has been imposed on a game, the players should arrange for an independent person or, failing that, one of themselves to be responsible for announcing audibly that the time limit has been reached.
   2. For the sole purpose of determining whether the striker's turn ends before or after time is called, it is deemed that the striker's turn ends and the adversary's turn begins as soon as the striker, in the last stroke of his turn:
      1. strikes a ball;
      2. commits a fault;
      3. starts a stroke in which the mallet misses or does not reach the ball; or
      4. plays the stroke by declaring that he will leave his ball where it lies, which he may do only after any balls moved by previous strokes have come to rest and any balls in hand have been placed in lawful positions.
   3. After time has expired, play continues for an extension period in which the striker completes his turn and the adversary plays one subsequent turn.
   4. At the end of the extension period, the side that has scored the greater number of points is the winner. If the scores are equal, play again continues and the side for which the next point is scored is the winner (any points scored subsequently in the stroke are ignored).
2. HANDICAP GAMES.
   1. No half-bisque or bisque may be played at the end of either of the two turns that comprise the extension period. If play continues after the end of the extension period, under (a)(4) above, any half-bisque or bisque may then be played.
   2. For the purpose of this Regulation, a half-bisque or bisque is played when the first stroke of that turn is played. Accordingly, if a player indicates that he intends to play a half-bisque or bisque but does not play its first stroke before time is called, the half-bisque or bisque is deemed not to have been played and the adversary's turn is deemed to have begun before time was called.
3. RESTORATION OR ADJUSTMENT OF TIME.
   1. This Regulation is subject to [AC: Law 53(g)(2)] and Regulation R2(c)(3).
   2. Once started, time should not be adjusted nor timers paused, other than for:
      1. a refereeing event that stops the game (e.g. resetting equipment, repairing damage, lost ball), but not routine refereeing (e.g. a referee being called to watch a stroke in the game);
      2. a player being called away on official duties (such as refereeing, managing, cooking);
      3. injury or illness of a player;
      4. any other delay which has stopped play for more than 5 minutes.
   3. Unusual circumstances may be dealt with under the overriding [AC: Law 55][GC: Rule 15.3]

T3 Limit on Number of Turns

1. APPLICABILITY. As an alternative to a one-hour time limit imposed under Regulation T1(b), or to the final hour of a time limit imposed under Regulation T1(a), the Tournament Manager may limit instead the number of further turns to twelve (exclusive of any bisque turns) to be played by each side. The general procedure is as described in Regulation T2(a), with the following provisions.
2. START. The additional turns shall start after the end of the extension period defined in Regulation T2(a)(3). Regulation T2(b) shall not apply.
3. END. If the game has not ended before these turns are completed, the side that has scored the greater number of points is the winner. If the scores are equal, play again continues and the side for which the next point is scored is the winner (any points scored subsequently in the stroke are ignored).

T4 Golf Croquet

1. PERMITTED TIME LIMITS.
   1. BEFORE A GAME. The Tournament Manager may impose a time limit of not less than 45 minutes for a 13-point game, or 50 minutes if double-banked:
      1. on all games in an event, provided that such a time limit is advertised in advance or announced at the tournament before the start of the event, in which case, subject to Regulation M2(c)(1), it may not be removed; or
      2. on each game in any round of an event.
   2. DURING A GAME. If no time limit has been imposed under (a)(1) above, the Tournament Manager may impose a time limit of not less than a further 15 minutes on any game that has been in progress for at least 45 minutes (50 minutes if double-banked).
   3. OTHER FORMS OF PLAY. The time limits that may be imposed under (a)(1) above for other forms of play are as follows.
      1. For matches that are best of three games, cumulative limits of 50, 90 and 120 minutes for the first, second and third game respectively. If a match consists of more than three games, the time limits shall be extended by 30 minutes for each additional game. Time taken to complete a game after time has expired is deducted from that available for subsequent ones. These are known as standard time limits and, unless otherwise advertised, are also the minimum time limits that may be applied.
      2. For 19-point games, the minimum time limits specified in (a)(1) and (a)(2) above will be 60 minutes, or 70 minutes if double-banked.
2. EXPIRY OF TIME LIMIT.
   1. GENERAL PROCEDURE
      1. When a time limit has been imposed on a game, the players should arrange for an independent person or, failing that, one of themselves to be responsible for announcing audibly that the time limit has been reached.
      2. For the sole purpose of determining whether the striker's turn ends before or after time is called, it is deemed that the striker's turn ends and the opponent's turn begins as soon as the striker's ball is struck.
      3. After time has expired, play continues for an extension period of a further eight turns.
      4. At the end of the extension period, the side that has scored the greater number of points is the winner. If the scores are equal and no announcement has been made before the start of the event that a tied outcome is acceptable, play again continues and the side for which the next point is scored is the winner (any points scored subsequently in the stroke are ignored).
   2. HANDICAP GAMES. No extra stroke may be played either during the extension period allowed under (b)(1)(C) above or immediately thereafter. If play continues after the end of the extension period, under (b)(1)(D) above, any extra stroke may then be played.

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Appendix 1. Hoop Setting, Ball Specification and Inspection Requirements

1. ACCEPTANCE STANDARDS
   1. HOOP WIDTH. The clearance is defined as the difference between the distance between the inside edges of the uprights at half-ball height and the maximum diameter of the largest ball to be used on the court. Unless otherwise advertised in the Calendar, or stated below, hoops must be set such that the clearance is as near as possible to:
      1. 1/32" for Championship events (see C2(b)(3));
      2. 1/16" for events played under the conditions of Advanced Play and events played under mixed conditions;
      3. 1/8" for handicap and other events.
      Tolerances on hoop settings are +0% and -50% in each case. The Tournament Manager may, in accordance with Regulation M2(c)(9), alter the advertised clearance by up to 50% in either direction, provided that this change and the reason for it are publicised before play starts that day.
   2. HOOP RIGIDITY. Hoops must be set firmly and securely such that no perceptible movement occurs when the crown is pushed/pulled with considerable force.
   3. GROUND CONDITION LOCAL TO HOOPS. Hoops should be set in ground that is level and flat. The jaws of hoops should be free of "rabbit runs" and the hoop approach areas should not contain defects that will deflect a ball from its intended course.
   4. BALL ROUNDNESS. The diameters of all balls used on a court may differ by no more than 1/32" for Championship conditions, or 1/16" otherwise.
   5. PEGS. The use of [AC: corner pegs] [GC: half-way markers] is expected for all Championship events, and recommended for all events.
2. INSPECTION. The Referee of the Tournament or his agent shall inspect every hoop each morning before play begins for both width and rigidity. Hoops that do not satisfy the acceptance standards should be reset.
3. NEW HOOP HOLES. To satisfy the acceptance standards on hoop width and rigidity and maintain them throughout a tournament, the hoops should be set into new holes immediately prior to the tournament. The objective is to generate a tight grip on the carrots throughout the tournament without the need for excessive packing in the later stages. The size and depth of the initial "core" that is removed should be minimised, depending on the nature of the ground. For soft ground, no core should be taken nor should any substitute carrots be used to start the holes: just drive the specified hoop into the ground, preferably using a hoop clamp (such as that available from the CA Shop) set to the correct width. Where the ground is harder, a small core might have to be taken and/or a substitute carrot used to start the hole. Old hoop holes should be closed up with a screwdriver or similar (if no cores are taken), or filled with no more material than was removed (where coring is unavoidable), to prevent the build-up of hills over time. Any surface imperfections should be filled daily, as necessary, with grass clippings.
4. INITIAL SETTING. Initially, hoop carrots may be left standing slightly proud of the ground (say 1/2") to allow a margin for further penetration and, therefore, improved ground grip. However, should a protruding carrot interfere with the state of the game or an intended stroke, the striker should ask a Referee that the relevant hoop be knocked into the ground until the outer edge of the top of each carrot is level with the surface of the court whilst maintaining the width of the hoop at half-ball height. Any balls adjacent to the hoop must be carefully marked so that they can be accurately replaced should they be moved during the operation. No adjustment to the position of balls should be made under AC Law 3(b)(3). The protruding carrots should be ignored when applying AC Laws 13, 14 or 17; if they do not interfere, any tests should be conducted before adjusting the hoop, otherwise the hoop should be adjusted first.

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Appendix 2. CA Trophies

A Guidance Note for Winners of CA Trophies

1. The CA does not, at the present time, insure its various trophies because the cost of doing so has become prohibitive. It is accepted that if loss occurs a replacement will be found, either from the small store of redundant trophies or by purchase of a new trophy.
2. The holder of a trophy who takes reasonable care of it while it is in his or her possession will not be held legally liable for its loss. Those who feel that such loss would nevertheless be an embarrassment to them are advised to include the trophy on their household contents insurance policy schedule.
3. Holders of trophies will be asked to sign an official CA receipt for each trophy, its plinth and any associated carrying box.
4. Holders are also required to look after trophies with reasonable care and to return them to the CA Office two months before the event is next held. The trophies will then be retained by the CA, who will arrange transport to the next venue at which the event occurs.
5. The CA, so as to maintain consistency and prevent damage, is responsible for and will undertake all necessary engraving of its trophies. Arrangements will therefore be made to engrave all trophies prior to award the following year. Holders of trophies must not arrange to have them engraved without obtaining the approval of the Chairman of the Association Croquet Tournament Committee.
6. It is CA policy that in no circumstances can a CA trophy, other than those for international events, be taken outside the boundaries of the CA Home Area (England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland, the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man).

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Appendix 3. Example of the Use of Matchpoints to Resolve Incomplete (Association Croquet) Blocks

This appendix is intended to clarify Regulation F2(e)(4) by providing a worked example. The principle is that each player is given a matchpoint score, calculated by comparing his results with those of each of the other players in turn: he receives two points for each other player with a lower number of wins and one point for each other player with the same number of wins, in each case taking into account only those games in which either they have played each other or they both have played an adversary.

Case Study

Example Block with results as played:

	A	B	C	D	E	F
A		+	+	-	-	-
B	-		-	+		+
C	-	+		-	-	+
D	+	-	+
E	+		+			-
F	+	-	-		+

Assume that B v E, D v E and D v F were uncompleted because of flooding, i.e. none of the players is to be held responsible.

Calculating the Matchpoint Table

A's matchpoints are calculated as follows:

• A v B: A's game against E is ignored as B hadn't played E. In their remaining games they both had two wins, so tie on one matchpoint each.
• A v C: All games count as they have both played each other and the entire field. 2 wins each, so one matchpoint each.
• A v D: Only their games against each other, B, and C count, as D had not played E or F. Both had 2 wins so one matchpoint each.
• A v E: Only their games against each other, C, and F count, as E had not played B or D.
  A had one win, E two, so E gets both matchpoints.
• A v F: A v D ignored; 2 wins each, so one matchpoint each.

This is repeated for the remaining players, resulting in the following matchpoint table:

	A	B	C	D	E	F	Total
A		1	1	1	0	1	4
B	1		1	0	0	1	3
C	1	1		0	0	1	3
D	1	2	2		1	2	8
E	2	2	2	1		1	8
F	1	1	1	0	1		4

Calculating the Composite Table

The composite table is then constructed, with players keeping their wins or losses for games actually played, and being awarded 1 or 0 points respectively. For the remaining games (highlighted in red) they are awarded half the number of matchpoints in those games.

	A	B	C	D	E	F	Composite Wins
A		1	1	0	0	0	2
B	0		0	1	0	1	2
C	0	1		0	0	1	2
D	1	0	1		0.5	1	3.5
E	1	1	1	0.5		0	3.5
F	1	0	0	0	1		2

Placings

Overall D and E tie for first place. Their records are symmetrical and they tied the 'game' between them, so there is nothing to separate them without some further play. (And one assumes that there is no time for play-offs else we wouldn't have been in the position of incomplete block in the first place.)

F takes 3rd place ahead of A as F beat A; similarly, C is 5th.

	Composite Wins	Matchpoints	Position
D	3.5	8	1=
E	3.5	8	1=
F	2	4	3
A	2	4	4
C	2	3	5
B	2	3	6

Alternative Scenario

If E had got cold feet and scratched before starting his remaining games, the matchpoints would instead be:

	A	B	C	D	E	F	Total
A		1	1	1	0	1	4
B	1		1	0	0	1	3
C	1	1		0	0	1	3
D	1	2	2		1	2	8
E	1	0	1	0		1	3
F	1	1	1	0	1		4

Note firstly that only E's matchpoints change; no-one else's are affected by E's decision to scratch. E's matchpoints are now recalculated as follows:

• E v A: E is deemed to have lost to B, so A's win against B counts. 2 wins each, so one matchpoint for E.
• E v B: B's win against D stands, and he is treated as having beaten E. B therefore has 3 wins against E's 2, so E gets no points.
• etc.

We then calculate the composite table as below. Once again 'games' awarded using matchpoints are highlighted in red.

	A	B	C	D	E	F	Composite Wins	Matchpoints	Position
A		1	1	0	0	0	2	4	3
B	0		0	1	0	1	2	3	6
C	0	1		0	0	1	2	3	5
D	1	0	1		0.5	1	3.5	8	1
E	1	0	1	0		0	2	3	4
F	1	0	0	0	1		2	4	2

Now we have D winning the block.

F is second and A third (as before, because F beat A)

On composite wins and matchpoints, B, C and E all tie for 4th place on 3 points each. If this had to be resolved, C and E each won 1 game of those played between the three of them, so B is 6th. Applying Regulation F2(e)(4)(D) again, E beat C so is 4th, leaving C 5th.

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Appendix 4. Example of the Resolution of Ties ('Who Beat Whom') in Complete Blocks

This appendix is intended to clarify the execution of 'who beat whom', as defined in Regulation F2(b)(2), F2(c)(2)(C) and F3(d)(3), by providing a worked example.

First, note that 'who beat whom' is an informal description of the procedure, but one which is less specific and can be ambiguous. Instead, we use 'descending order of the number of games they have won in the games played between them' in order to remove this ambiguity in more complex ties.

In a 2-way tie, matters are simple: either Player A beat Player B or B beat A. Done.

In a 3-way tie, either:

• one of the three tied players beat the other two (and therefore wins the tie); or
• A beat B, B beat C and C beat A; or
• A beat C, C beat B, and B beat A.

In the two latter cases, each of the players has won one game of the three games played between the tied players (i.e. 'who beat whom' doesn't help you) and you have to move to the next tie-break criterion in the list.

So far, the Regulation text produces the same result as 'who beat whom'.

Now consider this 4-way tie in a six-player block:

	A	B	C	D	X	Y	Wins
A		1	1	0	1	0	3
B	0		1	1	0	1	3
C	0	0		1	1	1	3
D	1	0	0		1	1	3
X	0	1	0	0		1	2
Y	1	0	0	0	0		1

'Who beat whom' doesn't define what to do. But 'descending order of the number of games they have won in the games played between them' is more specific. Players A, B, C and D are tied, so in this case we ignore games involving X or Y. This results in this sub-table of results between the tied players:

	A	B	C	D	Wins
A		1	1	0	2
B	0		1	1	2
C	0	0		1	1
D	1	0	0		1

We find A and B on 2 points. This eliminates C and D, but leaves A and B still tied. 'If necessary, this procedure may be repeated' tells you to do that again for A and B. In this case A beat B, so A wins.

If you needed to, iterating this process gives you a complete finishing order for the block - in this case this is conveniently alphabetical.

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