CROQUET COACHING: How to Introduce Croquet

June 2001 (edited December 2001)
Ivanhoe Park Croquet Club, East Ivanhoe, Victoria, Australia
by Owen Edwards

IPCC Introduction Coaching Method — A Step by Step Method

FIRST DAY

1 Firstly never accept the offer that some people make, when they say: "I just want to come and watch to see if I like it"  — this will lead nowhere, insist that they come and wear  runners and "have a hit"

2 When they come and are available to play, take them onto the lawn Court, so  they get the feeling of the surroundings.

3 Select club mallets beforehand and have them on the court -- initially select by a  persons height, but generally start with standard 36 inch mallets

4 Demonstrate the three grips:  Standard-Irish-Solomon

5 Demonstrate the three Centre Style stances:  face-on -- left foot forward --  and rightfoot forward.

6 Demonstrate the two sidestyle stances (for right handed people, as follows)  - "classic sidestyle"  right foot forward - with all the weight on the right foot  - "forward-style" left foot forward  ( this style is now out of date)

 Encourage the initial use of Standard grip with face-on centre style.

 Insist that there is no 'proper' grip or stance -it is an individual choice.

7 Demonstrate hitting four balls against the boundary boards -- two hard -- two soft

8 Make sure the students 'stalk the ball' and 'follow through' when hitting.

9 Exercises with 4 balls each
 - hit each ball from near the border as close to the peg as possible
 - hit each ball from near Hoop One to near Hoop Two
 - hit each ball through a hoop from say 12 to 18 inches out- two straight on and two from a slight angle

 By now have probably tried various grips, now check to see which grip they are using, if someone has naturally chosen the Irish grip then it may be wise to suggest a shorter mallet e.g. 34 inch or if side style is chosen a longer, say 38 inch mallet may be better

10 Most learners 'jab" rather than swing -- demonstrate the "one handed swing"

 See Note 1 at the end of this document

11 Play WCF Golf Croquet -- this ought to be played as doubles -two learners with two experienced players--play  'Best of 7' (with its less confusing hoop pattern)- so that the first game  is over quickly--give each learner 5  'free shots' each -- this gives them a chance of scoring hoops and gaining confidence and having fun-and becoming members

12 It is important to pair an experienced player with each learner in order to make sure that the learner wins some hoops early.
Contrive with the other experienced opponent to make sure that the learners are :   put into -  prompted to- or left in favourable
positions to score----make a big fuss when the learner runs their first hoop

13 Check as to possible student back pain -if this occurs a longer mallet may be required.   Check players grips again, if someone
has changed naturally to Irish grip-suggest a shorter mallet or has changed to Solomon grip suggest a longer mallet.

14 Depending on the time, play another game of Golf Croquet ( again 'best of  7') remember the seventh hoop is 'one back'- the experienced players need to make sure that the learners have a good time and score the most hoops--this means missing hoops and 'roquets'----end of day one.

SECOND DAY

1 Review the first day items No1 to 9,  spend no more than 5 minutes on this.

2 Play WCF Golf Croquet 'best of 13'  Reinforce the need to 'stalk the ball' and 'follow through'

3 Play either 'Aussi Croquet' or 'OK Roquet' -( singles or doubles) they are basically the same game ( croquet without the croquet
stroke)  this is a learning device that introduces the concept of 'reward'--One  extra turn is gained by hitting another ball and also one extra turn for going through a hoop.  Aussi is played by actually starting in the jaws of Hoop1 ( so the first hoop is automatically scored)  or OK Roquet is started from the same place as Golf Croquet, (which is better and less confusing  as in this method we 'always return to Golf Croquet'--play 'best of 13'  as in Golf, after a hoop is scored contest the next hoop. First ball to hit the peg wins

4 Always return to Golf Croquet--play 'best of 13' if time permits.--

THIRD DAY

1 Review the first day items No 1 to 9

2 Play WCF Golf Croquet 'best of 13'

3 Optional:-  Play  Ricochet, this is the same as OK Roquet but after a hit is scored it entitles the player to 2 extra strokes, from where the ball has come to rest.  This is a very good game as it introduces the concept of the two stroke reward.  However this step might be eliminated if the student is obviously capable of going straight to Association, or on the  other hand it may be politic to stay with Golf Croquet only.

4 Now is the first of the Association Croquet lessons:

 Place two balls (only) in corner No 1  - gently roquet the target ball -- then say:   "This entitles you to do 4 things:

   4-1   to pick up the striker ball ( it is most important to get them thinking this way)
   4-2   place it next to the target ball (where it came to rest)
   4-3   and play two strokes--the first is the actual 'Croquet stroke'
   4-4   and with the second of those strokes (the 'continuation stroke') make the hoop"

Tutor to demonstrate the 'take-off ' and make the hoop -- with no ball to roquet after the hoop is run.  Then say "now that you have made the hoop you are entitled to one extra stroke".  At this point ask them to replicate this.

Start with two balls in the corner about 18 inches apart- the learner hits one onto the other---you say nothing-wait for them to do
something--ask them "what are you entitled to do when you hit one ball onto another?"  They must reply as in : 4-1   4-2  4-3 and
4-4 do not accept less -- gently guide if necessary.

Gently instruct them about the takeoff and hoop run---repeat until they have it mastered.

Having run the hoop you now say "this entitled you to one extra stroke" -- unfortunately there will be no ball to roquet.  Ask ;  "Where should the target ball be?"  They will possibly say or point to some spot 2 to 3 yards in front of the hoop.  The philosophical answer actually is:  "where you can hit it".  This leads to the concept of 'getting it there'.

Tutor to demonstrate the gentle roquet and then the difficult roll to the hoop- if this is successful there will possibly be a ball to hit. Learner to perform--again tutor to stay silent as they work through the sequence 4-1  4-2  4-3 and 4-4.  Wait for them to ask -- They must learn this sequence --tutor to be patient.

Every so often, after a roquet, (call it a 'hit') ask "what happens now?"   They need to learn to remember the 4-1 4-2 4-3 and 4-4
sequence, do not prompt, wait for them say it.

Tutor replaces the two balls in No 1 corner.  'Rush roquet' the target ball close to the hoop - perform the short roll or stopshot getting the target ball the other side of the hoop - run the hoop Learner to perform - Make them aware that the target ball is now "where it can be hit".  Avoid the term "roquet" it is too confusing.

Only do these exercises for about 30 minutes as the 'overload' factor occurs -- the tutor must restrain themselves from overloading the student with information This is enough for the day.

Always return to Golf Croquet- play 'best of 13'-this is fun and will gain a member - too much coaching will drive many away.

FOURTH DAY

1 Play WCF Golf Croquet.

2 Replay the sequences in Point No4 of the Third day.

3 Introduce a ball at Hoop 2 -- after Hoop 1 has been made, demonstrate the roquet (say 'hit' not roquet) and the 'takeoff ' to Hoop
2 -- student to perform

4 This may take some time to consolidate -- persevere, always remember to talk as little as possible, give  the student a 'noise-free' time to think and work it out themselves -- only answer questions or intervene if they are going to do something that is not appropriate -- but gently remind "stalk and follow through".The student will be frustrated after running Hoop 2 as they will probably not be able to roll to Hoop 3.

5 This may be enough for this day--if so return to WCF Golf Croquet---if not

6 Introduce the 4th ball in the centre

7 Student to make the first hoop - tutor to demonstrate the 'half-roll' - pioneer ball to Hoop 3 and striker ball to centre ball, roquet centre ball, take off to the other pioneer ball at Hoop 2.

8 Repeat several times----this is enough for this day

9 Play  Golf Croquet---always return to Golf Croquet

FIFTH and SIXTH DAY

1 At this point (or maybe after the 3rd day) a decision needs to be made as to weather the student is capable of playing Association Croquet in the short term.  This is age related and as almost all of our learners will be over 65 it takes time for Association to be assimilated, we are in no hurry and GC is a magic game to be enjoyed -- the Association game is gradually absorbed by 'osmosis'.

If the answer is in the negative then continue with Golf Croquet -- arrange games with other relatively new players or better still, two new with two experienced players.

Always return to Golf Croquet -- it is a game with which they can identify and enjoy -- I do!!!!

Note 1     The one handed swing  

Most learners jab at the ball. It is very important to break them out of this before it becomes a permanent habit. Firstly, explain that all sports involving  "bat & ball" demands the use of a 'backswing and a follow-through' ( Golf -Tennis -Cricket -Polo etc etc
)    If they wont follow-through ask them, in their follow through, to hit your mallet handle that you hold at their chest height,
in front of them. This often works.

The other method to demonstrate is to continuously swing the mallet alongside a ball in front of you  ( the casting motion) using the left hand only---hold your right hand away from the mallet and draw their attention to this---then allow the mallet ( still in one hand only ) to hit the ball.  The natural momentum will hit the ball  a reasonable distance -to the general surprise of most students, who have witnessed this demonstration.  This experiment proves that a gentle swing and natural follow through is more effective than a jab.