Rules & Variations
American Rules
The American Rules game is the principal version played under the United States Croquet Association (USCA), also known as Six-Wicket Croquet. See the synopsis and the full official rules.
Association Laws
Association Croquet (or International Rules) is played worldwide and governed by the World Croquet Federation.
Golf Croquet
Golf Croquet is a fast, accessible version where players alternate strokes. Learn more in this synopsis or the complete rules (6th Edition, 2022).
Ricochet Croquet
Ricochet Croquet, created by John Riches of Adelaide, simplifies Association Croquet for beginners. It removes the croquet stroke and adjusts tactics for easier play. See the Ricochet Croquet Rules.
Fast 5 Croquet
Fast 5, is a variation of Golf Croquet which is popular in the Oz, NZ and the UK. It shortens the game to 5 hoops and is often played as an quick entertaiment at social events. See the Fast Five Croquet Rules.
Two-Ball Match-Play Croquet
Two-Ball Match-Play Croquet streamlines Association Croquet into a two-ball format while retaining much of its strategy. Read the Two-Ball Match-Play Rules.
10–10 Golf Croquet
10–10 Golf Croquet is a timed, high-energy variant developed by the UK Croquet Association. Each player or team has ten minutes per side. Download the 10–10 Golf Rules.
Five-Hoop Croquet
Five-Hoop Croquet is a compact version of Golf Croquet using only the first five hoops. Games are shorter (about 15 minutes) and ideal for small lawns or beginners. (Rules)
Roque
Roque is croquet’s hard-edged American cousin which emerged in the late 19th century as Americans leaned toward precision, standardization. Roque is played on a hard clay court, rectangular and surrounded on all four sides by low wooden sideboards, like a bocce court. Download the Rules of Roque.
“Snake” / "Snake in the Grass" Croquet
Informal Snake Croquet or social variants relax hoop sequences and bonus-shot rules for fun, flexible play on irregular lawns. These encourage creativity and inclusiveness for mixed-skill groups. (Rules)
Historic Ground-Billiards / Lawn Billiards & Jeu de mail
Jeu de mail was a Renaissance mallet-and-ball game from France and Italy, using mallets to strike balls through targets or holes. It’s one of croquet’s direct ancestors. (Source)
Pall-Mall (Paille-Maille / Palle-Malle)
Pall-Mall (16th–17th century) was played by striking a wooden ball down a long alley through an iron hoop in as few strokes as possible — an aristocratic pastime and a clear precursor to croquet. (Traditional Game) (History)
Jeu de mail (Ground-Mallet Origins)
Jeu de mail (or “jeu de maille”) involved long-distance mallet play toward a goal or through hoops. Variants included “Chicane,” “Rouët,” and “Partie,” reflecting different objectives and team formats. It’s the ancestor of both croquet and golf. (More (fr))