How to Set Up a Croquet Game

Croquet is a fun game for the entire family.

Croquet is an outdoor lawn game that is played by knocking a ball through sets of hoops using a mallet. It is a popular game played by families and it can be enjoyed on the lawn of your own backyard or at a public park. When setting up for a game of croquet, you must create a game area to place your hoops, which are also known as wickets. The most commonly played game is nine-wicket and uses a double diamond set-up.

Things You'll Need

• 2 pegs
• 9 hoops (wickets)

Instructions

1. Chalk off an area of your lawn that has a flat surface and that is 100 feet long and 50 feet wide. If you would prefer not to mark the lawn, section off the area by marking with string.

2. Set the first peg. Stand at one end of the marked off area. Walk along the width of the line so that you are halfway or 25 feet in. Face the opposite side of the playing field and walk in 6 feet. Set your first peg into the ground. Move forward another 6 feet and place your first hoop or wicket into the ground directly in front of the peg. Move forward another 6 feet and drive the next hoop into the ground, directly in front of the first.

3. Place the center hoop. Walk straight forward 32 feet. This will take you to the center of the field. Drive another hoop into the lawn staying in line with your first two hoops and the peg.

4. Walk back 16 feet towards where you started. You will be halfway between the hoops. Walk to one side of the center and then the other, and place a hoop 6 feet from the outer line on each side. You will now have the outline of a diamond shape.

5. Walk down to the opposite side of the cordoned off gaming area. Place the second peg 6 feet from the line. It should be evenly lined up with the first peg, the two hoops in front of it and the center hoop. Move towards the center 6 feet and place a hoop. Step another 6 feet towards the center and place a hoop directly in front of the last one and the peg. Walk 16 feet so that you are halfway to the center hoop. Just as before, walk to one side and then the other to set your hoops in the ground 6 feet from the outer edge. You will now have a double diamond set up for your croquet game.

References

• Family Education: Croquet
• United States Croquet Association: Backyard Croquet
• Croquet: Rules and Regulations