Essex & Suffolk League

Essex & Suffolk Association Croquet League Rules

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1. All clubs within Essex & Suffolk shall be eligible to participate in the league provided that they are registered with the East Anglian Croquet Federation, plus any other nearby clubs as may be determined by the EACF.
2. The League shall operate on an all-play-all basis, with each pairing of teams playing Home and Away in alternate years as many times as necessary to ensure that each team plays at least 3 matches in the season. However, teams with only one serviceable court may elect to play their "Home" games Away.
3. The responsibility for arranging a fixture rests with the Home club. However, a degree of mutual co-operation is expected between both participating teams.
4. Courts must be rectangular, at least ¾ size for both width and length, at least 2/3 size by area, and in adequate condition such that there is a possibility of accurate positioning, and of hitting a ball from one corner of the court to the opposite corner.
5. The maximum allowed individual handicap is 24. There is no minimum allowed handicap. The team captain should ensure that handicaps are correct and that any new players have been assessed by the club or Federation handicapper in accordance with the CqE Club Handbook. No player may play for more than one club in the course of any one season.
6. Teams
   1. Where two or more courts are available teams should normally consist of 4 players, with each player playing in one doubles and one singles game, giving a total of 6 games in the match. By exception if a 4-a-side match can not be arranged at this venue on any agreed date, teams may consist of 3 players, in which case the match comprises one doubles and four singles games.
   2. By prior agreement with the opposition a team may substitute up to 2 players between the morning and afternoon sessions.
   3. Where only one court is available teams should consist of 3 players, with only one player playing in two doubles games, giving a total of 4 games in the match.
   4. In the special case where a club has fewer than 4 eligible members with a recognized AC handicap and it is impractical to join forces with another club, then for matches when a third player is unavailable that match may be played 2-a-side, in which case it shall comprise one game of doubles and two games of singles.
   5. Any team that proceeds to the EACF regional play-off must comply with the current Croquet England team size criteria for participation in the national Secretary’s Shield competition.
7. In all cases the players in a team shall be listed in handicap order when playing all singles, and no games in a match may be duplicated. If two players have the same handicap their order may be chosen by the team captain.
8. All games shall be standard 26pt games of 3 hours duration if single-banked, or 3¼ hours if double-banked, played under the current Laws of Association Croquet, and to full bisque handicap Base 10 (for doubles, this base applies to the calculated handicap of the pair, and paragraph 3.3.2 of Appendix 3 in the Laws only applies if BOTH pairs receive bisques), with the additional rule that either pair of a doubles game may choose to play Alternate Stroke Doubles independently of their opponent's choice.
9. The home team shall be responsible for providing a match referee, preferably qualified. All his/her decisions on the day shall be final.
10. 2 points shall be awarded for each match, with teams receiving 2 points for a win and 1 point for a draw. The result of each match must be notified promptly to the League Manager by the winning team.
11. If one side cancels a match at less than 48 hours notice and no alternative venue is agreed then the other side shall receive 2 points but zero game difference. If the match is not played for any other reason then no points shall be awarded for it, except if the League Manager at his discretion decides to award 2 points. Rule 15 below applies.
12. At the end of the competition the overall winner shall be the club which has accrued the most points. However:
    1. If points are tied between two or more clubs, then the club with the highest difference between the number of games won and lost shall be the winner.
    2. If a winner is still not determined, then the 'who-beat-whom' rule (i.e. number of wins against those tied) shall apply.
    3. If a winner is still not determined, then the winner shall be the club amongst those tied that won the largest number of matches.
    4. If a winner is still not determined, then a final play-off match will be arranged at a neutral venue agreed with the League Manager, or by other means at the League Manager's discretion.
13. The highest placed CqE-Registered club shall be eligible to enter the play-off against the other area winners to determine the overall EACF League Champions, who will then go forward to represent the EACF in the Secretary's Shield Competition that takes place in the following season.
14. It is expected that the Home team will provide refreshments including a light tea at the end of the match at no cost to the visitors.
15. In the event of a dispute all clubs concerned should make representations to the League Manager, whose decision shall be final.

Fran Lambert
Manager