THE LAWS OF ASSOCIATION CROQUET (6th Edition, Amended 2008)

Copyright © 2000, 2008 The Croquet Association on behalf of itself and the Australian Croquet Association, Croquet New Zealand and the United States Croquet Association
For commentary on this law, please see the ORLC
PART 2
ORDINARY SINGLES PLAY
A. GENERAL LAWS OF PLAY

8. THE START OF A GAME

  1. THE TOSS The winner of the toss decides whether he will take the choice of lead, which includes the right to play second, or the choice of balls. This is known as the right of choice. If he takes the choice of lead his adversary has the choice of balls and vice versa. When a match consists of more than one game, the right of choice alternates after the first game. Once made a choice may not be revoked (but see Law 26(c)).
  2. THE START At the start of a game, the player entitled to play first places one of his balls on any point on either baulk-line and plays the first stroke of his turn. At the end of that turn the adversary plays one of his balls into the game from any unoccupied point on either baulk-line. This includes taking croquet from a ball in play that is either on or near a baulk-line so that a ball may be placed on a baulk-line in contact with it. In the third and fourth turns the remaining two balls are played into the game in the same way as the second ball (but see Law 36(d) for advanced play, Law 37(c)(2) for handicap play and Law 26(b) if the correct ball cannot be played).
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