Croquet England Officers, Executive and Committees

The Board has overall responsibility for the affairs of the Organisation, with a focus on high-level policy, strategic initiatives, scrutiny and transparency.

• The Executive has delegated authority from the Board of Trustees for all matters relating to the day-to-day management of Croquet England, including executing financial transactions and the implementation of its policies and procedures.
• Matters relating to the general finances of the Organisation.
• Recommending to the Board of Trustees the overall long-term financial and budgetary policy for the Organisation.
• Preparation of three-year forecasts and an annual budget for the Organisation.
• Preparation of the Annual Budget of the Executive itself.
• Guidance to other Standing Committees to enable them to set their budgets.
• Preliminary approval and recommendation to the Board of Trustees of the Annual Accounts of Croquet England.
• General monitoring of financial performance of all activities against the budget, and carrying out any corrective actions should such monitoring identify significant divergence from expectation.
• Matters relating to the implementation of membership rules of Croquet England, including entitlements of, and subscriptions from, different classes of subscribers and affiliates.
• Recommending to the Board of Trustees any changes in general policy or function of Croquet England.
• Preparation of draft policy and planning papers for the Board of Trustees.
• Preparation and promulgation of the procedures, guidance and forms required to achieve the policies of the Board of Trustees.
• Ensuring the policies and plans of the Croquet England are carried out efficiently and to the satisfaction of the Board of Trustees. Communicating with, and co-ordinating the work of, other committees; in so doing Executive members should not become involved in the routine work of any committee other than the one they may chair or to which they have been elected or appointed.
• Receiving reports from the Secretary, the Treasurer and the Operations Manager.
• The annual appointment of Chairs of Standing Committees and, in liaison with the appointed Chair, the approval of each committee's members
• Receiving and considering the reports and minutes of all meetings held by the Standing Committees and Advisory Groups, via the relevant Director. Deciding which matters concern strategy and need to be referred to the Board of Trustees.
• Appointing, setting budgets and terms of reference for and receiving reports from International Performance Directors for Association and Golf Croquet and any working parties or action groups.
• Considering draft or proposed amendments to the Tournament Regulations put forward by the AC Tournaments Committee in conjunction with the AC Laws, GC Rules, GC Tournament, International and Handicap committees.
• Managing matters not covered by the terms of reference of other committees.

• Recommending to the Board of Trustees candidates for Major Council Awards
• Reviewing Diploma nominations

• Matters relating to national and regional coaching.
• Publishing Croquet England standard coaching material, including elite level.
• Matters relating to coaching policy, the official list of coaches and the appointment of coaches. Training and examining official Association and Golf Croquet coaches at all levels.
• The Croquet England Merit Award Scheme.
• The selection of the Coach of the Year.

• Administering the Croquet England Complaints and Volunteer Grievance Procedures

   

• Setting standards for playing equipment, including mallets, balls, hoops and other court equipment.
• Development of testing methods, including ball and hoop gauges, and other ball-testing methods and testing equipment.
• Development of testing methods for speed of grass courts, and speed and other criteria for approving courts made from artificial surfaces.
• Research and development of playing equipment, including mallets, balls, hoops, and court surfaces.

• Making grants and loans, within agreed guidelines, to existing Affiliated Clubs, or new facilities where the club is likely to become an Affiiated Club.
• Proposing to the Executive annually, for their approval, a budget for
  grants and loans accompanied by a strategy for the disbursement of such
  funds.
• Control and administration of grants and loans within the approved annual
  budget for each and in accordance with the approved strategy.
• Reception and review of applications for grants or loans submitted by Federation Development Officers on behalf of Affiliated Clubs.
• Approval of grants and loans up to and including £10,000.
• Administration of the Young Person's Sponsorship Scheme and the Bursary
  Scheme.

• Approval of handicaps and changes to handicaps.
• Handicap policy, the official list of Handicappers and the appointment of new Handicappers.
• The Croquet England Grading System.
• The selection of winners of the Apps, Steel and Spiers individual trophies.

• Developing and maintaining an IT strategy.
• Technical arrangements for the processing, storage and publication of the Croquet England's data in support of its objects, with particular concern for conformity with data protection and other relevant legislation.
• Specification, implementation and/or approval of new software and systems and changes to existing ones.
• Specification and/or approval of computers and communication equipment for use on Croquet England business.
• Sourcing of ICT services.
• Matters relating to the software technology of the websites.
• Arrangements for support and training.

• International matters (other than team selection) including arrangements for international championships organised by Croquet England and representing Croquet England at international events held outside the domain.
• Proposing to the Exexcutive the appointment and nomination of Croquet England representatives to serve as officials and on committees of the WCF and other Associations.
• Representing the Organisation and exercising its votes in the World Croquet Federation (WCF) Council.
• Communication with other Governing Bodies, in liaison with other appropriate committees.
• Making proposals to the Executive regarding obtaining funds for international events from third parties, including Government Departments and Sport England.
• Liaising with the Tournaments Committees over venues and dates for international events.
• Custody and maintenance of international trophies when England or Great Britain are the holders.

• Responsibilty for England's performance at international AC events, whether singles or team.
• Formulating and implementing a strategy to improve international performance in the short/medium term and medium/long term including resourcing with volunteers as appropriate.
• Liaising with all parts of Croquet England necessary to ensure support of improved international performance, influencing recruitment strategies, the tournament programme, International matches, selection policy, bursary funding, etc.
• Working with the Coaching Committee and others to ensure that a flow of talented players is achieved every year and the best are identified for further development.
• Sharing relevant identified best practice with the GC International Performance Director.

• Responsibility for England's performance at international singles and team GC events.
• Creating and managing a sustainable international pathway to take talented beginners through to elite performers.
• Working with all parts of Croquet England necessary to ensure the support of improved international performance.
• Sharing relevant identified best practice with the AC International Performance Director.

• Resolving questions of interpretation, amendment, revision of or additions to the Laws, and the Regulations for Refereeing, of Association Croquet (in collaboration with the WCF AC Laws Committee).
• The training, appointment and examination of Referees and Examining Referees for Association Croquet.
• Collaborating with the Tournaments and Handicap Committees, over questions of interpretation, amendment or additions to the non-refereeing Tournament Regulations.

• Implementing the marketing, merchandising, commercial and sales policy of Croquet England.
• Generating ideas for increasing income from any source (ensuring these are considered by other committees).
• Maintaining the goodwill of individual subscribers, Affiliated Clubs, Partners and Federation officers.
• Publicising Croquet England and its activities to subscribers and to others in all relevant media, and public relations generally.
• Preparating and maintaining Croquet England's 'house style' and public image.
• Obtaining advertising revenue from Croquet England publications and sponsorship revenue.
• Helping with recruitment of individual subscibers and affilaited clubs in conjunction with the Sport Development Committee).
• Oversight of Croquet England commercial events, their managers and contracts.
• Establishing the objectives and editorial policy of all publishing media, including The Croquet Gazette, the Croquet England Website and social media. Ensuring that their contents accord with agreed policies.
• Attending to legal matters relating to publishing media, including copyright, libel, defamation and data protection issues.
• Establishing the terms of reference and appointment of any volunteers who help publish the magazine and/or the website.
• The design, house-style and promotion of the website. Discussion of website contents and design with Croquet England subscribers, and the provision of feedback to those responsible.
• Advice to other committees and working parties about the function and purpose of serial and occasional publications, ensuring they meet the requirements of subscribbers and others

• Supporting the Office in handling issues relating to the membership of the Organisation.

• Managing the Croquet England Mentoring Scheme

• Refer to the Welfare section of the Croquet England website

• Resolving questions of interpretation, amendment, revision of or additions to the Rules, and the Regulations for Refereeing, of Golf Croquet (in collaboration with the WCF GC Rules Committee).
• The training, appointment and examination of Referees and Examining Referees for Golf Croquet.
• Collaborating with the Tournaments and Handicap Committees, over questions of interpretation, amendment or additions to the non-refereeing Tournament Regulations.

To select the team to represent England in the 2026 MacRobertson Shield, the World Association Croquet Team Championship.

• The selection of players for Association Croquet invitation and representative events, other than the MacRobertson Shield.
• The selection of players for invitation to elite and international level Association Croquet coaching programmes.
• The selection of players for any Association Croquet squad from which representative teams for England or GB may be drawn or development squad.

• The selection of the team to represent England in the WCF World Golf Croquet Team Championship (the Openshaw Shield).

• The selection of players for Golf Croquet invitation and representative events, other than the Openshaw Shield.
• The selection of players for invitation to elite and international level Golf Croquet coaching programmes.
• The selection of players for any Golf Croquet squad from which representative teams for England or GB may be drawn or development squad.

• Matters relating to the policy for development of playing facilities, including relations with Federations and other groups involved with regional development, including liaison with Schools, Universities, Colleges and Local Authorities.
• Making proposals to the Executive regarding obtaining development funds from third parties, including Government Departments and Sport England.
• Helping regional efforts to increase the number of people playing croquet, and developing new clubs (in liaison with Marketing & Publishing Committee).
• Administering the support offered by Croquet England to new clubs
• Supporting Federation Devlopment Officers
• The organisation of Federation and Club Conferences from time to time.
• The selection of the winners of Club Awards.

• All matters relating to Croquet England tournaments and competitions (excluding Golf Croquet) and any questions relating to other tournaments held under the Laws and Regulations.
• Liaising with the GC Tournaments Committee regarding the scheduling of Croquet England sponsored competitions to avoid clashes between Association Croquet and Golf Croquet events.
• Amendments to the Tournament Regulations in conjunction with the AC Laws, GC Rules, Golf Croquet Tournaments and Handicap Committees.
• Managing the publication of, and all matters (except advertising) relating to, the annual Fixtures Calendar book.
• Matters relating to the official list of Managers and the appointment of Managers.
• Liaison with clubs hosting Championships and National Events.
• Lawn and ball hire charges.
• Setting entry charges for Croquet England Association Croquet tournaments and competitions.
• Following guidelines from the Executive, setting the Tournament Levy and the preparation of the budget for tournament activities.
• Responsibility for Trophies (including Golf Croquet): care of; inscriptions; maintenance of records; allocation of trophies to specific tournaments; delivery of trophies to venues.

The Golf Croquet Tournaments Committee is responsible for matters relating to Croquet England GC tournaments and competitions, and any questions relating to other GC tournaments held under the Rules and Regulations. This includes:

• The scheduling and promotion of competitions and their inclusion in the annual Fixtures Calendar, and liaising with the AC Tournaments Committee to avoid clashes between AC and GC tournaments.
• The appointment of tournament Directors and Managers for, and liaising with the host clubs of, GC Championships and National Events.
• Setting entry charges, and matters relating to trophies, for GC tournaments and competitions, and the preparation of the income and expenditure budget for GC tournament activities.
• Assisting the AC Tournaments Committee regarding the current Tournament Regulations.
• Liaising with the AC Tournaments Committee regarding matters relating to the official list of Managers and guidance on tournament management.