Coaching AC Extra Turns to Beginners

Newcomers need a clear sense of the shape and flow of the game before a full hand of bisques comes into play. Introducing bisques from the start adds an extra dimension which beginners are not yet equipped to take on board. Here are some ways that coaches can introduce bisques at a pace new players can absorb and use productively.

Step 1: the magic boot

Far more useful for newcomers in their first forays onto the lawn is the occasional judicious use of the coach's "magic boot". Nudging a ball into its intended position in this way maintains the flow of the game and helps develop understanding.

Step 2: try that again!

The magic boot should very quickly transition into occasional "replace and replay" - a powerful coaching opportunity in its own right. It keeps the game's momentum and circumvents a demoralising end of turn born of inexperience.

Step 3: extra turns

These can come into their own as skills and understanding develop. But here again a measured approach from the coach is called for. Few beginners can deal wisely with a fenceful of bisques, tending instead to squander them, hoard them, or simply forget they're there. At this stage extra turns will mainly be about error correction. Allow one for each visit to the lawn to keep things moving and compensate for inexperience.

Step 4: exploit the continuation shot

A first step into using bisques proactively rather than merely reactively is for the coach to encourage students to stop and think - something's gone wrong; I'll need a bisque; where would I like my ball to be at the start of the extra turn? Can I use my continuation shot to play it into that position, so I can then make a helpful roquet (and earn extra shots), or improve the position of another ball?

Step 5: Catch-up Croquet

A nice approach, championed at Budleigh Salterton, is to grant bisques to any player that is behind at the moment s/he walks onto the lawn. Budleigh favours one bisque for every three hoops a player is behind. So a lag of four hoops still earns one bisque; six hoops behind earns two. Beginners will need to work with a rather lower threshold, for example one bisque for every hoop he or she trails by. Bisques not used are lost, and the bisque count is recalculated with every visit to the lawn. Winning or losing is unimportant, but Catch-up Croquet lends itself to some good coaching opportunities on how to set up a break.

These suggested steps are of course for those still at an early stage of their croquet journey. They should however help beginners transition into full bisque play. Once full bisque croquet is familiar to them, it's time for them to get a copy of Roger Mills's Bisques, Breaks and Beyond to start to exploit the full power of the bisque.

John Harris