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In some locations around England, the Met Office has issued Extreme Heat weather warnings. Croquet England is developing a policy in relation to this, and we would like to highlight some practical help, which we hope will enable everyone to continue enjoying their sport as safely as possible.

The government has issued their Beat the Heat: staying safe in hot weather guidance on 20^th May 2026, with which we recommend all players and officials familiarise themselves: gov.uk/.../beat-the-heat-staying-safe-in-hot-weather

We recommend that in extreme heat conditions, tournament managers and directors use their common sense and a spirit of fair play to decide on the appropriate course of action should croquet tournaments be affected. This relates to both the monitoring of the weather situation and the decisions required to complete match and tournament results. If you have concerns about playing in the heat, you will be able to withdraw from the tournament using the tournament entry system in the usual way.

Hydration

Good hydration is advised at all times in warm weather conditions. Consider setting a timer to remind players to drink water throughout matches. It would be wise to avoid dehydrating beverages such as alcohol and caffeinated drinks.

Shade and Suncream

Wearing hats to give your head cover from the sun would be beneficial, and using sun cream, which should be regularly re-applied, will help protect your skin. A wet cloth, such as a towel or microfibre cloth, can be used to cool a person's temperature, and placed on the neck will also help to protect the neck from direct sunlight.

Know the Signs

From the government guidance linked above, common symptoms of heat exhaustion include:

• Tiredness
• Weakness
• Feeling faint
• Headache
• Muscle cramps
• Feeling or being sick
• Heavy sweating
• Intense thirst

If a person is suffering from these symptoms, they might not recognise them within themselves, so it's important to check in with each other. Please help each other by asking a person how they are if you notice any changes in behaviour or appearance.

Tournament Regulations

If weather conditions affect the state of a tournament, this is currently dealt with in the tournament regulations (https://www.croquet.org.uk/?p=tournament/regulations).

We aim to publish official guidance and policy for extreme weather conditions ready for the 2027 playing season; however, if you are unsure and would like to ask any questions, please send your enquiry to communications#croquetengland.org.uk.