All member clubs in the East Anglian Croquet Federation shall be eligible to participate.
The competition will operate as a knock-out with the early rounds operating on a regional basis wherever possible, with clubs determining home and away by using the EACF Virtual Coin Toss if there is no previous history in this competition, otherwise the opposite of their previous encounter. However, clubs with only one serviceable court may elect to play any home games away.
The responsibility for arranging fixtures rests with the home club. However, a degree of mutual co-operation is expected between both clubs.
Courts should be full size and in adequate condition such that there is a possibility of accurate positioning, and hitting a ball from one corner of the court to the opposite corner.
The minimum allowed handicap allowed is 0. There is no maximum allowed handicap. The aggregate team handicap must be at least 10. The team captains should ensure that handicaps are correct and have been assessed by the club handicapper in accordance with the CA Handicap Guidelines. No player may play for more than one club in the course of any one season. However, members of a near neighbour club are permitted to play.
All games shall be standard 26pt games played to Handicap Advanced rules of 3¼ hours, to a base of handicap 6. Eg If a 9 handicap plays a 10 handicap, the 9 handicap player gets three bisques and the handicap 10 player gets four bisques.
Where two or more courts are available teams should normally consist of 4 players, with 1 doubles and 6 singles games in the match, making 7 games in total. Players are to be listed in handicap order by the home and away captains. Both captains also nominate two players to play in the first round doubles. The order of play for the second round of four singles is each player plays their opposite number; i.e. H1 vs A1; H2 vs A2; H3 vs A3; and H4 vs A4. In the first round, neither of the two singles games should be the same as is to be played in the second round; subject to this, the higher ranked player should play the higher ranked player of the opposition.
Where only one court is available teams should instead consist of 3 players, with only one player in each team playing in two doubles at the captains' discretion, giving a total of 4 games in the match, and no games may be duplicated. In such a 3-a-side match the team aggregate handicap must be at least 7½. If the number of games won by each team is equal, then the winner is the team winning the most games within time. If the result is still undecided, the winner will be the winner of the second round doubles. (It is realised that this is not ideal but it is better than other options considered.).
It is expected that the home club will provide refreshments including a light tea at the end of the match at no cost to the visitors.
In the event of a dispute all clubs concerned should make representations to the Manager, whose decision shall be final.
Association Croquet
