Keep in mind, we are playing USCA Backyard Rules, not Association Rules. According to the USCA website the border is 6" from the middle of the wicket.
But, perhaps I am misunderstanding your rule interpretation. I would request a clarification post with your interpretation for procedures for a ball struck out of bounds. Do you suggest we should place the ball a mallets head (or mallets length) from the border? Or are you suggesting that the border be a full 36" from the outside of the wicket?
If I understand your interpretation of the rule, and the border is 6" from the middle of the wicket, then a ball struck out of bounds is effectively placed 33" inside the pitch as measured from the middle of the wicket (a wicket is 6" wide. the distance from the middle of the wicket to a wicket leg is therefore 3". Likewise the distance from the outside leg of the wicket to the border is also 3". So, 36" = 3" from border to wicket leg + 3" from wicket leg to middle of wicket +33" from middle of wicket to suggested ball placement).
This differs from our current play in only one major way and can easily be adapted to. Currently we place the ball on the border (which is measured as 6" from the outside wicket leg as we've been playing), which promotes exploiting out of bounds relatively close to the wicket, since the angle will almost never be too sharp to make. A ball placed out of bounds at a distance of say a foot from the wicket is still and easy shot. My understanding of the rule you cite would only change this tactic in one dimension: striking the ball out of bounds at a greater distance from the wicket. In other words, rather than aiming a foot behind the wicket, a player would have to aim two to three feet behind the wicket when sending the ball out of bounds to maintain a makable shot.
Please comment and correct my understanding of this.
Saturday, June 10, 2006
Re: Rule Clarification
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2 comments:
Yes, a ball hit out of bounds is brought back in a mallets length back into the course. Think of the pitch as having an official out of bounds, and then a secondary out of bounds inside that-a mallets length.
I got these rules from croquet.com, from their listing of 9 wicket croquet
http://www.croquet.com/rulesregs/ninewicket.cfm
these are cited as used by the USCA.
and looking at the USCA's site, under "6 Ball Guerilla Croquet"
"Boundary Balls
All balls sent out of bounds are brought to the point where they crossed the designated Boundary and placed ONE MALLET-LENGTH inside the court before play resumes. ..." (capitals added)
ok, so lets go over this with examples before tonight's game. i'd like to be really clear on this and come to a concensus.
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