2025 Courses Prospectus
The Croquet Academy 2025 Course Programme
Courses:
Click on the titles below to go to the course details
GC pre-season workshop (REF: WIN1)
Date:
Tuesday 18th March 2025
Manager:
Richard Carline
Secretary:
Chrissie Merrington courses@thecroquetacademy.com
Maximum Entries:
12
Entry Dates:
Entries accepted in receipt order.
Entry Fee:
£40 (£30 for SCCC members)
Description
This course seeks to help you understand and improve your technique through analysis via a set of individual videos.
The importance of stance, grip and swing are explained and the day is structured to meet the needs of course participants.
Build your confidence and consistency with a series of practice routines, many used by the world’s best players. Look at tactical situations and how to make them work. Understand your playing strengths and how to use them to your advantage.
Sessions on jumping, ball placement, blocking, nestling, effective clearances, promoting and hoop running will be included.
The importance of stance, grip and swing are explained and the day is structured to meet the needs of course participants.
Build your confidence and consistency with a series of practice routines, many used by the world’s best players. Look at tactical situations and how to make them work. Understand your playing strengths and how to use them to your advantage.
Sessions on jumping, ball placement, blocking, nestling, effective clearances, promoting and hoop running will be included.
Date:
24 - 25 Mar 2025
Lead Coach:
Paul Francis
Secretary:
Chrissie Merrington courses@thecroquetacademy.com
Max Entries:
16
Entry Dates:
Entries accepted in receipt order.
Entry Fee:
Description
1. The course is open to CqE associates. To attend the course you are expected to have a good knowledge of AC Laws and/or Golf Croquet Rules.
2. A CqE Subsidy of £25.00 may be available, if you have not previously received a subsidy for this course. Your Federation may also offer a subsidy.
3. The primary aim of this course is to reinforce the Coach's attributes by revisiting the practical techniques comprehensively on the courts and to augment knowledge of the laws/rules of both disciplines to enable the coach to instruct the student on their courses for potential future coaches.
4. Participants will be required to cover both AC and GC.
5. Only CqE associates can be entered onto the CqE register and receive coaching badges.
6. For details of the Qualification Process, please refer to the CqE website: www.croquet.org.uk ‘Becoming a Coach’ www.croquet.org.uk 'Becoming a Coach'.
GC Coaches Workshop (REF: OTH1)
Date:
26 Mar 2025
Lead Coach:
Paul Francis
Secretary:
Chrissie Merrington courses@thecroquetacademy.com
Entry Dates:
Entries accepted in receipt order.
Entry Fee:
Free
Open to all Qualified Coaches, there is no fee but please register as places will be limited. Lunch will be available but at attendees own cost.
Open to all Qualified Coaches, there is no fee but please register as places will be limited. Lunch will be available but at attendees own cost.
Description
This day will be a chance for Coaches to exchange ideas and also look at new innovations to coaching. There will be a session on how the newly introduced GC Skills Assessment exercises work and how these can be used to further develop individual players' skills at different levels. Video analysis has become the basis of The Croquet Academy's Workshop - it looks at the fundamental technique of an individual's swing, stance and grip and has proved to be one of our most popular courses - this will be demonstrated in full. The use of visual aids has become commonplace since we introduced them a few sessions back. There will be a session which demonstrates how these can be effectively used along with practice routines and scenario flip-cards to promote tactical thinking.
Date:
31 Mar 2025
7 April 2025
14 April 2025
7 April 2025
14 April 2025
Lead Coach:
Clive Hayton
Secretary:
Chrissie Merrington courses@thecroquetacademy.com
Entry Dates:
Entries accepted in receipt order.
Entry Fee:
£60.00 (£48 for SCCC members)
Description
1. This is a 3 X 1 day modular Association Croquet course restricted to 18+ handicap players unless otherwise agreed with Lead Coach.
2. The course will teach you basic croquet strokes, playing breaks, and efficient use of bisques to set up and maintain breaks will be covered during the on-court period, preparing players to improve their AC handicap play.
2. The course will teach you basic croquet strokes, playing breaks, and efficient use of bisques to set up and maintain breaks will be covered during the on-court period, preparing players to improve their AC handicap play.
Learn To Play Short Croquet In A Day (Ref:AC2)
Date:
5 Apr 2025
Lead Coach:
Frances Low
Secretary:
Chrissie Merrington courses@thecroquetacademy.com
Entry Dates:
Entries accepted in receipt order.
Entry Fee:
£40.00 (£30 for SCCC members)
Description
An introductory session on Association Croquet but on short courts! Much easier to see the patterns and to implement the shots.
The course covers:
Some basics and terminology including the roquet shot and a few laws;
The croquet shot - The take off shot with practice routines.
The straight drive and the stop shot. Split shots.
Practice routine using all three shots.
Making a break - Understanding the 4 ball break. Keeping the break going.
Suitable for beginners to croquet, GC players and those seeking to further their GC skills with new shots.
The course covers:
Some basics and terminology including the roquet shot and a few laws;
The croquet shot - The take off shot with practice routines.
The straight drive and the stop shot. Split shots.
Practice routine using all three shots.
Making a break - Understanding the 4 ball break. Keeping the break going.
Suitable for beginners to croquet, GC players and those seeking to further their GC skills with new shots.
Improve Your GC Skills to A Level (Ref:GC1)
Date:
5 Apr 2025
Lead Coach:
Morgan Case
Secretary:
Chrissie Merrington courses@thecroquetacademy.com
Entry Dates:
Entries accepted in receipt order.
Entry Fee:
£40.00 (£30 for SCCC members)
Description
Content will include: Improving consistency and reducing errors; Improving placement shots; better hoop approaches; centre ball clearances; better hoop running; promotions and wiring; A level tactics.
GC pre-season workshop (REF: WIN4)
Date:
Tuesday 8th April 2025
Manager:
Richard Carline
Secretary:
Chrissie Merrington courses@thecroquetacademy.com
Maximum Entries:
12
Entry Dates:
Entries accepted in receipt order.
Entry Fee:
£40 (£30 for SCCC members)
Description
This course seeks to help you understand and improve your technique through analysis via a set of individual videos.
The importance of stance, grip and swing are explained and the day is structured to meet the needs of course participants.
Build your confidence and consistency with a series of practice routines, many used by the world’s best players. Look at tactical situations and how to make them work. Understand your playing strengths and how to use them to your advantage.
Sessions on jumping, ball placement, blocking, nestling, effective clearances, promoting and hoop running will be included.
The importance of stance, grip and swing are explained and the day is structured to meet the needs of course participants.
Build your confidence and consistency with a series of practice routines, many used by the world’s best players. Look at tactical situations and how to make them work. Understand your playing strengths and how to use them to your advantage.
Sessions on jumping, ball placement, blocking, nestling, effective clearances, promoting and hoop running will be included.
GC Beginners' and Improvers' Course (Ref:GC2)
Date:
9 Apr 2025
Lead Coach:
Daphne Gaitley
Secretary:
Chrissie Merrington courses@thecroquetacademy.com
Entry Dates:
Entries accepted in receipt order. Handicap restriction: None
Entry Fee:
£40.00 (£30 for SCCC members)
Description:
1. A one-day course aimed at Beginners to Golf Croquet and those who wish to improve their skills, technique and knowledge of the game. Handicap 10 +
2. Course content will cover the development of technique and consistent ball control to produce more confident hoop running, ball placement, promotions, and clearances will form part of the course, some basic rules will be explained.
3. Participants will be placed into coaching groups of similar abilities/needs.
2. Course content will cover the development of technique and consistent ball control to produce more confident hoop running, ball placement, promotions, and clearances will form part of the course, some basic rules will be explained.
3. Participants will be placed into coaching groups of similar abilities/needs.
Date:
16 Apr 2025
23 April 2025
30 April 2025
23 April 2025
30 April 2025
Lead Coach:
Alan Cottle
Secretary:
Chrissie Merrington courses@thecroquetacademy.com
Handicap range:
5 - 12
Entry Dates:
Entries accepted in receipt order.
Entry Fee:
£60.00 (£48 for SCCC members)
Description
1. The aim of the course is to introduce participants to the techniques of the advanced game and its laws; to emphasise the need for accuracy in all skills; and to give participants confidence to play in a greater range of tournaments.
2. The course includes: An explanation of the Advanced game, Perfecting the 4-ball break, leaves, establishing the second break after a missed lift shot, Openings & responses, Peels & 3 ball endings.
2. The course includes: An explanation of the Advanced game, Perfecting the 4-ball break, leaves, establishing the second break after a missed lift shot, Openings & responses, Peels & 3 ball endings.
Understanding GC Rules (Half a Day) (Ref:GC3)
Date:
16 Apr 2025
9.30am - 1.30pm
9.30am - 1.30pm
Lead Coach:
Richard Carline
Secretary:
Chrissie Merrington courses@thecroquetacademy.com
Entry Dates:
Entries accepted in receipt order.
Entry Fee:
£20.00 (£15 for SCCC members)
Description
A half-day course designed to help players and of all levels to better understand the current Sixth Edition GC Rules. Mostly on court demonstrations that will look at scenarios and situations that cause the most confusion. Wrong ball, Offside, Striking faults - including the double tap, crushes and their consequences will be looked at and discussed. This is an ideal preparation course for those who wish to progress to becoming fully qualified GC referees.
Triple Peel Course (3 X 1 Day Modules) (Ref:AC4)
Date:
29 Apr 2025
6 May 2025
13 May 2025
6 May 2025
13 May 2025
Times:
10.30am to 5pm each day
Lead Coach:
Gabrielle Higgins
Secretary:
Chrissie Merrington courses@thecroquetacademy.com
Handicap range:
5 and under
Entry Dates:
Entries accepted in receipt order.
Entry Fee:
£60.00 (£48 for SCCC members)
Description
The course introduces how to complete a triple peel. Each day focuses on one of the peels, looking at the main opportunities to do each peel: where and how to position the balls beforehand, the peel stroke, and how to continue. The course starts with the rover peel and works backwards. #Participants are encouraged to practice the sequences of shots learned in each module before the next one.
GC - Up Your Game C to B Level (REF: GC4)
Date:
14 May 2025
Lead Coach:
Chrissie Merrington
Secretary:
Chrissie Merrington courses@thecroquetacademy.com
Entry Dates:
Entries accepted in receipt order.
Entry Fee:
£40.00 (£30 for SCCC members)
Description
1. This one day course is ideal for players with a 7+ handicap with the view to improving their game and to play at a higher level.
2. Coached games will also be used to improve stroke play and tactics. Practice routines to build on strengths and overcome weaknesses.
3. Jump shots and discussion of the rules will be included.
2. Coached games will also be used to improve stroke play and tactics. Practice routines to build on strengths and overcome weaknesses.
3. Jump shots and discussion of the rules will be included.
GC Workshop (REF: GC5)
Date:
4 Jun 2025
Lead Coach:
Richard Carline
Secretary:
Chrissie Merrington courses@thecroquetacademy.com
Entry Dates:
Entries accepted in receipt order.
Entry Fee:
£40.00 (£30 for SCCC members)
Description
Handicap Range 3 - 10
A chance to explore how effective your techniques are. Test your swing on our Croquet Academy Swing Trainer - Cast and feel where you can tweak it for better effect. We'll video this and other parts of your play so that you can see what's going on, be advised and act on what you see. After some diagnostic assessments, we will give you individual advice to take away and develop.
Build confidence and consistency with a series of practice routines used by the best players. Look at tactical situations and how to make them work. Understand playing strengths and have weaknesses analysed, learn ways to work on improving on both. A session on jumping at all levels will be included as well as accuracy in ball placement, blocking, clearing, promoting and hoop running.
A chance to explore how effective your techniques are. Test your swing on our Croquet Academy Swing Trainer - Cast and feel where you can tweak it for better effect. We'll video this and other parts of your play so that you can see what's going on, be advised and act on what you see. After some diagnostic assessments, we will give you individual advice to take away and develop.
Build confidence and consistency with a series of practice routines used by the best players. Look at tactical situations and how to make them work. Understand playing strengths and have weaknesses analysed, learn ways to work on improving on both. A session on jumping at all levels will be included as well as accuracy in ball placement, blocking, clearing, promoting and hoop running.
Date:
25 Jul 2025
Lead Coach:
Stephen Custance-Baker
Secretary:
Chrissie Merrington courses@thecroquetacademy.com
Entry Dates:
Entries accepted in receipt order.
Handicap range:
Maximum 5
Entry Fee:
£50.00 (£37.50 for SCCC members)
Description
This 1-day course is based on my book Golf Croquet: The Thinking Sport and is designed to help competitive players to recognise, in a practical way, the relationship between the mind, the mallet and the choice of shot.
The day is divided into sessions, each of which involves a specific section from the book with examples, videos, practice on the court and recommended exercises."
The five topics are:
The imaginary ball
Percentage play & Lose now to win later
Good practice
How the ball moves
Accuracy
The day is divided into sessions, each of which involves a specific section from the book with examples, videos, practice on the court and recommended exercises."
The five topics are:
The imaginary ball
Percentage play & Lose now to win later
Good practice
How the ball moves
Accuracy
AC Croquet Supervised High Bisque Tournament (REF: AC5)
Date:
30 Jul 2025
Lead Coach:
Frances Low
Secretary:
Chrissie Merrington courses@thecroquetacademy.com
Handicap range:
Minimum 14
Entry Dates:
Entries accepted in receipt order.
Trophy:
Pat Shine Shield (Holder: Mark Gardner).
Entry Fee:
£20
Format
An ideal introduction to Association Croquet tournament play. Coaching advice between games on tactics and bisque taking. Help given with Laws. Suitable for handicap 14+. Three 14-point games in a day to a time limit. (Full-bisque to a base.)
On Demand — GC & AC Coaching Sessions (REF: OTH2)
Date:
By arrangement
Lead Coaches:
Richard Carline, Daphne Gaitley; and any other Academy Coaches.
Secretary:
Chrissie Merrington courses@thecroquetacademy.com
Entry Fee:
£25 per hour
Description
One-to-one sessions are available for both disciplines, GC & AC. These one-to-one sessions give players of all abilities guidance from an Academy Coach as to how they can improve their game. To get the best out of these sessions, entrants will be asked to identify what they are trying to improve or achieve.
* CqE Subsidy
For coaches and referees qualification courses the figure quoted is net of a subsidy by the Croquet England.
In addition, further subsidies may be available from your Federation. For details ask your Federation Coaching Officer.
Last update : 10/11/2024 09:32
Category : - Courses
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