Course prospectuses

Introduction to Club-Level Tournament Management Course
Do you want to run a local tournament for your club members (or those around)? Are you keen to learn from those with experience? Then this is the course for you. 

This one-day course will focus on the practicalities of preparing for, running and winding up a tournament. It will explore various methods of constructing a draw and how to deal with short notice alterations. The implications of Level, Handicap and Advantage Play will be covered. 

By the end of the course, you will be able to manage a club-level tournament confidently.

Becoming a Coach - 2-Day Course
Do you want to become a qualified coach, either AC or GC? If you have a working knowledge of the Basic Laws of AC, or the Rules of GC, as appropriate (the only pre-condition), then this is the course for you. 

The CqE approved course, delivered both on the courts and in the classroom by a CqE Examining Coach, through a mixture of lecture, demonstration, group-work, discussion and practical sessions, will develop your coaching expertise & confidence by ensuring you are able to: plan coaching courses and deliver lessons; coach specific skills and tactics, and explain the basics of both AC Laws / GC Rules.

At the end of the course there is a formal coaching assessment, preparing you to be qualified as an accredited Club-Level Coach and / or Graded AC or
Graded GC Coach. More details about the coaching qualification are on the CqE website at 
https://www.croquet.org.uk/?p=tournament/caCalendar&calInfoID=6

A coaching qualification subsidy of £25 per person (one-time per coaching level) is available to CqE associates (and this is already taken into account in the course fee). Some Federations offer further financial support to be applied for personally after the course. 

AC - Becoming a Referee - 2 plus 1-Day Course
Do you want to learn more about the AC Laws or even become a qualified AC referee? Then, in either case, this is the course for you. Potential referees will be given priority.

Players intending to become qualified referees must have a good working knowledge of the Laws before attending the course.

The 2-day course, delivered on the courts/in the classroom by a CQE AC Examining Referee, will develop your knowledge of the AC Laws and your ability to apply them to a competitive game.

Preparatory material will be made available before the course. There will be a mix of time on the lawns for the practical aspects and sessions indoors to consider the more theoretical aspects of the game. Training on the interpretation of the rules will be given on the first two days.

On the third day, which may or may not follow on directly from the 2-day course, participants will sit the 70 min written examination and be assessed with an on-court test. 

If you pass both the end-of-course written exam and practical test, and are a CqE associate, you will be registered as a qualified AC referee and awarded your AC refereeing badge.

More information on the course content is at https://www.croquet.org.uk/?p=games/association/refereeing/RTC-Manual/section_2

A one-time AC refereeing qualification subsidy of £25 per person for those taking the exam is available to CqE associates (and this is already taken into account in the course fee). Some Federations offer further financial support to be applied for personally after the course. 

GC - Becoming a Referee Blended Learning Course
Do you want to learn more about the GC rules or even become a qualified GC referee? Then, in either case, this is course for you.

There are two elements to the training:

• A package of online referee training modules, designed to be read over a 6-week period, to be absorbed in your own time before attending the course.
• A 2-day course, delivered on the courts and in the classroom by a CqE Examining Referee, will develop your knowledge of the GC Rules and  your ability to apply them to a competitive game.

If you pass the end-of-course written exam and practical test, and are a CqE associate, you will be registered as a qualified GC referee and awarded your GC refereeing badge.

More information about becoming a referee is at: https://www.croquet.org.uk/?p=games/golf/refereeing

A one-time GC refereeing qualification subsidy of £25 per person for those taking the exam is available to CqE associates (and this is already taken into account in the course fee). Some Federations offer further financial support to be applied for personally after the course. 

GC Referee Refresher Afternoon Seminar
This half-day seminar allows qualified GC to explore their knowledge of the GC rules through discussion and practical sessions, guided by Ian Shore, an Examining and Championship Referee as well as a member of the GC Rules Committee.

Analysis of stroke videos will be included, as will time on the lawns (weather permitting).  By the end of the seminar participants will be more confident in their understanding of the GC Rules and referees will be more capable of giving consistent on-court rulings.

Coaching the Swing with the Swing Doctor
This course is provided for qualified coaches who want to be able to analyse a player’s swing and suggest remedial activities for improvement.

The course will cover:

• Assessment of the player’s need
• Classification of swings
• Common faults
• Components of a good swing
• By the end of the course the coach will be more confident in analysing a player’s swing and recommending how it can be improved.

A Day with a Lionel Tibble (Openings, Leaves and Peels)
This is an opportunity to learn from Lionel Tibble, a Grade 3 AC Coach, AC Referee and AC Handicapper.

Topics will be drawn from AC Openings, Leaves and Peels to meet the requirements of those participating, with the opportunity to both share and learn.

By the end of the day participants will have been stimulated and encouraged as they seek to raise their game.

One-2-One with Cliff Jones
This is an opportunity to have exclusive time with one of Croquet England’s foremost coaches. Sessions are normally available for 1-hour and can cover any croquet-related subject the participant prefers. 

These sessions improve player’s confidence and give them lessons they can apply in their competitive games.

A Clinic with the Swing Doctor!
This is an opportunity to have your swing diagnosed by Dr Raouf Allim, a swing specialist. The one-hour clinic is one-on-one on the court and involves close observation of your swing in various situations. The Dr will then diagnose any faults found and prescribe remedies (none available on the NHS!). Attending one of these clinics will increase your confidence in your ability to strike the ball correctly and to analyse your swing in the future.

AC – Introduction to the Triple Peel Course
Are you an AC player, with a handicap of 8 or better, capable of a 12-hoop break and wanting to learn the basics of the Triple Peel? Then this one-day AC course, both on the lawns, and with some time in the classroom, is for you. 

You will be shown, and be encouraged to experience the development of, the various tactical options that, when taken together, will allow you to complete a Triple Peel.

By the end of the course, participants will have improved their understanding of how to build a Triple Peel.

AC – Improving Your Game for Intermediate Players Course
Are you an AC player, with a handicap of between 6 to 14, capable of a 4-hoop break and wanting to extend your turns?  Then this one-day AC course, mainly on the courts although with some time in the classroom, is for you.

You will be shown, and be encouraged to experience the development of, the various tactical options that, when taken together, will allow you to complete a 12-hoop break.

By the end of the course participants will have improved their understanding of how to build towards a 12-hoop break.

AC - Building Better Breaks Course
Are you an AC Player in the H’cap range 11 to 18, who, while understanding the basics, would like to improve your stroke play and tactics in setting up and continuing breaks (with or without bisques)? 

This one-day AC course will coach you in the range of strokes and tactics required to extend a turn.

By the end of the course you will have improved your ability to play extended breaks.

SC – Introduction to Short Croquet Course
This one-day course is for those seeking a new croquet challenge; are curious about Short Croquet (SC); and /or are wanting to enter an SC Tournament, but not played SC yet. 

SC is a helpful 'stepping stone' for GC players wanting to start playing AC. The CqE is promoting this variant of the game, so this one-day SC course, mainly on the lawns, although with some time in the classroom, is being made available for you.

Course content will focus on introducing players reasonably experienced in either AC or GC, or both, to the delights of SC.

By the end of the course, participants will understand all that SC has to offer, have experienced its benefits, and have every opportunity to take up the opportunities to play this growing variant of the game of croquet.

GC - Honing Your Competitive Edge Course
Are you an experienced GC player, within the handicap range 7 to 10, who would like to improve your tactical play by participating in a proactive 1-day course? Then this is the course for you.

In addition to exploring standard tactical situations, the course will explore the skills required to take advantage of these tactics. It will also consider how knowledge of GC rules can be used to gain tactical advantage.

By the end of the course participants will be better able to create tactical advantages during their GC games.

GC - Playing to Advantage and other GC Rules Afternoon Seminar
This half-day seminar allows qualified GC referees and experienced players to update their knowledge of the GC Rules, with a particular emphasis on the Advantage Play Rule.

The seminar will involve participants in discussion and practical sessions, guided by Ian Shore, an Examining and Championship Referee as well as
a member of the GC Rules Committee.

Analysis of stroke videos will be included, as will time on the lawns (weather permitting).  The aim is that, by the end of the seminar, GC
referees will be more capable of giving consistent on-court rulings.

GC - Raising Your Game to A-Level Course
Are you a GC B-Level player, (i.e. GC handicap of 3 to 7), wanting to improve your game through attending a one-day course? Then this course, with time mainly on the courts, although some classroom material is included, is for you.

The course covers personal skills, use of advanced tactics, mental approach and knowledge of the GC rules.

By the end of the course participants will have learnt how to raise their competitiveness to A-Level increasing their enjoyment of the game. 

GC - Raising Your Game to B-Level Course
Are you a GC C-Level player (i.e. GC handicap 7 to 9), keen to reduce your handicap to B-Level by improving your game?  Then this one-day GC course, with a mix of time on the courts and in the classroom, is for you. 

Course content will be driven by the needs of those attending, drawn from: improving your strokes; understanding tactical scenarios; mind games; making best use of Extra Strokes and playing against them, Advantage Play and competing in matches and tournaments. 

By the end of the course participants will be prepared for a significant improvement in their handicap.

GC - Improving Your Game Course
If you have a handicap in the range GC handicap 5 to 9 and want to improve your game, this is the 1-day course for you.

The course will give you the opportunity to:

• Learn how to improve your mallet/ball skills by applying best practice.
• Be introduced to common tactical situations and how to decide what to do.
• Consider how one's mental approach can influence the outcome of the game.
• Gain a better understanding of the common rules. 
• Learn how to get more out of your club and Croquet England membership.

By the end of the course, you will have raised your competitiveness potential and thus your enjoyment of the game.

GC - Improving Your Game for C-Level Players Course
Are you a GC C-Level player (i.e. GC handicap 7 to 9), keen to improve your game?  Then this one-day GC course, with a mix of time on the courts and in the classroom, is for you.

Course content will be driven by the needs of those attending, drawn from: improving your strokes; understanding basic tactical scenarios; mind games; making best use of Extra Strokes and playing against them, Advantage Play and competing in matches and tournaments.

By the end of the course participants will have learnt how to improve their game.

GC - Firm Foundations Course
If you have played a bit of GC, perhaps have a high handicap (10+) or have not yet got one, and now want to improve your game by receiving first class coaching, this is the course for you.

The course will give you the opportunity to:

• Learn how to improve your mallet/ball skills by applying best practice.
• Be introduced to common tactical situations and how to decide what to do.
• Consider how one's mental approach can influence the outcome of the game.
• Gain a better understanding of the common rules.
• Learn how to get more out of your club and Croquet Association membership.

By the end of the course, you will have raised your competitiveness potential and thus your enjoyment of the game.

GC - Increasing Your Enjoyment of Golf Croquet
Would you like to be able to play better so that you get more enjoyment from the game? This course is focused less on the competitive element of the game more on the satisfaction of playing as well as one can. The course, aimed at high handicappers, will cover how to be more consistent and how to make the best decisions.

By the end of the course players will have learnt how to improve their skills and employ better tactics.

GC - Fun Coaching Morning!
This course is focused on local players who want less ‘chalk and talk’ and more activity on the court.

The course is designed around 8 different practice routines, which focus on different croquet playing mallet/ball skills. Players cycle around each, testing their skill against the set standard.

By the end of the course participants will have been challenged by a range of practice exercises, which they can use subsequently to improve their game.