There are a number of coaching courses for Association Croquet, ranging from coaching schoolchildren right up to the coaching of elite players. As good and as comprehensive as these courses are, there doesn’t seem to be a coaching course for players who have chosen to specialize in Golf Croquet. Yet, Golf Croquet as a game in its own right has expanded exponentially in recent years, and many clubs find that the Golf Croquet contingent are contributing both financially and socially to the wellbeing of those clubs. Golf Croquet players now have Pennants competitions and local, regional, State, Australian and World championships.
There is a need for Golf Croquet to have their own competent coaches - players who can introduce beginners to their game, so that they acquire the best possible skills for the strokes they play during the game. At this point in time, all club coaching is done by (hopefully) a nationally accredited Beginner Coach or Level 1 coach, who is an association player, but the reality is that in many clubs, potential golf croquet players are given a quick ½ or 1 hr introduction to the game by someone in the club and then put into a game. Yet the same player, if they showed an interest in learning about Association Croquet would be exposed to an indeterminate number of lessons until it was felt they were competent to play ‘Aussie Croquet’ or ‘Ricochet’ or whatever and eventually Association croquet. Certainly, the skills required for Association croquet are complex, but again the skills of Golf Croquet, while not being as difficult to learn, are still the basis for an understanding of the strokes and tactics the player will use on the court.
Since becoming State Coaching Director I have received quite a few inquiries from golf croquet players wanting to undertake some coach training specifically aimed at introducing beginners to Golf Croquet, and also wanting to improve the standard of play. My interest was aroused by the enthusiasm of these inquirers and the realization that there was a need for a skills-based coaching course to be available to interested golf croquet players who were keen to expand and improve their game and teach others. As a spin off, there is the added advantage of Golf Croquet players who move across to Association Croquet not having to unlearn acquired bad habits.
I have trialed such a course recently, using players from Toronto and Muswellbrook Clubs as guinea-pigs. It took about 4 hours and involved learning how to teach all facets the stroke-making necessary for golf croquet, with lots of discussion of how these skills could be reinforced. It was completely skills based and it was noticeable that the participants became much more critically aware of their own skills level and how to remedy flaws in technique. I am keen to continue to trial the course to iron out any hiccups - I need some golf croquet players who would like to learn how to teach their game to newcomers!
Betty Brown
State Coaching Director
Croquet NSW Inc.
21 October 2005
For further information click
to email Betty, or telephone (02) 4332 5260 evenings.