Color Order AC

Forward by Pete Trimmer

Why do we play croquet? To see who is best? For the challenge? For the fun/interest? There are many reasons that people play. However, at the top level, a game of Association Croquet (AC) often comes down to just a couple of shots – hit or missed. For some years, players have been looking for an improvement that makes the game more interactive and worthwhile as an interesting test of players’ abilities. The game of Color-Order AC (COAC) achieves this by simple rule changes, resulting in interesting tactical variations. The new game is often more demanding of players at both the mental and physical level if they want to pick-up breaks, achieve good leaves and complete peeling turns.

COAC is thus a better measure of who is the better of the players, by increasing the challenge and interest (and with those, the fun) of the game.

This book lays out the simple rule changes before explaining some of the key tactics that top players are likely to use under the new rules. This includes a method of knowing, with several hoops to go, whether balls are currently being used in the most useful sequence as they flow between positions (pioneer, pivot and reception balls) in a natural progression, along with methods of switching the balls in a useful way during breaks.

This book is the result of combined work by Howard Sosin (who originally conceived the general idea), Paddy Chapman (AC World Champion) and Ben Rothman (GC World Champion and AC World Finalist), who together have developed the ideas into this refined, consistent and insightful book.

I wish you much joy with the new game!

Pete Trimmer
Former British Men’s Champion and US Open Champion
Editor and co-author of Beyond Expert Croquet Tactics