About the Four Codes of Croquet Played

Association Croquet 

Association Croquet (AC) is the traditional form of the popular garden game. It is best described as a "race" in which the players attempt to be the first to complete the courses of hoops and the peg with both balls on their side. Progress is made by sticking a ball with a mallet and propelling the balls through the hoops in a specific order. AC is based on a "break" - as in snooker, billiards and pool - in which the right may be earned to play a succession of extra strokes. It is possible to play a break of up to 91 strokes in which the striker's ball will have been made to pass through twelve hoops and then strike the centre peg.

Golf Croquet

Golf Croquet is the fastest-growing version of the sport of Croquet. This is due mainly to its simplicity of learning and play, however, there is a certain amount of strategic skill required to be successful. Golf Croquet is won by a player hitting their ball through each hoop. Each player takes a turn hitting a ball through the same hoop in the sequence of blue, red, black, and yellow. Blue and black balls play against red and yellow. The player or team that wins the most hoops is declared the winner.

Ricochet

Ricochet was developed in the 1980s as an easy-to-learn version that can easily be used as a step-up to Association Croquet. It was originally developed in Adelaide, Australia by John Riches and Tom Armstrong. Ricochet has similar rules to Association Croquet with the difference being that when a ball is ricochet it remains live and two free shots are earned. This enables the strikers' ball to play closer to an opponent's ball and ricochet that as well which earns a further two free shots. In addition to these rules when a player runs a hoop they earn one free shot.

Gateball

Gateball is a mallet sport similar to croquet.  It is a fast-paced, non-contact, highly-strategic team game, which can be played by anyone regardless of age or gender.  Gateball has been played in Australia since the 1990s and it is played by millions of people throughout Asia and South America.
Gateball Australia is the business name for the Australian Croquet Association’s Gateball activities. Gateball Australia maintains its own website which you can find here. You will find lots of information including the rules, tips and strategies, refereeing and coaching support and information about Gateball events.