About the WCF

What is the WCF?

The World Croquet Federation is the international organising body for the sport of croquet.

The WCF is a members' organisation, comprising national associations that are recognised by the WCF as having control of the sport in their own countries. Certain conditions are specified for membership and provided these are met, application for membership can be made at any time. There are three categories of membership, Full, Associate and Observer. Full status carries the benefit of a number of votes, determined by the size of the member association's own membership. Full and Associate members are entitled to send at least one representative to any WCF World Championship event. The WCF main function is to act as a co-ordinating body for the sport - promoting development and organising world championships.

What croquet variants does it recognise?

WCF recognises all variants of the sport including:-

• Association Croquet
• Golf Croquet
• Short Croquet
• Two-ball Croquet
• U.S. Six-wicket Croquet
• U.S. Nine-wicket Croquet
• Garden Croquet
• Extreme Croquet
• Ancient Croquet

The WCF organises world championships in Association Croquet (AC) and Golf Croquet (GC).

How many members are there?

There are currently 30 members of the WCF across 5 continents. 11 are Full members, 6 Associate members and the remainder are Observer members.

What are its principles and objectives?

At the inception of WCF in 1986 certain principles and objectives were established to promote the sport of croquet throughout the world. These are enshrined in the WCF Statutes. The relevant statute is reproduced below:

103. PRINCIPLES AND OBJECTIVES

(103.1)  The Vision of the WCF is to make Croquet a well-known, well-understood, well-respected and well-supported sport in countries throughout the world.

The principles and objectives of the WCF, to help achieve this vision are:

(103.2) To promote, develop and codify recognised versions of the sport of Croquet ("the Games") internationally at all levels.

(103.3) To uphold and enforce the rules and laws of the Games.

(103.4) To promote international team and individual championships, maintaining a rolling 10 Year Schedule of proposed and planned events.

(103.5) To make and uphold Regulations for international championships.

(103.6) To recognise certain championships by sanctioning or licensing them to be held under the auspices of the WCF.

(103.7) To employ the funds of the WCF as may be deemed appropriate to develop and realise the vision.

(103.8) To increase, by joint action, the influence of Members in dealings with other sports governing bodies and with local and national authorities.

(103.9) To preserve the independence of the WCF in all matters regarding its relations with Members.

(103.10) To control WCF events played in any nation, but only when the appropriate Member has reached prior agreement with WCF to be the host.

(103.11) To maintain a website and publish a newsletter periodically to aid exchange of information.

(103.12) To make awards to those who have contributed to the achievement of the WCF’s aims.

(103.13) To uphold these principles and objectives.

(103.14) To take such general measures as are expedient for advancing the international interests of the Games.

(103.15) To uphold a commitment to non-racial and non-discriminatory sport.

(103.16) To ensure the observance of the WCF Statutes and Regulations.