The World Croquet Federation (WCF) is committed by its objectives to developing the sport of croquet around the world, and to assisting its members as they develop the game in their respective countries. The WCF Development Programme, complements and supports the WCF Objective of "employing funds of the Federation as may be deemed appropriate" and provides a consistent source of support for all WCF Members, whereby, subject to these regulations, it entitles each WCF Member and Confederation to loans or grants of WCF resources for the purpose of developing croquet in their part of the world.

The WCF Development Programme falls under the auspices of the WCF Development Committee under the supervision of the WCF Management Committee. With these regulations, and with input from all involved parties, we will be able to reach our objectives in a quicker and more efficient manner.

These WCF Development Regulations have been approved by the WCF Management Committee to guide the whole programme. They will control the relationship between WCF, the national associations, confederations, and the WCF Development offices around the world in all matters relating to the ambitious WCF Development Programme. Under the terms of these regulations, national associations are deemed to be those members of WCF duly admitted to membership in accordance with Rule 2 of the WCF Rules.

The Regulations contain information on the objectives, selection criteria, procedure, rights, duties, and the financial aspects of the WCF Development Programme.

They are intended to increase transparency regarding the use of funds, facilitate good governance principles, and encourage long-term planning for WCF Members and the Confederations. Combined with the diligence and daily work of the WCF Development Committee, WCF Members and the Confederations, it will positively support the planning and development of croquet - in the pursuit of excellence!

 

• Download

  • WCF Development Application (68kb) (Microsoft Word format)
  • WCF Development Regulations (624kb) (Adobe pdf format)
  • Details of the Programme in seven languages (185kb) (Microsoft Powerpoint slide-show format)

 

Volunteers

The WCF is embarking on a major new initiative, the “WCF Development Programme”.

Applications for the funding of likely projects are now being actively sought from WCF Member Associations.

In anticipation of the response, WCF now needs to recruit people with suitable qualifications and expertise that can be used to fulfil the following roles:-

Coaches and Examining Referees of Association and Golf Croquet suitably qualified in their own WCF Member Association. Ideally they should be fluent in one or more language other than their own native tongue.

The purpose is to facilitate visits to other member nations to coach, train and examine their nationals to a suitable standard to become coaches and referees operating in the developing nation.

Any person with the skills, qualifications, time and inclination should forward a CV or Resume to the WCF Secretary-General.

All posts will be unpaid and will involve a commitment of providing their time free. However, where necessary, all transport costs will be paid via the WCF Development Programme. Other costs may be payable subject to local agreement with the relevant WCF Member Association although it is envisaged that no costs will be incurred by the volunteer.

• Italy - Golf Croquet Coaching 2006
• Germany - Association Croquet Coaching 2006
• England - Association Laws Course 2007

Italian Croquet Federation Golf Croquet Coaching Course 2006

The WCF Development Programme gets off to a good start

UK based croquet coach, Michael Hague, spent last week end near the magnificent city of Milan, in Lombardy, Italy, but he was not just drinking the Barolo from nearby Piedmont or sampling Osso Buco.

Instead, he had given up his free time to act a coach and leader to an Italian Croquet Federation Golf Croquet Course.

The course consisted of a Friday evening teaching selected Italian players the rudiments of becoming coaches, a Saturday of them then teaching others under his supervision and finally, a Sunday mini-competition to test what they all had learned.

Michael, a retired army Brigadier, said, “The whole week-end was a great success and will undoubtedly play a part in the development of the Italian Federation towards coaching self sufficiency.

Deutscher Krocket Bund Association Croquet Coaching Course

9-10th June 2006

• Report
• Photographs

Report by Joern Vinnen (President of the Deutscher Krocket Bund)

Earlier this month, fourteen participants from as far as Berlin and the Westerwald (450 km distant) found their way to the three privately owned lawns of the Oldenburger Croquetfreunde at Ellens close to Wilhelmshaven, Germany to attend an Association Croquet Coaching Course.

Most of the players had experience in Golf Croquet though only a few ever played Association; a fact that was due to change during the weekend to come.

It was world class player, Colin Irwin, who most generously spent three days of his time at Ellens and the WCF that helped to sponsor the project through the WCF Development Programme.

Although the concepts of Association Croquet were not always easy to grasp, it was fun to come & to play, especially since each of the players was highly motivated and eager to learn. All the players were excited to try to play a break themselves. Blue sky, 25 C, carefully prepared lawns, good food and drink and an excellent dinner in the nearby hotel Friesische Wehde added to the demanding but very patient coaching experience that Colin provided to the future Association Croquet Champions.

All the players found it helpful that Colin spoke German throughout the weekend and by the end of Sunday, the participants started to believe Colin when repeating over and over: "If you do all the shots correctly there is not a single difficult shot - it's easy !" Coaching and practise went on until sunset, and the good mood, food and drink also played a part. As usual at Ellens, this was provided by Dr. Frank Rothe and his wife Claudia and the Saturday evening ended with a delicious dinner for all who had worked so hard all day long.

After a short-tournament on Sunday the coaching ended on Sunday evening with all players getting a nice handcrafted certificate of participation.

Everybody went home, hungry for more, and it is to hope that the fruits of this coaching will be seen soon on the national level.

All participants, as well as Deutscher Krocket Bund thank Colin, Dr. Rothe and his team and the WCF Development Programme for their enormous efforts. It's a busy time for the Deutscher Krocket Bund. Next weekend the German AC Championships are played in Schifferstadt and on 21/23rd July there is fully booked International German Open GC in Hamburg with players from 3 continents. On 2-3rd September, Germany play a test match against Sweden in Hamburg, whilst in May 2007, the Czech-Morovian CA will play a challenge match.

Joern Vinnen, chairman of the German Croquet Association (left), Murat Ueranuez, Patrick Gottschalk (back), Nina Mesecke (front), Rainer Kaltenthaler (back), Peter Eckford-Jones (front), Sven-Olaf Jung (back), Priska Vinnen (front), Iris Stadie (back) Dr. Eberhard Zeh (back), Christine Abendroth (front), Dr. Frank Rothe (kneeling), Sieglinde Zeh (back) Colin Irwin (right).

Colin Irwin (left) , Sieglinde Zeh, Priska Vinnen, Dr. Eberhard Zeh, Nina Mesecke, Sven-Olaf Jung, Christine Abendroth, Peter Eckford-Jones (right).

Sieglinde Zeh (left), Colin Irwin, Dr. Eberhard Zeh, Nina Mesecke, Sven-Olaf Jung, Christine Abendroth, Peter Eckford-Jones, Dr. Frank Rothe, Iris Stadie, Patrick Gottschalk, Murat Ueranuez, Rainer Kaltenthaler (right).

Colin Irwin (coach), Joern Vinnen (Chairman), Claudia Rothe (host), Dr. Frank Rothe (host).

Croquet Association Association Croquet Laws Course

17th - 18th March 2007

Photographs

Media Report

This last week-end saw a Laws Course for budding referees being held at Bowdon, England.

Under the Directorship of Barry Keen, the course was designed to introduce the finer points of the laws of croquet to players and then, if they wished, to move on to taking a referees examination.

Joining in this process was the World Croquet Federation, who had kindly been given places for non UK players to attend and had subsequently subsidised their travel.

Taking up this opportunity were two players from Sweden, Simon Carlsson and Ulf Söderberg and three from Norway, Roar Michalsen, Birger Stene and the Norwegian CA President, Tore Gulbrandsen.

There are no qualified referees in Sweden or Norway at this time.

The British weather of a cold wind and hail made them all feel at home. The course lasted two full days with classroom discussion on the Laws, on the lawn demonstrations of the finer points and practical hints and tips on refereeing shots and decision making.

The WCF would like to thank Barry Keen, the English North West Federation of Croquet Clubs for arranging the course, local hosts Colin and Chris Irwin and Ian Lines for their hospitality and the Bowdon Club for use of their facilities.

The WCF hope to continue an involvement in future laws courses for its membership. In the pipeline, is the formation of two WCF Referees Committees, for Association and Golf Croquet, to oversee best practice and achieve referee training consistency around the croquet playing world.

Plans have already been laid to host a Laws Course in Norway later this year, with another in Germany in 2008.

Where on the yard-line?

 

From	Date	For	Progress
Suomen Krokettiliitto (Finland Croquet Association)	16th April 2008	500GPD To defray costs of translating Laws and Rules of the Games into the Finnish language.	Awarded 500GBP on 21st April 2008
(Austrian Croquet Association)	10th May 2007	<400euro Cost of production of coaching manual in the German language	Awarded 400euro on 30th May 2007
(Austrian Croquet Association)	10th May 2007	<150GPD Assistance for coaching AssociationCroquet in 2007	Awarded 75GBP on 30th May 2007
(Norwegian Croquet Association)	14th May 2007	<1650GPD To defray costs of entering their first team tournament: FEC European Team Championship 2007	Awarded 550GBP on 30th May 2007
Suomen Krokettiliitto (Finland Croquet Association)	28th March 2007	<500GPD To defray costs of entering their first team tournament: FEC European Team Championship 2007	415GBP on 11th April 2007
Deutscher Krocket Bund (German Croquet Association)	3rd February 2007	<250GPD Assistance for a referees coaching course in 2008	Awarded 250GBP on 23rd February 2007
Deutscher Krocket Bund (German Croquet Association)	3rd February 2007	<250GPD Assistance for coaching AssociationCroquet in 2007	Awarded 250GBP on 23rd February 2007
Svenska Croquetförbundet (Swedish Croquet Association)	27th January 2007	£152 (GBPAssistance in attending Laws Course in the UK.	Awarded £152 (GBP) on 12th February 2007
Norges Croquet Forbund (Norwegian Croquet Association)	29th January 2007	£382 (GBP)Assistance in attending Laws Course in the UK.	Awarded £382 (GBP) on 12th February 2007
Federazione Italiana Sport Croquet (Italian Croquet Federation)	17th December 2005	<350EURO Assistance for coaching Golf Croquet in 2006.	Awarded 350Euro on 5th January 2006
Federazione Italiana Sport Croquet (Italian Croquet Federation)	17th December 2005	<2750EURO To pay for shortfall of income in promotional croquet tournament in 2005	Declined due to it being a retrospective application.
Federazione Italiana Sport Croquet (Italian Croquet Federation)	17th December 2005	<3000EURO To production of Promotional Croquet DVD	Awarded 1000Euro on 5th January 2006
Deutscher Krocket Bund (German Croquet Association)	10th November 2005	Assistance for coaching AssociationCroquet in 2006	Awarded 250GBP on 5th December 2005