The hosting of recent WCF World Championships. (WCF World Women’s Golf Croquet Championship 2007, WCF World Association Croquet Championship 2008 and WCF World Golf Croquet Championship 2008);
The WCF Sports Regulations.

The consultation has been sent to:

WCF Member Associations;
croquet players around the world, particularly those that are or are aspiring to be world championship entrants.

Duration: From 16/03/2008 to 31/05/2008.

Enquiries to: Brian Storey, WCF Secretary-General , 3 Groby Place, Altrincham, Cheshire, WA 14 4AL, United Kingdom or via secretary@wcfcroquet.org

How to respond: By on-line form, email or post. If you do not wish to complete the whole of the consultation document, you may send any comments on the matters raised by email or post.

Following the consultation, the WCF response will be published on the WCF web site at:-
www.wcfcroquet.org

Foreword

WCF holds three World Croquet Championships which are hosted on a cyclical basis every two to three years by the major playing associations.

WCF would like to know about the experiences of players who played in the different events in 2007 and 2008.

In addition, WCF Sports Regulations govern the way in which all WCF World Championships are played. They also form the basis for similar events such as the WCF European Team Championship.

Since the formation of the WCF in 1986 leading to the first World Championship held in 1989, progress has been made in formulating the best conditions of play for WCF events. Until 2007, these were based on existing Tournament Regulations of the host association

Following a decision by WCF member associations in 2005 to form a WCF regulatory system, the Tournament Regulations of member associations were examined. In addition, decisions that have been made over time by the WCF Management Committee were also considered. The objective was to bring together in one document all the relevant regulations that direct how WCF Championships are played and the conditions that apply to them. They were and still are regarded as a living entity, ever changing to best meet future circumstances.

Since the first appearance of them in embryo form in October 2005, there have been five further revisions with a comprehensive internal review of them in late 2006. Since then some further minor changes have been made.

More importantly, experience has been gained at the three WCF World Championships played in 2007 and 2008 and one WCF European Team Championship in 2007.

Since adoption of the WCF Sports Regulations it had always been the plan of the WCF Management Committee to consult widely on the forward planning, alteration, addition, deletion and adoption of future regulations, but it was felt that WCF needed the existing regulations to be tried and tested, warts and all and hence the decision to defer consultation until now, after the WCF Council Meeting held earlier this year in New Zealand.

If the WCF Sports Regulations are to achieve their objectives in protecting and enhancing the sport, the players, officials, WCF, its member associations and particularly the WCF Championships, it must be clear what everyone expects of each other in order to comply with WCF Statutes and WCF Regulations. The existence of clear WCF Sports Regulations will enhance the overall playing experience.

Regulations should be clear, concise, give time for participants in the sport to prepare for change and should be written with the end user, the player, in mind.

This Consultation sets out in a commentary, the various factors that influence regulation and poses questions for comment on salient points.

Anyone with an interest in the sport is asked and encouraged to contribute their thoughts on the matters raised

Brian Storey
Secretary-General
World Croquet Federation

Part 1
This consultation
WCF now seeks the views from member associations, players and officials who attended the WCF events in 2007 or 2008 or who are affected by these regulations. We are also interested to hear from any other person who believes they can contribute.

The Regulations set out to provide a standard for all WCF events in the future and give an indication of what others can expect from the World Croquet Federation.

Part 2
Overview

With the host associations the WCF is committed to improving the overall playing experience at its events and also the quality of its regulation. Good Regulation is designed to change and support organisational structure and behaviour and it can only be successful if those affected understand what is required.

It is accepted few players or other third party organisations will read the sometimes complex language of a regulation in exactly the same way. This is particularly relevant where English is not a first language. It is accepted that it is essential that clarity is achieved to ensure that the overall objective is met.

The golden rules of good regulation
The WCF will attempt to meet the challenge of ensuring that any regulations are …

Based on a good understanding of the sport
Designed with input from the wider sport participants and their representative bodies
Organised around the players and organisers way of working rather than other structures.
Easy for users to understand
Reliable

The sports participants should know that any regulations will give them a good understanding of how to comply with them. While many regulations have exceptions or complexities, it should be clear how to comply in most cases and simple checklists should be used wherever possible.

Issued in good time
Easy to access

Regulations should be easily available to the sports participants. It will always be accessible through www.wcfcroquet.org . Other forms of communication will also be used where they will be effective.

Reviewed and improved

Regulations should be reviewed on a structured basis to check that they are up-to-date and continue to achieve their intended purpose.

Part 3
Scope of Consultation

All aspects of the 2007 and 2008 WCF events are under scrutiny.

In relation to the WCF Sports Regulations, Regulations 1 to 4 are exempt from this consultation.

They cover such details of the:-

Recognised games;
Qualification of a player to represent a country;
Definition of a National;
Age Limits.

They mirror the requirements of the WCF Statutes and in particular, WCF Rules 301 to 306. They cannot be changed except by vote of WCF Full Member Associations and consequently are outside the scope of this consultation.

Part 4
How to respond

To capture all your views, we ask that you please complete the on-line questionnaire at: www.wcfcroquet.org . Alternatively you may send your comments by email or post to the Secretary-General.

In the questionnaire you are not obliged to answer any question, particularly those that ask for demographic information but it will be of help in assessing the experience of the respondents and gauging if responses have in any way been influenced by age, gender or where a person plays the sport.

You will also be given the opportunity to identify yourself with a contact email or telephone number. It is possible that your response will initiate queries where WCF would like to contact you for further consultation. You do not have to identify yourself to complete this questionnaire.

Responses to this consultation must be received by 31st May 2008.

Help with queries
Questions, comments or complaints about this consultation and the policy issues raised in the document can be addressed to the Secretary-General.

Confidentiality & Data Protection
All information provided in response to this consultation, including personal information, are protected by the United Kingdom Data Protection Act 1998 (DPA).

Any personal data provided will be anonymised for the eventual publication of the results of the consultation and the ensuing new edition of the WCF Sports Regulations.

Where a respondent has chosen to identify themselves, that information will be kept in a secure, password protected environment in the home of the Secretary-General.

Extent
This questionnaire has been sent to:-