Are You Playing or Practising? A Top Player Explains the Difference
Learn the critical difference between playing and deliberate practice. This expert guide provides a blueprint to structure your training and unlock your true potential on the lawn
Forget Retirement Trips, I Joined Croquet and Played Around the World
Think croquet is just a game played on a local park lawn? Read how Beryl went from beginner to representing Australia in China in just one year. Discover the competitive side of croquet.
When Beryl started playing croquet in 2009, she was looking for a new sport. Within a year, she was representing Australia overseas.
Most people picture croquet as a quiet game on a local lawn. It can be. But there's another side to the sport: state championships, national titles, and international competition. Beryl found that out quickly.
Beryl went from beginner to international competitor in under a year.
The opportunities came faster than she expected. Within months of joining her local club, Beryl was selected for a Queensland team. Then came the invitation to represent Australia in China.
That first international trip opened a door. Since then, Beryl has competed in New Zealand, Japan, the UK, and across Australia. Each tournament brings a new venue, a new set of opponents, and another stamp in the passport.
Croquet has taken Beryl to tournaments and clubs across the world.
The croquet calendar runs year-round. Regional competitions in Queensland. State championships. National titles in different cities each year. And for players who want it, international events that take you to clubs you'd never otherwise visit.
Competition is a big part of the appeal. Croquet isn't just about hitting balls through hoops. It's positional. You're thinking two or three shots ahead, blocking your opponent's path, setting up your next break. Every decision matters.
Every shot matters. You're always thinking.
Beyond the strategy and travel, there's the community. Tournament players get to know each other. You see the same faces at state events, catch up at nationals, run into someone you played in Auckland three years ago. The friendships cross club boundaries and, eventually, borders.
Croquet can be whatever you want it to be. A relaxing social game at your local club. A weekly competition against familiar opponents. Or, if you're willing to put in the practice, a path to representing your state or country. Beryl wasn't looking for international travel when she joined. She found it anyway.
Explore the different codes of croquet and check the tournament calendar to see what's coming up.
[Link to CAQ Events Page / Information on Competitive Play]
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