WACA HANDICAPPING SUBCOMMITTEE

POLICY DOCUMENTS ASSOCIATION CROQUET

SEPTEMBER 2008

The WACA handicapping system for Association croquet follows the ACA system (as revised December 2006),available in full on the ACA website www.croquet-australia.com.au , with the following major variations:

1. Handicaps are adjusted solely by the State Handicapper.

2. Handicaps do not change in the course of an event of short duration.

3. Individual cards are not currently used within WA.

Central records are kept. The list of handicaps is up-dated and published periodically after the State Handicapper (Association) has received the results from participating events.

The latest WA list is available on the Croquetwest website www.croquetwest.org.au .

4. Non-automatic changes are made only by the State Handicapper.

Club Handicappers/Committees are not empowered to make changes to official handicaps. They direct their requests and recommendations to the State Handicapper, with supporting evidence.

5. The State Handicapper is the Tournament Handicapper in WA.

6. Players are not responsible for the accuracy of their handicap but are encouraged to monitor index changes and contact the State Handicapper if they perceive an error.

7. Players intending to play outside the state need to apply to the State Handicapper for an official handicap card for use while absent. This card must be submitted to the State Handicapper on their return so that the official WA record can be up-dated.

WA uses the principles set out in the ACA Handicapping System. The variations are solely

in the administration of the system.

SPECIAL NOTE

The attention of Club officials is drawn to the Croquet Australia Handicapping Regulations (Association Croquet) page 6 Item 10 New Players…Guidelines – the last three bullet points (www.croquet-australia.com.au) relating to the correct use of handicaps 24,22 and 20.

From 1 September 2008, these provisions will become standard practice in WA. It will be necessary for clubs to inform the State Handicapper of the progress of new players.

It follows that the highest handicap for a player in a WACA or WACA-recognised event will be 20.

Note also page 8 Further Guidelines …Handicap changes - Players whose index falls below 900

From 1 September 2008 this provision will become standard practice in WA.

“No player ever returns to a Handicap of 22 or 24.”

POLICY FUNDAMENTALS & DEFINITIONS OF TERMS USED

ASSOCIATION CROQUET

The handicap system is based on results of games in participating events.

A participating event is one recognised by the WACA and complying with the current Regulations for Tournaments and the Laws of Association Croquet, in which official WACA handicaps apply and in which games are singles play.

This includes also Interstate, National and International events.

Club events such as club play championships may be recognised as participating events if the playing conditions meet the criteria stated below. Full details must accompany the submission of results. The State Handicapper’s decision is final.

Registered players are players affiliated with the WACA through their home club. Players affiliated with another State Association within Australia or overseas players affiliated to a Croquet Organisation which is a member of the World Croquet Federation are classified as registered players if their entry has been accepted in a participating event in WA.

Changes to each player’s index are made at the conclusion of the event according to the table on the AHS Card. Such changes are referred to as automatic changes.

A player’s handicap changes when his/her index reaches or passes a trigger point as listed and explained on the AHS card.

A change of handicap becomes effective immediately the State Handicapper has authorised it. The date of such authorisation will appear on the published update list. Where there is a delay getting the new list on to the website, or out to clubs by any other agreed method, the State Handicapper will ensure that the Match Subcommittee and/or an organising club is informed in time for a forthcoming event. Calculations for automatic changes to an index will always be made using the correct official handicap in force at the time of play of the relevant match.

Non-automatic changes are made by the State Handicapper principally where the automatic system is not working appropriately for a particular player, eg for a new player, a fast-improving player, or for a player playing very few competitive singles games.

Such changes are based on evidence. (Refer ACA Handicapping Regulations paragraph 4)

The principal sources of evidence will be personal observation by the State Handicapper, Club-initiated requests, Club ranking lists and Tournament Managers’ recommendations. In this context, a player’s performance in Doubles events may be used as evidence.

For events with handicap restrictions or limits, a player’s eligibility is established by his/her correct handicap at the closing date of entries.

In all events a player must play on the handicap in force at the start of the event and all index calculations will be based on that handicap.

Exception:

In a long-running event, ie with play over more than a 2 week period, handicap changes take effect as soon as the State Handicapper authorises them. A player must play on the handicap in force on the day of play.

A player’s eligibility for the event in progress will not be affected by such a change in handicap.

Club Ranking List. At least once a year, Clubs are requested to submit to the State Handicapper a list of all players of Association croquet in the club, ranked according to perceived current performance with no reference to their handicap.

Club Requests for a non-automatic change for a player may be submitted at any time.

Annual Handicap List will be updated and published for the start of the new playing season.

This list will include all registered players with a current handicap for Association croquet.

Update Lists published periodically during the playing year will only include active players.

An active player has played in at least one WACA or WACA-recognised event in the previous eighteen months.

CRITERIA FOR A PARTICIPATING EVENT

The event will include all the following features.

· All players will be registered players.

· Players will use their correct WACA handicap in force at the commencement of the event or their handicap in force on the day of play in an event classed as long-running.

A long-running event involves play over more than two weeks.

· Play will be in accordance with the current Regulations for Tournaments (adopted 6 March 2008 and available on the website www.croquet-australia.com.au .) The current Laws of Association Croquet will apply (6^th edition amended January 2008)

· Games will be of not less than two and a quarter hours and not more than three hours in duration except in a best-of-three event.

· A best-of-three event will have a total time frame of seven and a half hours, with a notional limit of three hours for the first game, two and a half hours for the second game and two hours for the third game. Unused time accumulates from one game to the next.

· Results from all games will be submitted for handicapping purposes either for automatic changes (advanced singles or advanced handicap singles play) or as evidence (doubles play).

· The event will normally be concluded within a three week period.

· Results from a long running event will include details of the date when each match was played and the handicap used by each player on the day.

The Handicapping Subcommittee will make the decision whether results from an event can be accepted for handicapping purposes where there is any doubt that the stated criteria have been respected.

PROCEDURE FOR PROCESSING HANDICAP CHANGES AFTER AN EVENT

The preferred method of publishing current handicap information will be via the website.

www.croquetwest.org.au Go to the tab “Association handicaps”.

Results should be submitted immediately the event has concluded, preferably by email.

The paper work should be posted to PO Box 681, Mt Lawley 6929 marked “Attention State Handicapper AC” or be delivered to the State Handicapper by hand via a prearranged method.

Paper work should be received by the State Handicapper within 3 days after the event.

Results should be submitted in the usual event draw grid format, showing “w” for wins and including the correct starting index and handicap for each player.

The State Handicapper will aim to process the changes to each player’s index within 48

hours of receipt of results.

Handicap changes become effective as soon as the State Handicapper has authorised them.

Every effort will be made to have Update Lists posted on the website promptly. In the event of unavoidable delay, clubs may receive an update on their active members by email.

Where changes are relevant to a forthcoming event the State Handicapper will ensure that the information on changes to index and/or handicap is available to the Match Committee and/or the club running the event so that all players will play on the handicap in force at the start of the event.

PROCEDURE FOR ACQUIRING AN OFFICIAL WACA HANDICAP (ASSOCIATION)

Every entrant for a WACA or WACA-recognised event must have an official WACA handicap.

If a player is not listed on the official handicap list, the player and the club need to approach the State Handicapper before the closing date for entries to the event. They need to provide suitable information on the player’s perceived level of ability and recent playing history.

The State Handicapper will determine the player’s starting index and handicap.

This may be reviewed after the conclusion of the event or during the event in the case of a long-running event.