Croquet is not a dangerous sport but there are potential hazards you should consider.
First Aid and Emergencies
The Club's First Aid box and Accidents Book is located in the clubhouse on the bookshelf.
The Club displays in the clubhouse Fire Action, First Aid and Bleed Control notices, with details of the Club's location, postcode and What3Words address.
Lawn Treatments
Lawns may be treated with toxic chemicals and will be out of play on these occasions. Birds and other wildlife also visit the lawns. In general it is a good idea to wash your hands after handling balls, particularly before eating.
Mallets
Mallets weigh approx 3 pounds (or 1.4kg). It will be painful if you hit your ankle or shin.
Never throw a mallet or wield it above head height. It can damage the lawn or injure someone, and it will be expensive to replace or repair a broken mallet.
Mallets should only be held above the head when requesting refereeing help.
Report any damaged equipment to a member of the Committee.
Hoops
Furniture on the lawns is not forgiving to legs. Never step backwards without looking behind you first. Tripping on a hoop can be dangerous.
Lifting hoops can cause back injuries. Use the hoop lifter in the equipment store for removing tight hoops.
Keep fingers clear of rubber mallets when inserting hoops.
Lawns in play
Access all lawns safely, using the steps and not via the grass banks.
Never walk in front of someone taking a shot, or play when someone is in your line of play.
When double banking players should be aware of what is happening in the other game. In particular do not walk on or off the lawn without looking, alert the striker if you are about to send a ball close to them and watch out for long shots in the other game.
Keep to the paths on site and avoid using lawn edges when a game is in progress.
Use benches at the side of lawns when spectating. Beware that balls can come off lawn 1 at head-height onto lawn 2.
Equipment trolleys
Be careful when wheeling a trolley, do not take one onto a lawn but park it safely on the tarmac closest to your lawn.
Trolleys for lawn 2 are best parked by the clubhouse, not by lawn 3.
All club members are alerted to this guidance annually and when first joining the Club.
A copy of this guidance is available to club members in the clubhouse (Club Policies folder) and on the club website www.yorkcroquet.org
January 2024
Updated December 2025