Many Americans also developed a more simple and rugged version of 9 wicket croquet, which could be played casually in their own backyards. This is the version of croquet that many Americans know and play today. The well trimmed croquet field is still used in professional play, both in America and at the internationally. Croquet was a popular game among the young people of the British Empire, who used it as a social outlet and a chance to flirt without their parents constantly peering over their shoulders. It was initially more popular among women, but in 1874 there was a decline in the popularity of the game among women, because it was becoming too scientific and complex. The game also declined in popularity as lawn tennis began to replace it, bringing in more money than croquet.

As the games popularity decreased in England, it continued to increase in the United states. In 1865, the Newport Croquet Club in Rhode Island was formed. In 1871, Milton Bradley published “Croquet – Its Principles and rules.” In New York, in 1882, 25 clubs formed the National American Croquet Association. The game met with some setbacks in America, when in the 1890’s, the game was condemned by the Boston clergy, who spoke against it because it was associated with drinking, gambling, and licentious behavior. Croquet was played as an Olympic sport in the 1900 and 1904 Olympic Games.
Croquet is more popular as a competitive sport outside of the USA. The game began to increase in popularity in the USA in the 1960’s. In 1969, the 1st 6 wicket croquet tournament was held in at the Colony Hotel in Palm Beach between the Palm Beach Croquet Club and the New York Croquet Club. Several other clubs eventually joined in and created a  a uniform code of rules, they established the United States Croquet Association, under Jack Osborn.

Since 1980, croquet professionals in North America have grown from about 50 to around Four Thousand. Croquet is now played in over 20 countries as a competitive sport. National tournaments are held often within these countries, and international tournaments are held as well.
Many clubs and associations  have now been established in the USA and the international version of croquet is being played more often by American croquet players. Most Americans, however, still play the more simple and casual backyard, 9 wicket version of croquet. Many Americans also play “poison croquet,” which is much the same as 9 wicket croquet, but is not played in teams. Instead, each player competes for him/herself to see who can hit their ball through all of the wickets 1st, making their ball “poison” and then eliminating the other players by hitting their balls with the poison ball.

Croquet Rules.

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