'One good thing from croquet': lessons from the lawn

Pretty well everyone would agree that a lot of learning comes into croquet.  Formal coaching or informal "Ah-ha!" (or, "Oh-heck!") moments during a game.  Here are some more stories with that in mind.

Roger Goldring writes: I was very new to croquet and playing in a one-day GC tournament with an experienced partner not known for being patient. In fact, the very opposite.  We're playing green and brown and it's my turn with brown.  We've had a long day, good initially but distinctly tailing off, tempers getting frayed, me getting quite nervous.  Partner: "Hit the white."  Me: "Sorry?"  Partner: "Hit the white ball"  Me: "But...". Partner: "Just get on with it and hit  the white ball!"  Me: "But... erm, I'm brown"  Partner: "GO AND STRIKE YOUR BROWN BALL TO HIT THE WHITE!"

A moment of insight from Martin Dock: ​It was at HWCC that I finally realised that I don't have OCD: I have OGCD (Obsessive Golf Croquet Disorder)!  (There's no cure, Martin, I'm afraid...)

Brian Maple recommends another good source:  I recommend anyone to read about the recently departed William Ormerod pictured on front of September CA Gazette. There's a full article about him with a bit more in the November edition. It's very interesting and there's a lot to learn.

Ian Shore reports from the world of coaching:
My standout croquet moment was standing in a puddle, during a heavy rain storm, in the centre of York, answering a mobile call from Sarah Hayes of the Croquet Association Coaching Committee. She was ringing to tell me that, to my total surprise and amazement, I had been voted the CA’s Coach of the Year.  I was dancing on air after that! 

As does Pam Mead: Becoming a club coach and training new people over a period of 7 years up until 2011.  I was told recently ‘I still do stop shots how you taught me.’