The MCA Nine Wicket Series will return to the fast grass on August 2-3 for the Kansas City Open at the Kactus Creek Croquet Club in Parkville, Missouri. It all depends on the number of entries, but tentatively the Gold and Silver Divisions are slated to play on Saturday while the Pro Division is slated for Sunday.

Kactus Creek is a one-court facility, so the MCA will use a slightly modified layout to squeeze in two nine wicket courts that will play very closely to full size courts. Essentially, the double wickets are moved closer to the north and south boundaries and the pegs are placed six foot by six foot from the boundaries in corners four and two. 

The deadline for entry is Tuesday, July 29 at 10:00 p.m. Please indicate preferred division. You have two easy options for entry:

1) RSVP to the event on the Croquet Network Community page (Link to the Event)

2) Email Dylan Goodwin at kccroquetclub@gmail.com

LOCATION: Kactus Creek Croquet Club, 13312 NW 76th St, Parkville, Missouri 64152 (MAP)

PROJECTED START TIME: 8:00 a.m. on Saturday; 8:30 a.m. on Sunday

FEES: $25 Entry ($15 for MCA Members);
$35 for combo MCA membership and Kansas Challenge entry

DRESS CODE: Whites are not required.

FORMAT: Nine-Wicket Singles (60-minute games), three games guaranteed. All wickets scored count toward the MCA Nine Wicket Series race. A break for lunch is planned, so players should plan to bring their own lunch.

RULES: MCA events follow standard USCA Nine-Wicket rules (Located Here). The Pro and Gold Divisions will utilize Options 1 - Deadness, 1B - Clearing Deadness regardless of score, 2 - Out of Bounds, 3 - Starting Deadness, 4 - Wiring, 5 - Blocked Wicket, 6 - Rover Play and 8 - Overtime Play. Regarding #8, the MCA will continue rounds until a winner is determined. 

The Silver Division plays with Options 2 - Out of Bounds, 3 - Starting Deadness, 4 - Wiring, 5 - Blocked Wicket, 6 - Rover Play and 8 - Overtime Play. Regarding #8, the MCA will continue rounds until a winner is determined. 

ABOUT NINE WICKET CROQUET

Nine wicket croquet is very similar to the family backyard game that most everyone has tried. You can get an overview of the game on the USCA website. In addition, the Kansas City Croquet Club will be meeting on Saturday morning July 26 for introductory clinics and club play. The KC Open has divisions for all levels of play.

Six-wicket players will find the game is great for developing confidence in running breaks and hoops. Most of the rules follow the USCA Six-Wicket game, with just a few exceptions: 

• The wicket pattern is unique, but it's pretty easy to pick up because it is the same double-diamond pattern most people played as kids with their family (the pattern)
• When you roquet a ball, you still get two bonus shots, but you get more options. You can play in contact (just like 6W), you can play up to nine inches away from the roqueted ball or you can play from where the striker ball lies. The famous nine-wicket foot or hand shot is one of the in-contact options, which allows for a perfect "stop shot."
• Wiring is a bit different. You don't get ball in hand if you are wired. You get to move your ball up to nine inches to create a shot.
• Rover has a few modifications. 1) Any ball can peg out a rover ball. 2) The rover ball doesn't get a bonus shot off of running a wicket to clear deadness.

NOTE: The USCA modified the Nine-Wicket out of bounds rule to match the USCA Six-Wicket rule. A ball must be more than halfway over the line to be out of bounds.