BALL IN
PLAY A ball in play is one which may influence the game. A ball becomes
a ball in play when it is played into the game under Law 8(b)
or Law 26(a)(2). Except while it is a ball in hand,
it continues to be a ball in play until the end of the stroke in which it
is pegged out.
BALL AT
REST
A ball
at rest is a ball in play that is occupying a stationary position on the
court.
A ball
becomes a ball at rest when:
having
been caused to move as a consequence of a stroke, it is deemed to have
come to rest and has not become a ball in hand; or
having
been a ball in hand, it is replaced on the court.
A ball
ceases to be a ball at rest when it is caused to move as a consequence of
a stroke or becomes a ball in hand.
Subject
to Law 6(b)(5), a ball is deemed to have come to
rest when it appears to have stopped moving.
A ball
in a critical position is deemed to have come to rest only when its position
has apparently remained unchanged for at least 5 seconds. If, in addition,
its position needs to be tested (see Law 48(c)(4)),
it is deemed to have come to rest only when its position has been agreed
or adjudicated upon.
BALL IN
HAND
Any ball
becomes a ball in hand and an outside agency:
when
it is temporarily removed under Law 3(c)(2); or
when
it must be replaced in order to rectify an error or correct an interference.
The striker's
ball becomes a ball in hand and an outside agency:
when
it is moved under Law 13 (wiring lift) (or Law 36
(optional lift or contact in advanced play)); or
when
a roquet is deemed to have been made; or
when
it is moved, picked up or arrested under Law 15(c)
or Law 18(a)(2); or
at
the end of a stroke in which it makes a roquet; or
at
the end of the last stroke of a turn if it comes to rest in the yard-line
area.
A ball
other than the striker's ball becomes a ball in hand and an outside agency
at the end of a stroke if it comes to rest in the yard-line area.
A ball
ceases to be a ball in hand and an outside agency when it is replaced on
the court and thereby becomes a ball at rest. However, if the striker has
a choice of placement or replacement positions, he remains entitled to relocate
it, thereby causing it to become a ball in hand again, at any time until
the earlier of the start of his next stroke or the end of his turn.
BALL IN
A CRITICAL POSITION A ball is in a critical position if a minor change
to its current position could materially affect future play. Examples may
include positions in or near hoops, wired positions and positions on or near
the yard-line or boundary. The striker must consult the adversary before moving
or wiping such a ball.
LIVE AND
DEAD BALLS
A ball
other than the striker's ball is defined as being live or dead for the sole
purpose of determining whether or not it may be roqueted and have croquet
taken from it.
LIVE BALL
Any such ball is live at the start of a turn and becomes so again each time
the striker's ball scores a hoop point for itself.
DEAD BALL
A ball becomes dead when croquet has been taken from it and remains dead
until it becomes live again. The striker's ball may not take croquet from
a dead ball. If the striker's ball hits a dead ball, it does not constitute
a roquet.
YARD-LINE
AND CORNER BALLS A ball replaced on the yard-line is known as a yard-line
ball. A ball replaced on a corner spot is also known as a corner ball.
ROVER BALL
A rover ball is one which has scored all 12 of its hoop points (but see Law
44(d) for shortened games).
GROUPS
OF BALLS A 3-ball group is formed by one ball being in contact with two
other balls provided that if this occurs:
at the
start of a turn, any of the three balls is a yard-line ball; and
during
a turn, either of the two balls other than the striker's ball is a yard-line
ball.
A 4-ball group is formed by the fourth
ball being in contact with a 3-ball group.
BALL CLEAR
OF A HOOP A ball is clear of a hoop if no part of it lies within the jaws
of the hoop.