|
Back to |
| The Front Page |
| News & Features |
|
No more 2020 title events in the US |
||||||||||
|
by Bob Alman layout by Reuben Edwards posted September 17, 2020
|
||||||||||
|
||||||||||
It was probably inevitable, and it drastically affects the finances of the American croquet organizations as well as the sporting spirit of the most active players. Just as the Association Croquet National Championship is winding to a close in Virginia, the Croquet Foundation of America must decide how it will continue to support the USCA financially as well as the National Croquet Center, given the sweeping curtailment of a primary source of income in the face of America's spectacular failure to control the Pandemic, as the medical experts are predicting a massive resurgence of cases and deaths in the fall and winter in America. In Europe, croquet competitions continue, and the playing season is about to begin in Australia as well as New Zealand, which appears to have held the Pandemic at bay.
USCA president Sara Low sent to all USCA members yesterday a shocking--to some--email announcement which sent the boards of the national organizations scrambling to adjust. In announcing the Management Committee's decision to cancel the rest of the 2020 USCA titled events, she makes clear that "the USCA title tournaments are run by the Association and are mostly Regional and National Championships" to distinguish them from USCA sanctioned club events, scheduled and held entirely at the local club's discretion.
But all croquet is "local," and everything everywhere, it seems, has become political. The scheduling conundrum is responded to by local clubs according to the politics of their management. Macey White, builder/owner/manager of the Chesapeake Bay Croquet Club, instantly replaced the scheduled USCA Regional in Virginia with the annual event he put aside to host it, commenting in his email promotion that his replacement will be "better and cheaper" than the regional.
Responding to my query, White's attitude reflects a huge portion of the US and croquet-playing population: "Croquet is a COVID safe activity, if conducted following CDC [Center for Disease Control] standards for social distancing. In croquet, social distancing is not difficult. Travel concerns need to be addressed by the player, and players need to make reasonable decisions on travel and participation in any activity in life."
Some highly ranked players surmise that because politics seems to be driving the critical decisions of the club and associations, they will not be attending championship level events for the present--because they see that not all the tournament players are following the basic guidelines of mask wearing and social distancing.
Another players tells me that the on-court environment is not the true roadblock to getting back to normal: "Out here we're all kept away from the game as we want it to be by local rules and/or private business following prudent protocols."
The truth is that six months of sequestering has made most of us antsy. And most organizations with boards make conservative decisions which seldom match the impulses or standards of individuals.
Fundraising is a major issue in the United States. The Croquet Foundation of America was created explicitly "to support the USCA." That translates to finances, which translates to fundraising, which in Palm Beach, at least, means a glitzy social event: the immediate event in question is the USCA Seniors & Masters Championship, scheduled for November, which traditionally has anchored a very important annual event, for both the USCA and the CFA: The Hall of Fame Ball.
|
| This major event in the fall calendar is usually paired with the Seniors & Masters tournament, now cancelled. How it can be done will soon be determined by the board of the Croquet Foundation of America. |
I asked Hal Denton, executive director of the Croquet Foundation of America, whether a new course has been decided upon by the Foundation. It hasn't, he said, but they are meeting as soon as possible. He told me many members of the board--himself included--are doing events of one kind or another over the weekend, and will meet soon to discuss and vote on several options:
* Canceling the Hall of Fame entirely.
- Producing the Hall of Fame without any accompanying tournament.
- Creating a tournament to replace the Seniors & Masters.
- Combining the 2020 and 2021 Hall of Fame, produced in November 2021.
None of those options is ideal; one of them must be chosen soon.
The National Croquet Center, itself, is caught between the cracks of a terrible dilemma, having cancelled their long-standing invitation to the public to come and try croquet, and with many of the especially timid members who say they won't go anywhere until the danger is over failing to renew their memberships in a timely way, and with mounting bills to pay.
Scott Reiser, who both books outside events and acts as House Manager to make sure they work perfectly, commented, "It's unfortunate that the USCA had to cancel their events just as we were looking forward to getting back to some type of normalcy. We do, however, look forward to hosting the canceled tournaments in 2021 when it will be safer for guests to travel throughout the United States." In the meanwhile, he does his job by adding, "We still have a beautiful veranda to host events and 12 regulation lawns, so do come and join us for a great day of croquet, or just for lunch."
Meanwhile, in England....
James Hawkins reports that "There's no practical issue with travelling in England, as most participants drive to tournaments. But there's a major problem with accommodation and catering. The hospitality industry has restarted, so the second half of the season has had less uncertainty for visitors seeking a bed for the night. There's still the worry about where you're going to get lunch or an evening meal. Clubhouses are out-of-bounds at all Association clubs, and volunteer caterers are harder to find.
"We're now at the end of the playing season, and parts of the country are heading back into lockdown. That's bad news for the UK generally, but the timing is a relief for croquet. Regional restrictions in other parts of the croquet playing world may cause unwanted ripple effects for months to come."
Privately, a highly ranked player surmised that the politics is driving the critical decisions of the club and associations in the US. Some qualified players will not attend championship events because they see that tournament players are not following the basic guidelines of mask wearing and social distancing.
In their "Guidance for Clubs" the English Croquet Association quotes "Sport England," whose website has confirmed that "While social gatherings of more than six people will be banned in England from 14 September, the government's confirmed that organised sports and activities that have been through return to play protocols can continue, as can organised outdoor sports and physical activity events such as park run, which is due to return next month..."
Dr. Ian Plummer, owner/editor of the sports's technical site, www.OxfordCroquet.com, amplifies as follows: "The count of daily new Covid cases is rising rapidly. Last Monday the number of people from multiple households who could meet together was reduced from thirty to six. Individual towns, cities and regions with a high number of cases are under more stringent lockdown. There is an expectation that more restrictions, either local or national, will be introduced soon."
On September 12, the English Croquet Association issued this update:
"The Croquet Association's's Coronavirus Task Force is now satisfied, from information published on Sport England's website, that previously authorised sports activities can continue, despite the introduction of the "rule of 6" for social groups. The guidelines for clubs and players have been updated to emphasise the need for restricting social interaction and are published in both PDF and MS-Word formats....The previous prohibition on use of corner pegs/offside markers and flags has been relaxed."
So England, like much of the rest of the world, is still in flux.
....and in the rest of the croquet world
New Zealand heroically managed to stop the virus in its tracks, and is maintaining a prudent course which is however now affecting their economy in a drastic way. Not long ago, Australia was thought to be in the same situation, but after back-sliding in that respect, borders have been closed to interstate travel within the Australian continent, while the scheduled croquet events continue to happen in most states.
Tony Hall of New South Wales reports that near the beginning of the playing season in the southern hemisphere are the Australian Open Singles and Doubles at the end of November. They have not yet been cancelled. Hall, former President and Secretary General of the World Croquet Federation, describes himself today as "an 88-year-old with compromised lungs" who applauds "the restrictions placed on all of us." (He nevertheless plays social gateball every Friday and Sunday and has not given up Golf Croquet or AC.)
In a future that seems to change with astonishing rapidity, the USCA's caution in defense of its members appears absolutely justified.
|
Sara Lowe's letter to the membership, dated September 18, 2020.
Dear USCA Member, I regret to report that we have cancelled all USCA-operated events for the rest of 2020. This decision covers upcoming National Championships, the Seniors Masters Tournament, Selection Eights, the Southeast Regional, Golf Croquet and American 6 Wicket Club Teams, all scheduled through December 31, 2020, as well as the USCA schools. The Management Committee decision was a difficult one, incorporating long discussion and research followed by a formal vote. Since March, we have been able to successfully hold one National Championship, the Association Croquet Nationals currently going on in Virginia, but we feel that our future events will be hampered by the health situation which endangers all participants and the quality of our events. The fact that croquet is played outdoors and can be controlled with health stipulations is an advantage to the game we all appreciate, but the upcoming USCA events involved group gatherings and travel, both of which were important factors in our decision. While we love the game of croquet, we also love the people of croquet. The decision to cancel our events comes from our concern for you. We will continue to exist, but without USCA events this year. Clubs will still follow their schedules, hosting play and larger events. And the USCA office remains open and busy tracking handicaps, memberships and all other information. The office staff is contacting venues and registered players of affected events. They are processing full refunds of future tournament and school fees that have been paid to us. We are sorry for any inconvenience that these changes may have caused and will provide a USCA letter about our decision to anyone who may need one for explanation of events to a third party. This is an unprecedented time for us and for the world. Thank you for your understanding and acceptance of this essential resolution. If you have questions, please contact the USCA office or me. Sincerely, Sara Lowe
|
|
USCA Sanctioned Tournaments
[for the balance of the 2020 calendar year]
USCA Titled Tournament Sep 15 - 20. USCA Association Laws National Championship
Sep 17 - 20. The Osborn Cup
Sep 19 - 20. Oklahoma City Club Championship
Sep 24 - 27. 30th Pinehurst Croquet Club Invitational
USCA Titled Tournament Oct 1 - 4. CANCELLED: USCA Southeast Regional 6W, GC, & AC Tournament
Oct 7 - 9. PCC Club Singles Championship
USCA Titled Tournament Oct 11 - 17. CANCELLED: USCA National American Rules Championship
Oct 16 - 18. The Plantation Foundation of Ponte Vedra Golf Croquet Benefit Open
Oct 22 - 25. CANCELED: 2020 Women's GC Open
USCA Titled Tournament Oct 29 - Nov 1. CANCELLED: USCA Selection Eights
USCA Titled Tournament Nov 3 - 7. CANCELLED: USCA Golf Croquet National Championship
Nov 6 - 8. Country Club of Jackson 6W Invitational
USCA Titled Tournament Nov 11 - 15. CANCELLED: USCA Seniors Masters Championships
Dec 4 - 6. National Croquet Club Doubles Championship
USCA Titled Tournament Dec 8 - 10. CANCELLED: USCA Golf Croquet Club Teams
USCA Titled Tournament Dec 10 - 13. CANCELLED: USCA American Rules Club Teams |
Updated 9/22/2020. The Croquet Foundation of America has voted to postpone the induction ceremony for Sherif Abdelwahab and Rory Kelly until the fall of 2021, by which time it is hoped the normal USCA schedule of events can be restored.