In today's world, Roque has become a topic of interest and debate in various areas. From politics and economics to health and entertainment, Roque has captured the attention of millions of people around the world. With an impact that encompasses multiple aspects of society, Roque continues to generate controversy and reflection. In this article, we will explore the different facets of Roque and its influence on everyday life, analyzing its relevance in the current context and its possible repercussions in the future. Likewise, we will examine various perspectives and opinions about Roque, with the aim of drawing a complete panorama that allows us to understand its scope and meaning in contemporary society.
Highest governing body | American Roque League (1916-1970s?) National Two Ball Roque Association (?-1970s?) |
---|---|
First played | 1880s |
Characteristics | |
Team members | 1-on-1 |
Type | Outdoor, croquet |
Equipment | Mallets, balls |
Venue | Curbed clay court, with arches |
Presence | |
Olympic | Summer 1904 |
Obsolete | Yes |
Roque (/roʊk/ ROHK) is an American variant of croquet played on a hard, smooth surface. Popular in the first quarter of the 20th century and billed "the Game of the Century" by its enthusiasts, it was an Olympic sport in the 1904 Summer Games, replacing croquet from the previous games.
Roque is played on a hard sand or clay 30 by 60 foot (approximately 9 by 19 m) court bordered by a boundary wall, a curb bevelled at the ends to form an octagon. Players use this wall to bank balls similarly to how billiard balls are played off the cushions of a billiard table.
The wickets, called arches, are permanently anchored in the court. The arches are narrow as in professional six-wicket croquet. The court has ten arches in seven points configured in a double diamond (or figure-8). The two farthest end points and the central point of the figure-8 are double arches (one after the other) while the four side (or corner) points have single arches. Each arch of the double arches at either end of the court count as a separate arch, but the double arches in the center (which are closer together) are scored as a single arch. While in nine-wicket croquet the single central wicket opens up to the length of the court facing the stakes, in roque the double center arches face the sides of the court. Roque uses two stakes: at the head of the court is the "head stake," the other stake at the far end of the court is the "turning stake."
The mallets with which the balls are struck have a shorter handle (approx. 24 inches or 60 cm) than croquet mallets. One end of the mallet is surfaced with rubber, the other with wood, plastic, or aluminum.
The rules of roque are largely similar to those of croquet, with some notable exceptions:
Roque developed sub-variants, including two-ball roque and royal roque.
The name "roque" was suggested by Samuel Crosby of New York City in 1899, who came to it by removing the initial "c" and final "t" from "croquet." The National Croquet Association, formed in 1882, thereafter changed its name to the National Roque Association in 1899. "Roque" is not to be confused with "roquet" /roʊˈkeɪ/, the term used in both roque and croquet for the bonus shot a player earns after striking another ball (on which he is not "dead") with his own.
The American Roque League was founded in 1916 and, after mergers with various other roque entities, it became the centralized roque league on August 20, 1920. It last published its rules in 1959; the National Two Ball Roque Association last published its revised rules in 1961.
In 2004, the American Roque and Croquet Association suspended tournaments indefinitely as the number of participants at the Nationals had dropped to single figures.
Roque is still played by a small number of people in the United States. An historic roque court in Clinton, Illinois was restored to playing condition in 2013. A roque tournament is held annually in Angelica, New York.