La Argolla: Castilian Croquet Ring Game

A traditional game from Castile and León and Extremadura, a cousin of croquet, in which players push a ball with a mallet to send it through an iron ring set in the ground. At school the ring is a hoop held upright between cones, and students work on accuracy and touch.

How to play

1. Explain (2 min) that in Castilian town squares it was played with wooden balls, long-handled mallets and an iron ring in the middle of the field.
2. Set up 6 courts, each with an upright hoop wedged between two cones and a starting line 5 m (16 ft) away on each side; groups of 4 per court.
3. Each player has a ball and a stick; taking turns, they make one gentle, low hit from the line toward the ring.
4. Going through the ring scores 2 points; hitting a rival's ball with yours scores 1 point and knocks it away, just like the original game.
5. After going through, a player continues from the opposite line. Play to 10 points or 8 minutes, then switch opponents (16 min).
6. Partner round (6 min): partners alternate hits on one ball and try to get through the ring in as few hits as possible.

Rules

• Always hit along the ground, never lifting the stick above the knee.
• Only the player whose turn it is plays; others wait behind the line.
• If a ball leaves the court, place it on the edge where it went out.
• If the ring falls, reset it and replay the hit.

Variations

Adaptations

• Limited mobility: a wheelchair user plays with a long-handled stick on a shorter court.
• Visual impairment: use a brightly colored ball and have a partner clap behind the ring.
• Skill level: students who struggle get two hits per turn; accurate players get one.

Learning goals

• Control force and direct a ball with an implement.
• Choose between going for the ring and knocking a rival's ball away.
• Learn about la argolla as a traditional game from Castile and Extremadura.

Equipment for a class of 25

• hockey sticks: 24
• hoops: 6
• cones: 24
• tennis balls: 24

Teacher tip

If the hoops won't stand, tape them to the cones. Teach students to watch the ball on contact and follow through toward the target, with no wild swings.

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