Brief Description
History & Myths
The International Carrom
Federation
The Australian Carrom Federation
Brief
Description
Carrom - a game often described as a combination of pool,
marbles, air hockey and much more. Carrom is played on a large square wooden
board with a small pocket in each corner. Carrom can be played in twos
(singles), where players sit on opposite ends of the Carrom board facing each
other, or in fours (doubles), where team members sit opposite each other.
There are nine white coins coins (or 'carrommen'), nine black carrommen, one red coin (called the Queen), and a larger, plastic disc (called the Striker). Using your index finger or thumb, you flick the Striker like a cue ball to sink the wooden checker-sized carrommen into any pocket. But unlike pool, after each shot, the Striker is always brought back to the 'baseline' for the next shot. The Queen can be pocketed anytime after a player pockets their first carrommen piece. Your turn continues as long as you keep pocketing your coins. The first player or team to pocket all their carrommen wins the game.
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There are many more formal rules than this (see Rules of the Game) but you can be sure Carrom brings hours of fun and competition.
History
& Myths
Carrom has a mystery attached to its origins, which is both
intriguing and fascinating. Many claims have been made, though none have been
proven so far. Some say it started in Burma, India, Egypt and other countries. Some
even believe it was the creation of the Indian Maharaja's. Documented reference
actually takes Carrom back to 1800's however, but it would be fair to say it
goes a lot further back. It has been widely played in the Indian sub-continent
and is now poised to have a massive presences in the West. Badminton, Hockey and
Polo, little known in the West earlier, all started in the East and they are
clearly sports that have heightened. Carrom is fast catching up!
The
International Carrom Federation
The biggest strength of Carrom has been its wide popularity of the
East, but this in a way has been its biggest disadvantage. With so many
different rules, different types of Carrom boards, strikers and styles of play,
the game has not been able to achieve a mass consistent following. And with
little media coverage, sponsors have been lacking for promotion. This was all
set to change when the International Carrom Federation (ICF) was formed in 1988.
The adoption of the Laws of Carrom was a major landmark
in the ICF history, and many nations have become members enabling the ICF to
coordinate Carrom in a structured way. To date there have been three
International Championships under the guidance of the ICF, with even more events
currently being planned.
The
Australian Carrom Federation
The Australian Carrom Federation (ACF) is Australia's parent body and
a member of the International Carrom Federation. The ACF is just one of many
western country members who have joined with the ICF to promote Carrom not only
as a recreational pastime, but as an International sport. We believe that one
day, Carrom will become a household name, and will endeavor until this dream is realized.
Parts of this document have been adapted from Krishan K. Sharma (ICF Member)