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The Official
Rules of Petanque
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These rules are available as an
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| General | |
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ARTICLE 1 - COMPOSITION OF TEAMS Pétanque is a sport in which - 3 players play against 3 players (triples), or - 2 players play against 2 players (doubles), or - 1 player plays against 1 player (singles) In triples, each player uses 2 boules. In doubles and singles, each player uses 3 boules. No other version of the game is allowed.  ARTICLE 2A - CHARACTERISTICS OF APPROVED BOULES Pétanque is played with boules which are approved by the F.I.P.J.P, and which conform to the following criteria: a) The boules must be made of metal. A player guilty of breaking the above condition (d) is immediately
disqualified from the competition together with his or her team mate(s). If the boules have been borrowed and the owner is identified the latter
will be suspended for a period as determined by the Disciplinary Committee
of the guilty player's Association. Cochonnets [jacks or buts] are made of wood or of synthetic material which carry the maker's mark and have secured confirmation by the F.I.P.J.P. that they comply exactly with the relevant specification. Their diameter
must be between 25 mm (minimum) and 35 mm (maximum). Cochonnets(Jacks) may be
painted any color. It is forbidden for any players to change a boule or
jack during a
game, except in the following cases: |
| Play | |
These arrangements also apply to the area on which the finals are played. The game is played up to 13 points, though
leagues and qualifying heats may be played to 11 points. The players must toss up to decide which team will choose the terrain and throw the jack. If the terrain has been designated by the organizers the jack must be thrown on that terrain. The team must not play on a different terrain without the Umpire's permission. Any member of the team winning the toss chooses the starting point and traces a circle large enough for any player to stand with both feet fully inside it. However, it may not measure less than 35 cm. or more than 50 cm. in diameter. It must be drawn at least 1m from any obstacle, and at least 1m from the boundary of an out of bounds area and, for competitions on open terrains, at least 2m from another throwing circle in use. The team that throws the jack must wipe out
all throwing circles near the one in use. The circle is not considered to be out of bounds.
The feet must be
entirely on the inside the circle without touching it, and they must not
leave the circle or be lifted completely off the ground until the thrown boule has touched the ground. No other part of the body may touch the
ground outside the circle. The exception is that those who are disabled
in a lower limb are allowed to place only one foot inside the circle.
2) The throwing circle must be 1 m. from any obstacle and
from the boundary of the playing area. The throwing of the jack could not be made to all regulation distances. In the first case the player will draw the circle in the nearest valid position from the obstacle or the boundary.
In the
second case, the player may step back, in line with the previous end's
line of play, until he or she is able to throw the jack any valid distance
up to the maximum distance allowed and not beyond. This may only be done
if the jack cannot be thrown in any other direction to the maximum
distance. (2) When, during an end, it is moved outside the boundary of the playing area [normally the dead boule line], even if it comes back onto the playing area. A jack on the line of the boundary is valid. It only becomes dead after having completely crossed the boundary when viewed from directly above.. a puddle on which a jack floats freely is considered to be out of bounds. (3) When, still on the terrain, the moved jack is not visible from the circle, as defined in Article 7. However, a jack hidden by a boule is not dead. The umpire may temporarily remove a boule to declare whether the jack is visible or not. (4) When the jack is displaced to more than 20 m. for Senior and Juniors, or 15m for Cadets and Minors, or less than 3m from the throwing circle. (5) When the moved jack cannot be found after a 5 minute maximum search time. (6) When there is an
out of bounds area between the jack and the
throwing circle.
If, during an end, the jack is accidentally masked by
a leaf, piece of paper etc., these objects are removed.
The same applies if the jack is moved accidentally by the
Umpire, a player, a spectator, a boule or jack from another game, an
animal or any moving object.
To avoid any argument, the players must mark the
jack's position. No claim can be accepted regarding a boule or
jack whose position has not been marked.
If, during an end, the cochonnet is moved into an area where another
game is in progress, either on a marked or unmarked terrain, the jack is valid subject to Article 9.
At the following end the teams continue on the terrain
allotted to them. 1) If the jack, having been hit, is stopped by a spectator
or by the umpire, it remains where it stops.
If, during an end, the
jack is moved outside the designated playing area, the next end is started at the point from which it was
displaced providing (see Article 7): |
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| Boules | |
ARTICLE 16 - THROWING OF THE FIRST AND FOLLOWING BOULES The first boule of an end is thrown by
a player belonging to the team that has won the toss or the last scoring
end. It is forbidden to moisten the boules or the jack If the first boule played goes out
of play, the opponent plays and so on alternately while there are no
boules on the designated playing area. If after shooting or pointing no boules are left
on the designated playing area, the rules concerning a stalemate position defined in Article 29 apply. No one is allowed a practice throw during a game. Players who do not observe this rules could incur the penalties as defined in Article 10. During an end, boules going outside the marked terrain
are valid (except in Articles 19). Any boule is dead from the moment it passes into an out
of bounds area. A boules straddling the boundary is valid. It only becomes dead after having completely crossed
the boundary of the authorised terrain or dead ball line that is to say,
when it is placed entirely beyond this boundary when viewed from directly
above.
A player who plays a boule other than his own receives a warning.
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| POINTING AND MEASURING | |
| ARTICLE 25 - TEMPORARY MOVING OF BOULES In order to measure a point, it is permitted to
temporarily move the boules and obstacles situated between the jack and the boules to be measured,
after marking their positions. After measuring, the boules and
the obstacles are put back in place. If the object cannot be moved, the
measuring is done with the aid of calipers.
The team, whose player displaces the jack or one of the
contested boules, while effecting a measurement, loses the point.
(a) If neither team have boules to play the end is declared void and the jack is thrown by the team winning the previous end. (b) If only one team has boules left to play, it plays tem and scores as many points as it has boules closer to the jack than the nearest opponent's boule. (c) If both teams have boules to play, the team which
played the last boules plays again, then the other team, and so on
alternately until the point has been won by one of them. When only one
team has boules left, they play them as described in the above paragraph. Any foreign bodies adhering to the boules or the jack must be
removed before measuring a point. |
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| DISCIPLINE | |
ARTICLE 32 - PENALTIES FOR ABSENT TEAMS OR PLAYERS
During the draw and the announcement of its result, the players must be
present at the control table. A quarter of an hour after the result of
the draw has been announced, any team which is absent from the terrain
will be penalized one point which is awarded to their opponents.
The team which fails to present itself on the playing area within one hour
of the results of the draw forfeits the game.
If, after an end has started, any missing player arrives, he or she may
not take part in that end, but he or she is accepted into the game only
as from the next end.
If the competition is played in leagues, he or she will be able to take
part in the second game whatever the result of the first.
The umpires designated to control the competitions are charged with
ensuring that the rules of the game and the administration rules are
strictly adhered to. They are authorized to disqualify any player or
team who refuses to obey their decision. CODE OF BEHAVIOR of the Federation of Pétanque During all games the players are expected: 1 To observe the correct uniform dress of the day. 2 To refrain from using foul or abusive language to other players, officials and spectators. 3 To accept without argument the decisions of the Umpire/s. 4 To refrain from drinking alcohol to excess for the duration of the competition. 5 To ensure that no containers, glass of other items (e.g. boule bags), are on the terrain during play. 6 To refrain from smoking on the terrain. 7 To play and abide by the rules of the game as instructed by the Organizing Committee and Umpire/s of the day. 8 To ensure that supporters and/or family or friends do not encroach on to the terrain or allow any pets (dogs etc.) to so do during play. Any player who is found to be in breach of the Code of Behavior for Players will be considered to be guilty of improper behavior and liable to the penalties in articles 37, 38 and 39 of the rules of the game.
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