Article 1 Composition of teams
Pétanque is a sport in which:
- 3 players play against 3 players (triples).
It can also be played by:
- 2 players against 2 players
(doubles).
- 1 player 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
approved by the F.I.P.J.P. and which conform to the following criteria.
1)
To be made of metal.
2)
To have a diameter
between 7.05cm (minimum) and 8cm (maximum).
3)
To have a weight of
between 650 grams (minimum) and 800 grams (maximum). The trade mark of
the manufacturer and the weight must be engraved on the boules and must always
be legible.
For competitions reserved for players who are 11 years of
age or less, they may use boules that weigh 600 grams and are 65mm in diameter
provided that they are made by an approved manufacturer.
4)
They must not be lead
or sand filled. As a general rule, the boules must not be tampered with
in any way, nor altered or modified after machining by the approved
manufacturer. Importantly, re-tempering of the boules in order to modify
the hardness appliedby the manufacturer is forbidden.
However, the player's name and
forenameor initials may be engraved on them, as well as various logos,
initials and acronyms, conforming to the manufacturer’s specification.
Article 2b – Penalties for
irregular boules
A player guilty of breaking the
above condition (4) is immediately disqualified from the competition together
with his or her team mate/s.
For boules said to be
"tampered with" or “re-tempered” - the player risks withdrawal of his
or her licence for a period as defined in the Code of Discipline, without
prejudicing any other penalties imposed on the guilty player by the Federal
Commission of Discipline of the Federation to which he/she belongs.
If the boules have been borrowed
and the owner is identified, the latter will see a period of suspension
inflicted upon him/her, the duration of which is fixed by the Disciplinary
Committee of the guilty player’s Federation.
If a boule not “tampered with” but
worn, or of defective manufacture, does not pass the official examination
successfully, or does not comply with the norms set out in paragraphs (1), (2)
and (3) above, the player must change it. He or she may also change the
set.
Complaints relating to these three
paragraphs and made by players are admissible only before the start of a
game. It is in the interests of the latter, therefore, to ensure that
their boules and those of their opponents comply with the above rules.
Complaints relating to (4) are
admissible at any time during the game, but they must be made between
ends. However, from the third end onwards, if a complaint made about the
boules of an opponent is proved to be unfounded, 3 points will be added to the
score of the latter.
Where
boules have had to be opened, the complainant becomes responsible.
Notably, he or she will be made to reimburse the owner or replace the boules if
they are found to be in order. Nevertheless, under no circumstances can
he or she be asked to pay damages or interest.
The Umpire or the Jury may, at any
time, require examination of the boules of one or several players.
Article 3 – Approved jacks
Jacks
are made of wood, or of a synthetic material bearing the manufacturer’s mark
and having obtained the F.I.P.J.P’s approval in line with the precise
specification relating to the required standards.
Their diameter must be between
25mm (minimum) and 35mm (maximum).
Painted jacks – whatever their
colour – are authorised.
Article 4 - Licences
It must be established that any
licence complies with the Administrative Rules of the Federation and, in
particular, it must bear a stamped recent photograph and the signature of the
owner.
Before the start of a competition,
each player must present his or her licence. He or she must also present
it after any request by the Umpire, or by an opponent, unless it has been
retained at the Control Table.
PLAY
Article 5 – Terrain rules
Pétanque is played on any
terrain. However, by a decision of the Organising Committee or the
Umpire, the teams may be asked to play on a marked terrain. In this case,
the latter must, for National Championships and International Competitions,
have the following minimum dimensions: 4m wide and 15m long.
For other competitions the
Federations may permit variations relative to these minima, subject to their
dimensions not being below 12m x 3m.
When playing areas are placed end
to end, the end lines of the lanes, which are common to both playing areas, are
classed as dead ball lines.
When the terrains of play are
enclosed by solid barriers, these must be beyond the dead ball line and at a
minimum distance of 30 cm from the latter. The dead ball line will
encircle the exterior of the playing area at a maximum distance of 4 metres.
These arrangements are, of course,
applicable to the area on which the finals are played.
Games are played to 13 points,
with the possibility of leagues and qualifying heats being played to 11 points.
Article 6 – Start of play – Rules
regarding the circle
The players must toss up to decide
which team will choose the terrain and be the first to throw the jack.
If the terrain has been designated
by the organisers, the jack must be thrown on that terrain. The teams
concerned must not go to a different terrain without the Umpire’s permission.
Any member of the team winning the
toss chooses the starting point and traces a circle on the ground such that the
feet of the players may be placed entirely inside it. However, it may not
measure less than 35cm or more than 50cm in diameter.
Where a prefabricated circle is
used, it must have an internal diameter of 50cms.
This circle, valid for the three
consecutive throws allowed to a team, must be drawn or placed at least a metre
from any obstacle, or from an out of bounds area and, for competitions on open
terrains, at least 2 metres from another throwing circle in use.
The team that throws the jack must
erase all throwing circles near the one it is going to use.
The interior of the circle can be
completely cleared of grit/pebbles etc. during the end but must be put back in
good order at the end of the latter or, at the latest, before the throwing of
the jackat the following end.
The circle is not considered to be
an out of bounds area.
The feet must be entirely on the
inside of the circle, not encroach on its perimeter and they must not leave it
or be lifted completely off the ground until the thrown boule has touched the
ground. No part of the body may touch the ground outside the
circle. As an exception, those who are disabled in a lower limb are
authorised to place only one foot inside the circle.
For players throwing from a
wheelchair, at least one wheel (that on the side of the throwing arm) must rest
inside the circle.
The throwing of the jack by one
member of the team does not imply that he or she is obliged to be the first to
play.
Article 7 – Valid distances for
the thrown jack
For the thrown jack to be valid,
the following conditions apply:
1)
That the distance separating
it from the nearest edge of the circle must be between:
4 metres minimum and 8 metres maximum for Minors.
5 metres minimum and 9 metres maximum for Cadets.
6 metres minimum and 10 metres maximum for Juniors and Seniors.
2)
That the throwing
circle must be a minimum of 1 metre from any obstacle and from the limit of an
out of bounds area.
3)
That the jack must be
a minimum of 1 metre from any obstacle and from the nearest limit of an
out-of-bounds area.
4)
That the jack must be
visible to the player whose feet are placed astride the extreme limits of the
interior of the circle and whose body is absolutely upright. In case of
dispute on this point, the Umpire decides, without appeal, if the jack is
visible.
At the following end the jack is
thrown from a circle drawn around the point where it finished at the previous
end, except in the following cases:
- The circle would be less than 1
metre from an obstacle or the limit of an out-of-bounds area.
- The throwing of the jack could
not be made to all regulation distances.
In the first case the player draws
the circle at the regulation distance from the obstacle or the out-of-bounds
area.
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 to the maximum authorised distance, and not
beyond. This opportunity is offered only if the jack cannot be thrown to
the maximum distance in any other direction.
If after three consecutive throws
by the same team, the jack has not been thrown in accordance with the rules
defined above, it is passed back to the opposing team who also has the right to
three tries and who may move the circle back as described in the preceding
paragraph. In this case, the circle may not be changed if this team does
not succeed in its three throws.
In any case, the team who lost the
jack after the first three tries maintains the right to play the first boule.
Article 8 – For the thrown jack to
be valid
If the thrown jack is stopped by
the Umpire, a player, a spectator, an animal or any moving object, it is not
valid and must be thrown again without being included in the three throws to
which the team or the player is entitled.
If after the throwing of the jack,
a first boule is played, the opponent still has the right to contest the
validity of its position. If the objection is recognised as valid, the
jack is thrown again and the boule replayed.
For the jack
to be rethrown both teams must have recognised that the throw was not valid or
the Umpire must have decided it to be so. If any team proceeds
differently, it loses the benefit of the throwing of the jack.
If the opponent has also played a
boule, the jack is definitely deemed valid and no objection is admissible.
Article 9 – Jack dead
The jack is dead in the following
six cases:
1)
When the jack is
displaced into an out-of-bounds area, even if it comes back on to the
authorised playing area. A jack straddlingthe boundary of an
authorised terrain is valid. It becomes dead only after having completely
crossed the boundary of the authorised terrain or the dead ball line, that is
to say, when it lies entirely beyond the boundary when viewed from directly
above.A puddle on which a jack floats freely is considered to be out of
bounds.
2)
When, still on the
authorised terrain, the moved jack is not visible from the circle, as defined
in Article 7. However, a jack masked by a boule is not dead. The
Umpire is authorised to temporarily remove a boule to declare whether the jack is
visible.
3)
When the jack is
displaced to more than 20 metres (for Juniors and Seniors) or 15 metres (for
Cadets and Minors), or less than 3 metres from the throwing circle
4)
When on marked out
playing areas, the jack crosses more than one lane immediately to the side of
the lane in use and when it crosses the end line of the lane where the line is
common to the lanes end to end.
5)
When the displaced
jack cannot be found, the search time being limited to 5 minutes.
6)
When an out-of-bounds
area is situated between the jack and the throwing circle.
Article 10 – Displacement of
obstacles
It is strictly forbidden for
players to press down, displace or crushany obstacle whatever on the
playing area. However, the player about to throw the jack is authorised
to test the landing point with one of his or her boules by striking the ground
no more than three times. Furthermore, the player who is about to play, or one
of his partners, may fill in the hole which would have been made by the
last boule thrown.
For non-observation of the rules
above, the players incur the penalties outlined in the chapter “Discipline”,
article 34
Article 10 a – Changing of jack or
boule
Players are forbidden to change
the jack or a boule during a game except in the following cases:
1)
The one or the other
cannot be found, the search time being limited to 5 minutes.
2)
The one or the other
is broken: in this case the largest part is taken into consideration. If
boules remain to be played, the aforementioned is immediately replaced, after
measuring, if necessary, by a boule or a jack of identical or similar diameter.
At the next end the player concerned can take a new complete set.
JACK
Article 11 – Jack masked or
displaced
If, during an end, the jack is
accidentally masked by a leaf ora piece of paper these objects are
removed.
If the stationary jack is
displaced, by reason of the wind or the slope of the terrain for example, it is
put back in its original place, on condition that it had been marked.
The same applies if the jack is
accidentally displaced by the Umpire, a player, a spectator, a boule or jack
coming 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 boules
or jack whose positionshave not been marked.
If the jack is moved by a boule
played in this game it is valid.
Article 12 – Jack moved into
another game
If, during an end, the jack is
displaced onto another terrain of play, marked out or not, the jack is valid
subject to the conditions outlined in Article 9.
The players using this jack will
wait, if there is room, for the players in the other game to
complete their end, before completing their own.
The players concerned by the
application of this rule must show patience and courtesy.
At the following end the teams
continue on the terrain which had been allotted to them and the jack is thrown
again from the place it occupied when it was displaced, subject to the
conditions of Article 7.
Article 13 – Actions to take if
the jack is dead
If, during an end, the jack is
dead, one of three cases can apply:
1)
Both teams have
boules to play, the end is void.
2)
Only one team has
boules left to play, this team scores as many points as boules that remain to
be played.
3)
The two teams have no
more boules in hand, the end is void.
Article 14 – Positioning the jack
after it has been stopped
1)
If the jack, having
been hit, is stopped by a spectator or by the Umpire, it remains in this
position.
2)
If the jack, having
been hit, is stopped by a player, his opponent has the choice of:
a)
leaving the jack in
its new position;
b)
putting it back in
its original position;
c)
placing it anywhere
on the extension of a line going from its original position to the place that
it is found, up to a maximum distance of 20 metres (15 metres for Cadets and
Minors) and such that it is visible.
Paragraphs b) and c) can only be
applied if the position of the jack was previously marked. If this was
not the case, the jack will remain where it is found.
If, after having been struck, the
jack travels into an out-of-bounds area before returning, finally, on to the
playing area, it is classed as dead and the actions defined in Article 13
apply.
BOULES
Article 15 – 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 has been the
last to score. After that, it is the team that does not hold the point
that plays.
The player must not use any object
or draw a line on the ground to help him/her in playing a boule or mark its
landing point. Whilst playing his or her last boule, it is forbidden to carry a
boule in the other hand.
The boules must be played one at a
time.
Any boule thrown cannot be
replayed. However, boules must be replayed if they have been stopped or
deviated accidentally from their course between the throwing circle and the
jack by a boule or jack coming from another game, or by an animal or any moving
object (football, etc.) and in the case defined in Article 8, second paragraph.
It is forbidden to moisten the
boules or jack.
Before throwing his/her boule, the
player must remove from it any trace of mud or whatever deposit, under threat
of penalties outlined in Article 34.
If the first boule played goes
out-of-bounds, it is for the opponent to play first then alternately so long as
there are no boules on the designated terrain.
If after shooting or pointing no
boules are left on the designated playing area, the arrangements concerning a
dead end as defined in Article 28 apply.
Article 16 – Behaviour of players
and spectators during a game
During the regulation time allowed
for a player to throw a boule the spectators and players must observe total
silence.
The opponents must not walk, nor
gesticulate nor do anything that could disturb the player about to play.
Only his or her team-mate/s may remain between the throwing circle and the
jack.
The opponents must remain beyond the
jack or behind the player and, in both cases, to the side with regard to the
direction of play and at a distance of at least 2 metres the one from the
other.
The players who do not observe
these regulations could be excluded from the competition if, after a warning
from the Umpire, they persist in their conduct.
Article 17 – Throwing of the
boules and boules going outside the terrain
Absolutely no-one may, as a test,
throw his/her boule during the game. Players who do not observe this rule
will be penalised as set out in the chapter “Discipline”, Article 34
During the course of an end,
boules going outside the marked terrain are valid (except as in the application
of Article 18).
Article 18 – Dead boules
Any boule is dead from the moment
that it enters an out-of-bounds area. A boule straddling the boundary
line of the authorised playing area is valid. The boule is dead only
after having completely crossed the boundary of the allotted playing area, or
the dead ball line, that is to say, when it is situated entirely beyond the
boundary when viewed from directly above. The same applies when, on
marked terrains, the boule completely crosses more than one of the lanes
alongside the lane in use.
If the boule then comes back into
the playing area, either because of the slope of the ground or by having
rebounded from an obstacle, moving or stationary, it is immediately taken out
of the game and anything that it has displaced after its passage into an
out-of-bounds area is put back in place.
Any dead boule must immediately be
removed from the game. By default it will be considered to be live the moment
another boule is played by the opposing team.
Article 19 – Stopped boules
Any boule played that is stopped
by a spectator or the Umpire, will remain where it comes to rest.
Any boule played, that is stopped
by a player to whose team it belongs, is dead.
Any boule pointed that is stopped
by an opponent, can, according to the wishes of the player, be replayed or left
where it comes to rest.
If a boule shot, or hit is stopped
by a player, the opponent of the player who committed the fault may:
1)
leave it where it
stopped;
2)
place it on the
extension of a line which starts from the original position it occupied to the
place it is found, but only on the playable area and only on condition that it
had been marked.
The player purposely stopping a
moving boule is immediately disqualified, along with his or her team, for the
game in progress.
Article 20 – Time allowed to play
Once the jack is thrown each player
has the maximum duration of one minute to play his or her boule. This short
period starts from the moment when the previous boule or jack stops or, if a
point has to be measured, from the moment the latter has been effected.
The same prescriptions apply to
the throwing of the jack after each end.
The player not respecting this
rule, incurs penalties outlined in the chapter “Discipline”, Article 34
Article 21 – Displaced boules
If a stationary boule is moved by
the wind or slope of the ground, for example, it is put back in its
place. The same applies to any boule accidentally displaced by a player,
an Umpire, a spectator, an animal or any moving object.
To avoid any dispute, the players
must mark the boules. No claim will be admissible for an unmarked boule,
and the Umpire will give a decision only in terms of the position the boules
hold on the terrain.
However, if a boule is moved by a
boule played in this game it is valid.
Article 22 – A player throwing a
boule other than his own
The player who plays a boule other
than his own receives a warning. The boule played is nevertheless valid
but it must immediately be replaced, possibly after measuring has been done.
In the event of it occurring again
during the game, the guilty player's boule is disqualified and anything it
displaced is put back in place.
Players are forbidden to pick up
the played boules before the completion of the end.
Article 23 – Throwing boules
contrary to the rules
Any boule thrown contrary to the
rules is dead and, if marked, anything that it has displaced in its travel is
put back in place. The same applies to any boule played from a circle
other than that from which the jack was thrown.
However, the opponent has the
right to apply the advantage rule and declare it to be valid. In this
case, the boule pointed or shot, is valid and anything it has displaced remains
in its place.
POINTS
AND MEASURING
Article 24 – Temporary removal of
boules
In order to measure a point, it is
permitted, after having marked their positions, to temporarily remove the
boules and obstacles situated between the jack and the boules to be measured.
After measuring, the boules and the obstacles which were removed are put back
in place. If the objects cannot be removed, the measuring is done with
the aid of callipers.
Article 25 – Measuring of points
The measuring of a point is the
duty of the player who last played or by one of his or her team-mates.
The opponents still have the right to measure after one of these players.
Whatever positions the boules to be measured may hold, and at whatever stage
the end may be, the Umpire can be consulted and his or her decision is final.
Measuring must be done with
appropriate instruments, which each team must possess. Notably, it is
forbidden to effect measurements with the feet. The players who do not observe
this ruling could incur the penalties outlined in the chapter “Discipline”
Article 34 if, after a warning by the Umpire, they persist in their conduct.
Article 26 – Boules picked up
before the agreement of points
At the completion of an end, any
boule picked up before the agreement of points is dead if it was not
marked. No claim is admissible on this subject.
Article 27 – Displacement of the
boules or the jack
The team, whose player displaces
the jack or one of the contested boules, while effecting a measurement, loses
the point.
If, during the measurement of a
point, the Umpire disturbs or displaces the jack or a boule and if, after
re-measuring, the point remains with the boule which had originally been
estimated to be closest to the jack, the Umpire, in all fairness, declares it
to be so. The same applies in the hypothesis that where, after a new
measurement, the point does not remain with the boule originally estimated to
be holding.
Article 28 – Boules equidistant
from the jack
When two closest boules to the
jack belong to opposing teams and are at an equal distance from it, 3 cases can
apply:
1)
If the two teams have
no more boulestoplay the end is dead and the jack belongs to
the team which scored on the preceding end.
2)
If only one team has
boules at its disposition, it plays them and scores as many points as it has
boules closer to the jack than the nearest opponent’s boule.
3)
If both teams have
boules at their disposition, it is for the team which played the last boule to
play again, then the opposing team, and so on alternately until the point has
been won by one of them. When only one team possesses boules, the
arrangements set out in the preceding paragraph apply.
If, after completion of the end,
no boules remain within the boundary of the authorised playing area, the end is
null and void.
Article 29 - Foreign bodies
adhering to the boules or jack
Any foreign bodies adhering to the
boules or the jack must be removed before measuring a point.
Article 30 - Claims
To be admissible, any claim must
be made to the Umpire. It cannot be considered when lodged after the result of
the game has been established.
Each team is responsible for
checking of the opposing team (licences, category/classification, terrain,
boules, etc.).
DISCIPLINE
Article 31 – Penalties for absent
teams or players
At the time of the draw and the
announcement of its result, the players must be present at the control
table. A quarter of an hour after the announcement of these results, the
team which is absent from the terrain will be penalised one point which is
awarded to their opponents.
After this quarter-hour wait, the
penalty accrues by one point for each five minutes of the delay.
The same penalties apply throughout
the competition, after each random draw and in the case of a re-start of games
after a break for any reason whatsoever.
The team which does not present
itself on the playing area within the hour of the start or restart of games is
declared to be eliminated from the competition.
An incomplete team has the right
to start a game without waiting for its absent player; nevertheless it does not
use the boules of that player.
No player may absent him/herself
from a game or leave the terrains of play without the authorisation of the
Umpire. If this has not been granted, the arrangements outlined in this
article and that following apply.
Article 32 – Late arrival of
players
If, after an end has started, the
missing player arrives, he or she does not take part in this end, he or she is
accepted into the game only as from the following end.
If a missing player arrives more
than one hour after the start of a game, he or she loses all rights to
participate in that game.
If his or her team-mates win this
game, he or she will be able to participate in that which follows provided that
he or she was originally registered with that team.
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.
An end is considered as having
started when the jack has been placed on the playing area in accordance with
the Rules.
Article 33 – Replacement of a
player
The replacement of a player in
Doubles, or of one or two players in Triples, is permitted only up to the official
announcement of the commencement of the competition (gun, whistle,
announcement, etc.), on condition that the replacement/s was/were not
previously registered in the competition as belonging to another team.
Article 34 – Penalties of play
For non-observation of the rules
of the game the players incur the following penalties
1)
Warning;
2)
Disqualification of
the boule played or to be played;
3)
Disqualification of
the boule played or to be played and the following one;
4)
Exclusion of the
guilty player responsible for the game;
5)
Disqualification of
the team responsible;
6)
Disqualification of
the two teams in case of complicity.
Article 35 – Inclement weather
In the case of rain, any end
started must be completed, unless a contrary decision is made by the Umpire,
who alone is qualified, with the Jury, to decide on its suspension or
cancellation in the case of a “force majeure”.
Article 36 – New phase of play
If, after the announcement of a
new phase of the competition (2nd round, 3rd round, etc.....) certain games
have not ended, the Umpire, after advice from the Organising Committee, may
make any arrangements or decisions that he judges necessary for the good
running of the competition.
Article 37 – Sharing of prizes
The sharing of prizes and expenses
is strictly forbidden. The teams who contest the final games, or any
other game, who show lack of sporting spirit and respect towards the public,
the organisers or the Umpires, will be excluded from the competition.
This exclusion can incur non-confirmation of the possible results, as also, the
application of penalties set out in Article 38.
Article 38 – Bad behaviour
The player who is guilty of bad
behaviour, or worse, violence towards an official, an Umpire, another player or
a spectator incurs one or several of the following penalties, depending on the
seriousness of the offence.
1)
Exclusion from the
competition.
2)
Withdrawal of
licence.
3)
Confiscation or
restitution of expenses and prizes.
The penalty imposed on the guilty
player can also be imposed on his or her team-mates.
Penalties 1) and 2) are imposed by
the Umpire.
Penalty 3) is imposed by the
Organising Committee which, within 48 hours, sends a report with the expenses and
prizes retained to the Federation’s Organisation which will decide on their
destination.
In all cases, the Chairman of the
Committee for the Federation concerned will make the final decision.
Decent dress is demanded of each
player (bare torso and bare feet are not acceptable). Any player who does
not observe these rules will be disqualified from the competition after a
warning from the Umpire.
Article 39 Duties of the Umpires
The Umpires designated to control
the competitions are charged to be on the watch for strict application of the
rules of the game and the administration rules which complete them. They
have the authority to disqualify from the competition any player or any team
who refuses to comply with their decision.
The spectators with valid or
suspended licences, who, by their behaviour, are the origin of incidents on the
terrain of play, will be the subject of an Umpire’s report to the Federal
executive. The latter will summon the guilty party or parties before a
competent Disciplinary Committee who will decide on the penalties to apply.
Article 40– Composition and
decisions of the Jury
Any case
not provided for in the rules is submitted to the Umpire who can refer it to
the competition's Jury. This Jury comprises at least 3 people and at the
most 5 people. The decisions taken by the Jury in applying this paragraph
are without appeal. In the case of a split vote, the President of the
Jury has the casting vote.
Note: The present Rules have been
approved by the International Congress of the FIPJP on 21st
September 2006 at GRENOBLE (France)