INTERNATIONAL RULES OF PETANQUE AS
ADOPTED BY THE FÉDÉRATION INTERNATIONALE DE PÉTANQUE ET JEU PROVENÇAL IN
GRENOBLE IN 2006. 1. DOWNLOAD PDF Printable Rules Here. ACKNOWLEDGMENT This is a translation from the
original French of the International Official Playing Rules. The translation
was originally made by BPA (The British Petanque Association - now the British
Petanque Federation) and has been edited slightly by the Federation of Petanque
U.S.A. (FPUSA) to employ American phraseology but without change of meaning.
FPUSA is most grateful to BPF for their kind permission to use the British
translation. THE OFFICIAL INTERNATIONAL RULES OF THE GAME OF PETANQUE TABLE OF CONTENTS GENERAL RULES ARTICLE
1 - Game Setting ARTICLE 2
- Boules Diameter, Weight and Characteristics ARTICLE
3 - License ARTICLE 4 - Changing Boules and Breakage of
Boules orJack PLAY ARTICLE
5 - Terrain and Dimensions ARTICLE 6 - Starting of the Game & Playing Circle ARTICLE 7 - Throwing Distance & Requirements ARTICLE 8 - Deflection of Jack ARTICLE 9 - Annulment of Jack ARTICLE 10 - Removal of Obstacles - Penalties ARTICLE 10a - Changing, Breaking, Boule or Jack ARTICLE 11 - Jack Masked or Displaced ARTICLE 12 - Jack Moved into Another Terrain ARTICLE 13 - Scoring When Jack is Out of Play ARTICLE 14 - Placement of Jack After Interference
BOULES ARTICLE 15 - Throwing of the First and
Following Boules ARTICLE 16 - Players & Spectators -
Conduct During Play ARTICLE 17 - Throwing of Boules and Boules Going Outside the Terrain ARTICLE 18 - Invalid Boules ARTICLE 19 - Boules Interfered With ARTICLE 20 - Playing Time Allowed ARTICLE 21 - Displacement of Boules by Nature or Person ARTICLE 22 - Playing Wrong Boules ARTICLE 23 - Invalid Placement of Boules POINTS
AND MEASURING ARTICLE 24 - Movement of Boules for Measuring ARTICLE 25
- Measuring ARTICLE 26 - Removing Boules after Play ARTICLE 27 - Movement of Boules or Jack
While Measuring ARTICLE 28 - Equidistant Boules ARTICLE 29 - Removal of Debris on Boule for
Measuring ARTICLE 30 - Game Disputes and Claims DISCIPLINE ARTICLE 31 - Penalties for Absent Teams or
Players ARTICLE 32 - Arrival of Absent Player ARTICLE 33 - Replacement of Players ARTICLE 34 - Penalties ARTICLE 35 - Inclement Weather ARTICLE 36 - Unfinished Games ARTICLE 37 - Illegal Prize Sharing and
Misconduct ARTICLE 38 - Player Misconduct ARTICLE 39 - Umpires' Duties and Spectators' Conduct ARTICLE 40 - Composition and Duties of Jury F.P.U.S.A. Code of Behavior —
GENERAL — Article
1 — Game Setting Petanque
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 two boules. In
doubles and in singles, each player uses three boules. No
other version of the game is allowed. Article
2a — Characteristics of Approved Boules Petanque
is played with boules which are approved by the F.l.P.J.P. and which must
conform to the following criteria: (a) They
must be made of metal. (b) Their
diameter must be between 7.05 cm (minimum) and 8 cm (maximum). (c) They
must weigh between 650 grams (minimum) and 800 grams (maximum). The trademark
of the manufacturer and the weight must be imprinted on the boules and must
always be legible. In
the case of competitions reserved exclusively for players 11 years old or
younger, junior boules that weigh 600 grams and are 65mm in diameter may be
used provided that they are made by an approved manufacturer. (d) They
must not be weighted nor sanded down. As a general rule the boules must not be
tampered with in any way, nor altered or modified after manufacture by the
maker approved by the F.l.P.J.P. It is
particularly forbidden to re-temper [re-heat] the boules in order to modify the
hardness provided by the manufacturer. However,
the player’s name or initials may be engraved on them, as well as various
logos, initials and acronyms, applied during manufacture. Article
2b — Penalties for Non-conforming Boules A
player guilty of breaking the above condition (d) is immediately disqualified
from the competition together with his or her team mate/s The following two
cases can arise: (1) For boules said to be “tampered with” -
the player is rendered liable to withdrawal of his or her license [or FPUSA membership
card] for a period as defined in the Code of Discipline, together with any
other penalties imposed by the Federation [FPUSA's] Discipline Committee. (2) For boules said to be “re-tempered”
[re-heated] - the player is rendered liable to withdrawal of his or her license
[or FPUSA membership card] for a period of 2 years and a 3-5 year ban on
playing in qualifying heats for the National and International Championship. In
either of the above cases, if the boules have been borrowed and the owner is known,
the latter will be suspended for 2 years. If a
boule is worn or defective in manufacture, [as opposed to being tampered with]
and is not passed by the controlling body or does not comply with (a), (b) or
(c) above, the player must change it. He or she may also change the complete
set. Complaints
relating to (a), (b) or (c) made by either team must be made before the first
end of the game begins. All players should therefore ensure that their boules
and those of their opponents comply with the above conditions. Complaints
relating to (d) may be made between two ends at any time during the game.
However, from the third end onwards, if a complaint made about the boules of an
opponent is proved to be unfounded, the team or the player complaining will be
penalized 3 points which will be added to the opponents score. In the
case where a boule has had to be opened, the complainant is then responsible
for the boule, so that if it is found to be legal, the complainant has to
reimburse the owner to replace the set of boules. But under no circumstances
can he or she be asked to pay damages. The
umpire or the jury may, at any time, check the boules of any player Article
3— Approved Jacks Jacks
[Cochonnets] are made entirely 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). Jacks
may be painted any color. Article
4— Licenses A
license must comply with the Administrative Rules of the F.l.P.J.P. and, in
particular it must bear an embossed photograph and the signature of the owner. Before
the start of a competition, each player must produce his or her license [or
FPUSA membership card]. He or she must also produce it upon request by the
umpire, or by an opponent but only before the start of a game. —
PLAY — Article
5 — Terrain and Dimensions The
game of Petanque is played on any terrain. However, by a decision of the
organizing committee or the umpire, the teams may be asked to play on a marked
terrain, whose minimum dimensions must be as follows: For
National Championships and International Competitions, it is 15 m long and 4 m
wide. For
other competitions: the F.l.P.J.P. [and FPUSA] may allow variations down to 12
m x 3 m. When
playing areas are placed end to end, the end lines of the lanes, which are
common to both playing areas, are considered dead ball lines. If the
terrain is surrounded by solid barriers these must be a minimum of 30 cm
outside the dead ball line. The dead ball line will encircle the exterior of
the terrain at a maximum distance of 4 meters. These
rules apply also to the “Carré d’Honneur” [terrains used for finals, etc.]. The
game is played up to 13 points, though league and qualifying heats may be
played to 11 points. Article
6 — Starting of the Game and Playing Circle The
players must toss up to decide which team will choose the terrain, if it has
not been designated by the organizers, and will throw the jack first. If the
terrains have been marked out by the organizers [into separate pistes] the jack
must be thrown within the terrain [piste] allotted to each team. 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 35cm or more than 50cm in diameter. Where a
prefabricated circle is used, it must have an internal diameter of 50cm. This
circle, valid for the three consecutive throws allowed to a team, must be drawn
at least 1 m from all obstacles, and at least 1 m inside the boundary of the
playing area [normally the dead boule line] and, for competitions on open
terrains, at least 2m from another circle in use. The
team about to throw the jack must erase any previous throwing circles located
near the new one. The
area within the circle may be completely cleared during the end but it must be
restored when the end is finished or, at the latest, before the start of the
next end. The
circle is not considered to be out of bounds. The
feet must be entirely inside the circle without touching it, and 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. A player who has lost a lower limb need 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
must play the first boule. Article
7 — Throwing Distance and Requirements For the
thrown jack to be legal, the following conditions apply: (1) The
distance from it to the nearest edge of the circle must be between - 4 m
min and 8 m max. for Minimes. - 5 m
min and 9 m max. for Cadets. - 6 m
min and 10 m max. for Juniors and Seniors. (2) The
[nearest edge of the] circle must be 1 m from all obstacles and at least 1 m
inside the boundary of the playing area. (3) The
jack must be at least 1m minimum from all obstacles and from the boundary of
the playing area. (4) The
jack must be visible to the player whose feet are entirely inside the circle
and who is standing upright. In cases of dispute, the umpire will decide if the
jack is visible and there can be no appeal. 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: (a) The
circle would be less than 1 m from an obstacle or from the boundary of the
playing area. In this case, the player will trace a circle in the nearest valid
position from the obstacle and the boundary. (b) The
jack could not be thrown out to all valid distances. In
this 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. If
after 3 consecutive throws by the same team, the jack has not been thrown
correctly, it is then passed to the opposing team who also has 3 tries and who
may move the circle back as described above. After
this, the circle cannot be moved again even if this team has not succeeded with
its three throws. In any
case, the team who lost the jack after the first three tries plays the first
boule. Article
8 — Deflection of the Jack If the
jack thrown, is stopped by the umpire, a player, a spectator, an animal or any
moving object, it is not valid and must be re-thrown without being included in
the three throws to which the player or the team is entitled. After
the throwing of the jack and the first boule, an opponent still has the right
to contest the validity of the jack's position. If the objection is valid, both
the jack and the boule are re-thrown. For the
jack to be thrown anew both teams must have accepted the throw as being illegal
or the umpire must have declared it so. In either case the jack must be
re-thrown. Any team continuing otherwise loses the throw of the jack. If the
opponent has also played a boule the jack is deemed valid and no objection can
be accepted. Article
9 — Annulment of Jack The
jack is deemed dead in the following six cases: (1) 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 still in play. It only becomes dead after having
completely crossed the boundary. Where a jack floats freely in water the area
of the puddle is out of play. (2) 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 ascertain whether the jack is visible or not. (3) When
the jack is displaced to more than 20 m or less than 3 m 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 moved jack cannot be found after a 5 minute maximum search time. (6) When
there is dead ground between the jack and the throwing circle. Article
10 — Removal of Obstacles - Penalties It is
strictly forbidden for any player to remove, move or flatten any obstacle on
the terrain within the boundaries of the playing area. However,
the player about to throw the jack is allowed to test the ground by tapping it
no more than 3 times with one of his or her boules. Furthermore, the player who
is about to play or one of his partners may fill in the hole that was made by
the last boule thrown. For not
observing the rules above, players incur the penalties described in Article 34.
Article
10a — Changing, Breaking, Boule or Jack It is
forbidden for any player to change boules or jack during a game, except in the
following cases: (a) A boule or the jack cannot be found
after a search time limited to 5 minutes (b) A boule
or the jack breaks, in which case only the largest piece counts to mark the
position It is immediately replaced, after measuring if necessary, by a boule
or jack of diameter identical or similar to the broken one. From
the following end, the player concerned may use a complete new set. Article
11 — Jack Masked or Displaced If,
during an end, the jack is completely obscured by a leaf, piece of paper etc.,
remove these objects. If the
wind or slope of the terrain moves the stationary jack, it is put back in its
place providing its position had been marked. 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 should mark the jack's position. No claim can
be accepted regarding a boule or jack whose position has not been marked. Article
12 — Jack Moved into Another Terrain If,
during an end, the jack is moved onto an area where another game is in
progress, either on a marked or unmarked terrain, the jack is valid subject to
Article 9. The
players using this jack will wait for the players in the other game to finish
their end before completing their own. The
players concerned are asked to show patience and courtesy. At the
following end the teams continue on the terrain allotted to them and the jack
is thrown from where it was before it was displaced, subject to the conditions
of Article 7. Article
13 — Scoring when Jack is Out of Play If,
during an end, the jack becomes dead, one of three cases can apply: (a) If both teams have boules to play, the
end is void. (b) If only one team has boules left to
play, then this team scores as many points as it has boules to play. (c) If neither team has boules to play, the
end is void. Article
14 — Placement of Jack after Interference 1) If the
jack, having been hit, is stopped by a spectator or by the umpire, it remains
where it stops. 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 from its original position to the point
where it is found, but only within the playing area, and so that the end can be
continued. Paragraphs
(b) and (c) can only be applied if the position of the jack was previously
marked. If it was not marked, the jack will remain where it lies. If the
jack, having been knocked on, crosses a boundary of the playing area [the dead
boule line] but comes to rest on a permitted area, it is deemed dead and the
rules defined in Article 13 apply. —
BOULES — Article
15 — Throwing of the First and Following Boules A player belonging to the team that has won the
toss or the last scoring end throws the first boule of an end. Following
boules are played by the team not holding the point. The
player must not use any object to give aid in playing a boule or draw a line on
the ground to indicate or mark the point of landing. Whilst
playing his or her last boule, he or she must not carry another boule in the
other hand. Boules
must be played one at a time. Once
thrown a boule may not be replayed. Except that it must be replayed if it has
been stopped or deviated accidentally from its course between the circle and
the jack by a boule or jack coming from another game. Or by an animal or any
other moving object (football, etc.), and also in the case defined in Article
8, second paragraph. It is
forbidden to wet the boules or the jack. Before
throwing a boule, the player must remove from it all traces of mud or any other
substance. Penalties for this rule are as stated in Article 34. If the
first boule played goes out of play, the opponent plays and so on alternately
while there are no boules in play. If
after shooting or pointing no boules are left in play, the rules defined in
Article 28 apply. Article
16 — Players & Spectators - Conduct During Play During
the time allowed for a player to throw a boule the spectators and the other
players must observe total silence The
opponents must not walk, gesticulate or do anything that could disturb the
player about to play. Only his or her team-mate/s may stand between the circle
and the jack. The
opponents must remain beyond the jack or behind the player and, in both cases.
to the side of the end’s line of play and at a distance of at least 2 meters
from the one or the other. The
players who do not observe these rules will be banned from the competition if,
after a warning from the umpire, they persist in their conduct. Article
17 — Throwing of Boules and Boules Going Outside the Terrain No one
is allowed a practice throw during a game. Players who do not observe this rule
could incur the penalties as defined in Article 34. During
an end, boules going outside the marked terrain are valid (except as in Article
19). Article
18 — Invalid Boules Any
boule that goes entirely outside the boundary of the playing area, [normally
the dead boule line], is out of play. A boule straddling the boundary is valid.
It only becomes dead after having completely crossed the boundary. 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 subsequently comes back into the playing area, either because of the
slope of the ground or by having rebounded from any object, moving or stationary,
it is immediately taken out of the game. Anything that it has moved after
re-entering the playing area is put back in place [if it has been previously
marked]. Any
boule out of play must immediately be removed from the playing area, if it is
not, it will be deemed live as soon as the next boule has been played by the
opposing team. Article
19 — Boules Interfered With 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 deemed out
of play. Any
boule pointed that is stopped by an opponent can, on the decision 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 has a choice to: (a) Leave
it where it stopped, or (b) Place
it on the extension line from the original position where it (boule or jack)
was hit from to where it is found, but only within the boundary of the playing
area and if its position was previously marked. Any
player purposely stopping a moving boule is immediately disqualified, along
with his or her team, for the game in progress. Article
20 — Playing Time Allowed Once
the jack is thrown, each player has 1 minute at most to play his or her boule.
This time starts from the moment when the previous boule or jack has stopped
or, if a point has to be measured, from the moment the outcome has been
decided. This
rule also applies to the throwing of the jack after each end. Players
not respecting this rule will incur penalties as stated in Article 34. Article
21 — Displacement of Boules by Nature or Person If the
wind or slope of the ground etc. moves a stationary boule, it is put back in
its place. The same applies to any boule accidentally moved by a player, the
umpire, a spectator, an animal or any other moving object. To
avoid any disagreement, the players should mark the positions of the boules and
the jack. No claim will be accepted for a boule or jack that has not had its
position marked, and the umpire will only give a decision only according to the
position of the boules and the jack on the terrain. However,
if a boule is moved by a boule played in this game it is valid. Article
22 — Playing Wrong Boules A
player who plays a boule other than his own receives a warning. The
boule played is nevertheless valid but it must immediately be replaced, after
measuring, if necessary. In the
event of it occurring again during the game, the player’s boule is disqualified
and everything it has moved is put back in place. Players
must not pick up the played boules before the completion of the end. Article
23 — Invalid Placement of Boules All
boules thrown contrary to the rules are dead and, if marked, everything they
have moved is put back in place. The same applies to a boule played from a
circle other than that from which the jack was thrown. However,
the opponent may play the advantage rule and count the erroneously played boule
as valid. In this case, the boule pointed or shot, and everything it may have
displaced, is left in its new position. —
POINTS AND MEASURING — Article
24 — Movement of Boules for Measuring To
measure a point, it is permitted to move temporarily, after having marked their
positions, the boules and any object situated between the jack and the boule to
be measured. After measuring, the boules and the objects moved are put back in
place. If the object cannot be moved, the measuring is done with the aid of
calipers. Article
25 — Measuring The measuring of a point is done by the player who
played the last boule or by one of his or her teammates. The
opponents still have the right to re-measure the point. Whatever positions the
boule may hold, and at whatever stage the end may be, the umpire maybe called
to adjudicate and his or her decision is final. Measuring
must be done with appropriate equipment, which each team must possess. It is,
for instance, forbidden to measure with one’s feet. The players who do not
observe these rules could incur the penalties provided for in Article 34 if,
after a warning from the umpire they persist in their conduct. Article
26 — Removing Boules After Play At the
finish of an end, all boules picked up before the agreement of points are void
if their positions were not marked. No claims can be made on this subject. Article
27 — Movement of Boules or Jack While Measuring If,
whilst measuring, one of the players moves the jack or a boule being measured,
his or her team loses the point. If,
during a measure, the umpire disturbs or moves the jack or one of the boules
and if, after re-measuring, the point is held by the boule which [the umpire]
had originally judged to be on, then, in all fairness, he or she may declare it
so. Even if the point is no longer held by that boule, the umpire may, in all
fairness, still declare that it wins the point. Article
28 — Equidistant Boules If two
boules belonging to opposing teams are equidistant from, or touching the jack,
the end is declared void if there are no more boules to be played, and the jack
is thrown by the team winning the previous end or toss. If only
one team has boules left to play, it plays them and scores as many points as it
has boules closer to the jack than the nearest opponent’s boule. If both
teams have boules to play, the team that played the last boule plays again,
then the other team, and so on alternately until a boule is holding the point.
When only one team has boules left, they play them as in the above paragraph. If,
after completion of the end, no boules remain within the boundary of the
playing area [normally the dead ball line], the end is declared void. Article
29 — Removal of Debris on Boule for Measuring Any
foreign bodies adhering to the boules or the jack must be removed before
measuring a point. Article
30 — Game Disputes and Claims To be
accepted all claims must be made to the umpire. Claims made after the result of
the game has been agreed cannot be considered. Each
team is responsible for checking their opposing team (licenses [or FPUSA
membership cards], classification, terrain, boules, etc.). —
DISCIPLINE — Article
31 — 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. After
this quarter of an hour, it will forfeit one point for every five minutes
continued absence. The
same penalties will apply during the competition, after each draw and in the
case of a re-start of play after a break for any reason (e.g. Lunch). Any
team not arriving on the terrain in the hour following the start (or re-start)
of games will be eliminated from the competition. Any
incomplete team may start without its partner/s, but may not use their boules. Article
32 — Arrival of Absent Players If,
after an end has started, any missing player arrives, he or she may not take
part in that end, but may join in at the start of the following end. If a
missing player arrives more than one hour after the game has started, he or she
loses all rights to participate in that game. The
player arriving late may take part in the following games provided he or she
was registered with that team originally. If the
competition is played in leagues, he or she may take part in the following game
whatever the result of the first game. An end
is considered to have started when the jack has been validly thrown in
accordance with the rules. Article
33 — Replacement of Players The
replacement of a player in doubles, or of one or two players in triples is only
permitted up to the official announcement of the commencement of the
competition (whether vocally or by whistle, gun, etc.), and provided that the
replacements were not previously registered with another team in the same
competition. Article
34 – Penalties For not
observing the above rules, the players will incur the following penalties: (1) Warning. (2) Disqualification of the boule thrown or
about to be thrown. (3) Disqualification of the boule thrown or
about to be thrown and the following boule. (4) Exclusion of the guilty player for the
game. (5) Disqualification of the guilty team. (6) Disqualification of both teams in the
case of complicity. Article
35 — Inclement Weather In the
case of rain, all ends started must be completed, unless the umpire who, along
with the jury, can decide to stop or call off play because of “force majeure”
makes a contrary decision.
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