Simplified and Shortened Rules of Petanque.

 

Composition of teams

Triples 3 players per Team each with 2 boules
Doubles 2 players per Team each with 3 boules
Singles 1 player per Team with 3 boules

Boules

Must be made of metal with a diameter of 7.05cm to 8cm and a weight of between 650 grams and 800 grams 
Competition boules must be engraved with a trademark of manufacturer and the boule’s weight, only such boules may be used in any official competition.
Competition boules may be engraved with a player’s name or initials as well as maker’s marks in the factory only, not to be engraved after acquiring

Jacks

May be made of wood with a finished diameter of  30mm
Weight must be between 10 and 18 grams
Jacks must not be capable of being picked up with a magnet.

Licences

Only fully licenced players are eligible to play in Federation approved Competitions

Pistes

Any gravelly surfaced area can be deemed suitable as a piste, for National or International Comp the size must be a minimum 15m long x 4m wide, for all other competition the minimum size is 12m long x 3m wide.

Game points

Normally games are played to 13 points there are exceptions for qualifying heats in some tournaments and in social play
Timed games, these may finish prior to any team reaching 13 points, the leading points scoring team is declared the winner at the finish of the timed period. In the event of a tie at the finish of the timed period a deciding end is played.

Circles

Prefabricated circles may be used these must be rigid construction and have an internal diameter of 50cm.
Drawn circles may also be used these must be not less than 35cm and not more than 50 cm diameter.
Players must, unless disabled stand with both feet completely within and not touching any part of the circle, A disabled player may have one foot or one wheel of a wheelchair outside of the circle.

Play

A member of one side will toss a coin, opposing team to call, winning side will choose the piste, place the circle and a team member will throw the jack to land within the piste area a min of 6 metres and max of 10 metres from the circle internal edge. If the jack is not within the prescribed distances, the opposing team may move the jack to a legal position of their choosing. Once the jack is in a legal position play will continue with any member of the toss winning side throwing the first boule. A member of the opposing team shall then throw their first boule. Play continues with the team being furthest from the jack throwing and this team shall continue to throw until they become either the nearest to the jack or they have thrown all their available boules, at this point the other team shall throw until they either become closest or use all their boules. The end continues in this manner until both teams have thrown all their boules. At this point the score is calculated with all the winning team’s boules which are closer to the jack than any of the other team’s counted as one point each being added to their score. The end is over when the either team reaches 13 points and that team is declared the winner.

Dead Boules and Dead Boule Lines

If Dead Boule Lines are to be enforced they must be agreed by both teams prior to start of play. Boules are declared dead if they cross Dead Ball Lines or if the boule goes off the surface of the piste. Should a boule go off the piste and roll back onto the playing surface due to any cause it remains dead and should be removed immediately, if the jack is hit out of the piste, it is considered a “dead end” and a new end started.

Measurement and Boules equidistant from the Jack

In the event that a player displaces the jack or a contested boule whilst effecting a measurement that player’s team shall lose the point.
In the event of equidistant boules from the jack there are three alternates:

  1. If neither team has any boules available the end is dead and a new end shall commence with the jack belonging to the team who won the previous end or the toss.

  2. If only one team has boules available it shall play them and score as many points as it has boules nearest the jack.

  3. If both teams have boules left play, they shall continue as normal with the team who played the last boule to play again.

Bad and Unsporting Behaviour


Correct dress and fully enclosed shoes should be worn during play.
Opposition players should not stand within 2 metres of the player or the jack and not between the circle and the jack, neither should they talk or otherwise distract a player whilst in the circle in the process of throwing. 

Protests

Any actions which are considered by a Team as unfair or improper should be referred to the Umpire at the time, there should be no arguments between players, and once the game has been completed no protest or complaint shall be accepted.