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Petanque. What are the rules of the game? . Sport

The rules of petanque are simple and accessible, allowing you to practice at any age. The objective is to bring his steel balls as close as possible to a wooden jack and to reach 13 points to win the game.

To start a game, two teams must be formed. There are three possible configurations: two players against two players (3 balls each), three against three (with two balls each) or of course a one against one duel (in this case, each has three balls).

You must then draw a circle on the ground (or place a small hoop) to mark the place where the players will throw their balls. The first team designated by the draw throws the jack (usually a small brightly colored ball). Nicknamed “the little one”, the jack must be between 6 and 10 meters from the circle, and at least one meter from the limits of the field.

The course of a game

The player who threw the small throws the first ball in order to be as close as possible. It is the turn of the opposing player, placed in the same circle as the first player, to throw a ball. The ball closest to the goal “holds the point”, and it is up to the other team to play again, until they regain the advantage. During their throws, the players have several options: point (get as close as possible to the goal) or shoot (move the opposing ball).

When a team has no more balls, the opponents play those still in hand. This is the end of the game. The winning team is the one with the ball closest to the goal. It scores a point for each ball better placed than the best opposing ball. By winning the end, the jack is raised for the next round and so on until the first team reaches 13 points.

If during the lead, a team reaches 13 potential points (by holding the point, still having boules in hand and the opponent has no more boules), it is customary to avoid throwing the last boules, out of respect for the opponent.

What happens if a ball or the jack goes out of bounds?

It sometimes happens that the steel balls or the little one go out of the legal playing area. In the case of a ball out, including if it re-enters the field, it is declared null and is removed for the lead. If it has moved other balls after going out of bounds, the moved balls are put back in place. A ball played outside the circle is also to be evacuated.

In the case of a jack going out of the field during the lead, several scenarios arise. If there are balls left for each team or if there are none left, the end is considered a draw. The jack is then thrown again by the team that threw it in the previous round. If only one team has balls left, it scores as many points as it has balls in hand still to play.

In June, Prolongation offers you a series on pétanque, a summer leisure activity that has become a high-level sport:

EPISODE 1. How pétanque became a structured high-level sport

EPISODE 2. Portrait of Philippe Quintais, the Zidane of petanque

EPISODE 3. The daily life of a pétanque player

EPISODE 4. Behind the scenes of an internship with the nuggets of Breton petanque

EPISODE 5. Report in the company Obut, which manufactures the equipment of the champions

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