rules to play petanque

Petanque is played on a large dirt or gravel dirt, semi level surface. If you wish, the playing area terrain can be marked off in a rectangular area with string. 15 meters x 4 meters 13ft x 49 ft.

Players are divided into 2 teams. Depending on the number of available players, or the type of tournament, each team is made up as follows
one player vs. one player tete a tete with 3 boules each player
two players vs. two players doublettes with 3 boules each player
three players vs. three players triplettes with 2 boules each player

The first team to score 13 points wins. It will take a series of rounds ends to get to 13.

The starting team is selected at random by flipping a coin. Any player in the starting team selects a place on the playing field and draws a circle in the soil 35 50 cm 14 20 inches in diameter. When throwing the boules, each player must stand within the circle and not raise their feet completely off the ground until their boule is thrown. The cochon, which serves as the aim ball, is thrown from the circle to a distance of 6 to 10 meters. The cochon, after it lands, must also be at least 1 meter from the boundaries of the playing area if there are boundaries. If the cochon is thrown invalidly, then it must be rethrown. Any member of the starting team that tossed out the cochon throws their first boule as close as possible to the cochon. Being closest to the cochon is called having the point. A member of the opposing team then stands in the circle and attempts to throw their boule closer to the cochon than the other teams boule. That team must keep trying until it has the point or runs out of boules to throw.

Only one team scores points during each round. That score is the sum of all of the one teams boules that are closest to the cochon before the other teams first closest boule.The first team to acquire 13 points wins the game. If neither team has reached 13 points, the players pick up their boules and start another round. Typically the new thowing circle is drawn around the cochon.

After a little experience, players usually categorize themselves as being either a pointer or shooter. The pointer lobs or rolls their boule as close as possible to the cochon. They are trying to get the point by moving their boule nearest to the cochon. The shooter tirer hits the boule of an opponent away from the cochon by rolling, throwing, or lobbing their boule at the opposing teams boule. There is an especially difficult shot that a tirer makes called a carreau. This is when the shooter throws his her boule hitting an opponents boule directly without touching the ground, in such a way as to replace its position perfectly with their own boule.

Though the rules for petanque are relatively simple, the strategy can become sophisticated. There are limited boules to point shoot, and different player experiences with shooting and pointing as well as different areas in the terrain to work with. Some basic strategy includes
1. pointing your boules so that they rest in front and in the way of your opponents boules. This boule in front not only presents a barrier to your opponent, but that boule can be accidentally pushed closer to the cochon by an opponents boule.
2. keeping track of how many boules your opponent has left to play so that you know what shooting risks you can take.
3. leaving an open path to the cochon for others on your team to point.
4. leaving a wall in front of the cochon to keep your opponents boules away.
5. using an opponents boule as a backstop when pointing to the cochon.

Any surface, with the exception of concrete, asphalt or tiles will do. Best is not too soft however on a regular soft sandy beach, for instance, the boules will drop dead, without rolling any further. But most beaches do have a harder part, e.g. close to the dunes, which is perfect. Very short grass will do as well. The best is hard soil, like clearings in the woods, baseball diamonds or an unpaved backyard. Some fine gravel enhances drainage and makes it more exciting and unpredictable. There are no limits as to maximum size of the court. The generally accepted minimum is 4 meter 12 ft wide by 12 meter 39 ft long. Actually the word court is a misnomer. We use it here because many people search for that term. Petanque is by nature a game one can play without a setup, sort of like frisbee. You could start one one end of a driveway, and end up at the other end, 300 ft further, when youre done. A player can toss a target ball towards a tree, to be in the shade for the next round, or into a rougher area, because thats his her favorite surface, or wherever he she likes to play. Obviously, if you want to play in your garden, and your space and or budget is limited, a rectangle is the logical shape. But we always like to convince those who are designing a larger playing area not to stick to say 6 neat independent rectangles, but rather a plain open area that fits into the surroundings. A tree here and there makes it so much more enjoyable.

We are often asked what the difference is between bocce, the Italian bowling game and petanque. The difference is right there traditional bocce is more of a bowling game, whereas petanque is more of a tossing game, like horseshoes. Bocce players take steps before throwing, petanque players stand still. Bocce balls are usually rolled palm up, petanque balls tossed palm down, so they get backspin upon release. Petanque balls are the size of an orange, hollow, and always made of metal. Bocce balls are larger and solid, about the size of a grapefruit, colored green & red are popular, and generally made of resin or wood. Bocce has different variations as to court size and layout. The court should be smooth and flat some rules call for wooden sideboards to make it an enclosed area. Petanque can be played on almost any terrain most players actually prefer an uneven terrain to make it more challenging. The counting of points and game tactics are very similar between the two games. Overall petanque is more flexible no need to find a court, and the equipment is easier to carry around. For the record, there is a variation of bocce bocce volo where balls are delivered palm down and metal balls are used. The players run up in this one is spectacular, similar to boule Provencale, the forefather of petanque.

After a while, most players start to specialize in either pointing or shooting. To point means to close in on the aim ball with precision, and to place your boule in a tactical position. This is commonly achieved by lobbing the boule. After hitting the ground, it will roll the remaining feet and inches. A shooter on the other hand will directly aim for an opponent boule to knock it out. When hit accurately, the arriving boule will actually replace the other one. Its a spectacular sight, and known as a carreau, the perfect shot. In triplettes teams of 3 players one will generally also find an all round player milieu, who is good in both pointing and shooting. His her skills we be called upon when one of the other two players is out of boules.