In 2020 when the petanque rules changed

This is an article written in 2020 and a lot remains the same....... So lets look at a key rule change. The jack throwing situation.

Article 6, Start of play and rules regarding the circle

The players must draw lots (toss a coin) to decide which team will choose the terrain, if it has not been allocated by the organisers, and to be the first to throw the jack.

If the lane has been designated by the organisers, the jack must be thrown on this lane. The teams concerned must not go to a different lane without the Umpire’s permission.

Any member of the team winning the draw chooses the starting point and traces or places a circle on the ground. However, a drawn circle may not measure less than 35cm or more than 50cm in diameter and be of a size that the feet of each player can fit entirely inside it.

Where a prefabricated circle is used, it must be rigid and have an internal diameter of 50cms (tolerance: + or – 2mm).

Folding circles are permitted but on condition they are of a model and the rigidity approved by the FIPJP.

The players are required to use the regulation circles provided by the organisers.

They must also accept the regulation circles, rigid or folding and approved by the FIPJP, provided by their opponent. If both teams have these circles the choice will be decided by the team that won the draw.

In all cases the circles must be marked before the jack is thrown.

The circle must be drawn (or placed) more than one metre from any obstacle and at least two metres from another throwing circle in use.

The team winning the toss or the previous end will have one attempt to throw a valid jack. If this jack is not valid it is handed to the opponent who may place it at any valid position on the designated terrain.

The rule above introduces circles into the modern game and details their size and use. This is a just a tweek to the rules but we are going to look at the last three lines of this section of Article 6 hidden in the middle of the full Article.

This is a massive change to the three throws and you are out rule. It will speed up the game but more importantly will allow the opposition to place the jack from your throw. They do not get the chance to throw it they can actually place it.

So the devil is in the detail. The word place means exactly that. It must be placed in a legal position, not too far away from the circle, not too close to the circle. That is obvious but what about too close to the edge of the piste, too close to an obstacle.  Place means place so get used to bending down and putting the jack down securely. But what about the length. Well we all know players who love short 6.25m jacks and those that hate 9.75m jacks so my guess is they are practicing throwing the jack as we speak. It is an art form and I am sure this rule will make people pay a little more attention to the 30mm piece of wood. So if the opposition throw the jack to 5.75m do you walk out to 9.75m as they glare at you. Well if you want to, then, yes. A pre determined length will have been discussed by your team before you start to play. Yes it has! You have been reading these tips for long enough… Anyway, once the jack has been deemed illegal then you will need to act and place the jack. Please do not faff about, just place the jack where you want it. Simple. Well no not really, all the things we have discussed in the past will need to be taken into account, slope, type of surface, dips and hollows as well as other games going on alongside.

Do not get carried away when placing the jack, the distance measured is from the circle, not from where the jack was last. If you are unsure walk out the distance approx. so you have an idea of the length.