Petanque rules explained

The new rules issued by the FIPJP are adopted by the English Petanque Association to run from the 1^st of January 2020. They are still current!

In some of the last sessions we looked at the jack throwing situation. So let’s have a close look at some rules.

Article 6, Start of play and rules regarding the circle

Last session we looked at the new jack throwing rules but lurking at the end of Rule 6 is the line;

If a player picks up the circle when there are boules still to be played, the circle is replaced but only the opponents are allowed to play their boules.

Now we have all done it or seen other players do it. You think all the boule have been played and it is just your boule to throw. You play your last boule and as you walk up to the head so see the score, your team mate holds a boule up. The circle is placed back where it was marked. Yes, you had marked the circle in case someone moved it!

The rule states your team cannot play their remaining boule if a member of your team have picked the circle up. The opposition, however, can go crazy with their remaining boule. Well they can play them at least. Got a bit excited then, sorry.

So we all need to take stock of the situation and pay attention. Count the boule and if you are unsure. ASK! Not just the opposition but your own team!

Well that’s a radical rule that takes away your right to play boule you have in your hand. Is that it? Well no, because it is not just the circle you should not pick up. That boule you shot with earlier in the end that went to the back of the piste but stopped in a live position. Pick that up when your team have boule left to play and they will be voided too.  What!

Article 27, Removed Boules

It is forbidden for players to pick up played boules before the completion of an end.

At the completion of an end, all boules picked up before the agreement of points are dead. No claim is admissible on this subject.

If a player picks up his boules from the playing area while his partners have boules

remaining, they will not be allowed to play them.

It is a rule along with Article 6 that is trying to make sure the game runs smoothly and the end is completed when everyone has thrown their boule. No boule should be picked up and no circle should be touched until the end has reached its conclusion.

I know the argument is the boule you picked up was never going to come into play and you would have hit that boule if it had not bounced off that stone just in front of the target boule. Maybe you should have done what that player did the end of last season and kicked the offending item off the piste. No penalties for that surely?