Petanque tactics. Hope they miss!

Tactics. I hope they miss…..

Tactical plays vary from team to team and player to player. A great deal of discussion takes place between team members concerning tactics. That is how it should be. Constantly looking for ways to outwit the opposition with the right boule played at the right time. Sometimes a tactic is seen as a mistake but then all comes right when the opposition fail to capitalise on an advantage. I hope they miss. At first this looks like a fingers crossed hopeful ploy. However let us have a look how this could be a genuine call from a tactician. 

The opposition have just hit five of your pointed boules. They are holding five points on the ground and each team have one boule left. Your team have to do something to stop the opposition scoring the dreaded 6. There can be lots of places to point your boule in a defensive position. Against one of their boule so it will be difficult to remove it from the head. Right on top of the jack so the jack may move with your boule or even go into a dead position which would be a real let off. These solutions depend on the score of course as well as the type of piste and whether it is easy to point on. The beauty of petanque as a team game is reflected in this situation. If both teams have played in the considered order. OK so lets explain. The end started with your team pointer pointed, their shooter shot, your pointer pointed, their shooter shot, your middle pointed, their middle shot, your middle pointed, their middle shot, your shooter pointed and their pointer shot. All clear now? Your shooter is now tasked with pointing and their pointer is now tasked with shooting. Just a pause here to reflect on the fact that we should never slot into specific roles as habit. Shooters should be able to point and pointers should be able to shoot. At high levels of the sport this is considered fact so we should all aim for this even if it is a struggle for us. However a pointer by trade will shoot a boule that looks like it cannot be outpointed so maybe point in front but just in an on position. Maybe point so they are holding two or three. As you can see we are trying to get into the pointers head who is about to shoot for a big score.

Back to the end in discussion. This is a question that can only be answered when the last boule is played. Do we play a boule and hope they miss? It sounds desperate but it maybe your only choice. A boule pointed to an on position will need to be hit with the oppositions last boule. They have hit five, it is a pressure shot. Only time will tell. If they hit and carreau they will score six. If they miss you will score one. Do not rule it out just because you do not think it is a tactical play. Tactics are choices. Nothing is certain. Sport has its twists and turns. Hoping may be an option.