Tout savoir sur les règles de la Pétanque

All you need to know about the rules of Pétanque

Have you ever been walking in a park and seen a group of people playing a curious game with metal balls? It's called pétanque, and it's a fun sport that's becoming increasingly popular in France.

It used to be said that pétanque was reserved for pensioners and the elderly, because it's a great way to get some exercise and have fun. Today, the sport can be enjoyed as a hobby from childhood onwards. People of all ages can play pétanque. There are even professional leagues and tournaments, encouraging people to take up the sport.

Are you passionate about this sport and want to know a little more about how pétanque is played? Find out about the rules of pétanque and play a game.

History of pétanque

Let's start at the beginning: where did pétanque come from? This question is often asked by pétanque fans, because a game with such simple rules must be pretty old. In fact, it is said that a slightly more primitive version of pétanque was already being played in Roman times. Metal boules did not yet exist, but stone boules were used.

In fact, the name 'pétanque' comes from the Provençal language, more precisely from the expression 'pè(s) tancats', which means 'feet together'. This is the position the players' feet must be in when throwing the balls.

Petanque was introduced in France in 1907 and quickly won over many French players. Over the years, several federations have been set up to regulate the various official pétanque competitions.

Definition of pétanque

Many games use balls. Each of them has very similar rules. But right now we're interested in pétanque.

Petanque is a game that appeals to young and old alike. The aim is to throw a series of metal balls, without lifting your feet off the ground and in a static position, from a specific spot. The player tries to leave the balls as close as possible to a smaller wooden ball called the "jack". This has been thrown previously by one of the players.

The mechanics of pétanque are very simple and anyone can play. It's a game that hides more depth than it appears. With a little practice and experience, you can perfect your aim and make accurate throws.

How do you play pétanque?

At the start of the game, one of the players throws the jack from the throwing circle marked on the ground. To be valid, the jack must be between 6 and 10 metres from the throwing circle and at least 1 metre from any obstacle.

Each player then throws his balls in turn. There will be 3 balls per player in the individual mode (one against one) and in the "doublette" mode (two players against two others), while in the "triplette" mode (two teams of three players), only 2 balls per player will be used.

After throwing the jack, the player throws the first ball, which must be as close as possible to the goal. The other player tries to do better. If one team manages to get the ball close to the goal, a point is scored. It's the other team's turn to play again to make sure they regain the lead.

For their shots, players can either point or shoot. In the first option, the shooter tries to send the ball closer to the goal, while in the second option, the shooter moves the opponent's ball to get a good position.

If one team's balls are already all in the court, the other team continues to play as long as it has balls in hand. This is the end of the lead and the team that wins the game is the one that has the ball closest to the goal and scores 13 points first. One point is awarded for each ball better placed than the opponent's best ball.

To continue with the next round, simply roll again and the first team to score 13 points wins.

Where can you play pétanque?

What makes this game everyone's favourite is that it can be played almost anywhere. But despite this, there are a few simple rules that are easy to follow.

It is therefore preferable to play on flat courts with a sandy surface for better ball control. The petanque court is rectangular in shape, with minimum dimensions of 12 metres long and 3 metres wide. For national competitions, the court must be 15 metres long and 4 metres wide.

What kind of boules are used in pétanque?

During the games, players use two types of ball: wooden balls, which are slightly smaller, and metal balls, which are slightly larger. But what do these balls really look like, and who are the real protagonists of the game?

Firstly, the metal boules used in pétanque contain no lead or sand. Secondly, they must be surrounded by a series of grooves so that they can be held easily. Finally, petanque boules must have a diameter of between 70.5 and 80 mm and weigh between 650 and 800 grams, while wooden boules have a diameter of 30 mm.

Conclusion on the game of pétanque

Petanque is one of France's favourite sports, simply because it can be played by people of all ages on almost any surface. What's more, the rules of pétanque are easy to understand, as all you have to do is place as many boules as possible near the jack.

To get into this game, you need to apply a few techniques. First of all, put your feet together and bend a little. Next, hold the ball firmly in the palm of your hand and adopt a concave shape. Next, bend your torso downwards and turn your wrist. Bring your arm back and stretch it behind your back. Next, bring your torso up while turning your wrist and bringing your arm forward. Finally, throw the ball accurately.

Now you know all about pétanque. All that's left to do is set up a playing field and enjoy a game of pétanque with your friends or family.

13 jeux de balle et de ballon à pratiquer

13 ball games to play

Balls are one of the favourite toys of children and their parents. Away from the screens, children can have some physical fun. And to do this, the ball is ready to use and suitable for a wide variety of games. We've got some slightly different ball games for you, some more traditional and some more innovative. So check out our 13 best ideas for ball games to keep your kids entertained. 1. Gabaky The rules of this game are simple. First you choose your colour and place the target 4 metres away. Alone or in a team, the first player throws the Gabaky. It's up to the opposing team to throw the ball, while trying to get a better position on the target. The team with the ball away from the target must play until it regains control. If a team runs out of balls, it is up to the opponent to complete the round. The team closest to the target wins the round. It's easy to understand, all you have to do is aim better than your opponent. There are no limits: the Gabaky can roll along the ground, land on targets and even "knock out" its opponents. Only the Gabaky balls on the board at the end of the round count. All you have to do to win is adapt intelligently to the game conditions. Get the whole family involved in this game of soft balls. Even grandma and grandpa can join in and surprise you. 2. Hot potato hide-and-seek A person looking for other people holds a ball (hot potato) while chasing the players at a given time (defined collectively). Each time they find someone, that person gets the ball back and has to find the hidden person. The aim of the game is not to be the one with the ball when the time is up, because whoever has the ball becomes the new finder to start the next round! 3. Play ball-cat A soft ball is used in a large enough space. A player (a cat) with the ball tries to hit another player. If he manages to hit the other player, he becomes a cat. 4. Keeping the ball This simple ball game is easy to adapt to any garden and any number of players (minimum 4 people). To start the game, the players are divided into two teams and decide how long the game will last. The game starts when a player throws the ball into the air, from which each team must try to hold it. The ball can be passed between players, but not immediately to the person who passed it to you. When the time runs out, the team with the ball wins the game! 5. Playing with a beach towel Ask two or more players to grab the edge of the beach towel and put the ball on the towel. The players stand in pairs with a towel between them. They throw the ball into the towel and try to catch it. How many times can they get there? 6. Pass the ball This ball game is played in teams and must be played with several children. It consists of making rows of 10, but there can be fewer. Each participant spreads their legs. The first person with the ball passes it under his legs to the person behind him. The next participant does the same. The winner is the team that manages to get the ball to the last member of the line first. 7. Snowshoes Take it in turns to hit the ball with a tennis racket and avoid dropping it on the ground. How many times do you do this before the ball hits the ground? 8. Throw the ball at a target Line up empty bottles and knock them over with a ball. Set up an open box and try to get the ball inside. Build an arch with the blocks and roll the ball under the arch without touching the blocks. Place a laundry basket some distance from the start line and aim for the finish line. 9. The three-and-up ball This game requires a minimum of 3 players. Two people stand at a safe distance from each other, a third player stands in the middle, the wingers throw the ball to each other while the central player tries to intercept it. If there are a lot of players, there can be 2 or 3 in the centre. 10. The quiz ball game The children stand in a circle and pass the ball to each other, asking questions about who they are, what they like, etc. Each child can only pass the ball to the person behind them. Each child can only pass the ball to the person behind them. Each child can only pass the ball to the other when he or she answers the question. This game can be played from the age of six, or with older children if we use other types of questions. It's ideal for getting to know each other and encouraging listening skills. 11. Playing with a hoop Set up a hoop on the floor and give 3 or more balls to each participant. In turn, roll the ball towards the hoop to get the balls in. Count the bonus points for whoever gets another player's ball out of the hoop! 12. Categories game Select a category with 2 or more players (colours, countries, fruit, animals, vegetables and many others). The players throw the ball to each other and each time a player catches it, they have to name a few names from the selected category to avoid being eliminated. 13. Playing with points This fastball game is all about points. First, everyone forms a big circle around the person with the ball (also known as the pitcher). When this master of the game leads the way by throwing the ball into the air, he says a specific number between 50 and 500. This number will be the number of points that the person catching the ball will win or lose by dropping the ball on the ground. At the end of the game, the player with the most points becomes the thrower! Conclusion on ball games to test There are lots of options for having fun with a ball, whatever the age of the player. Children love ball games, which for them means catching, throwing, jumping, bouncing and encouraging motor skills in the form of fun little games. Inclusive and sporty, these ball games will give your children an unforgettable time. So which one do you start with?

17 idées de jeux originaux pour les enfants

17 original game ideas for children

Your children are on holiday and you're running out of ideas to keep them occupied? Sometimes it doesn't take much to keep them entertained. Even bored city kids can find something to enjoy with this selection of children's play ideas. Wherever they are, they can have fun with these outdoor and indoor games. These games are timeless, they can be played in spring, in summer when it's not too hot, in autumn when it's not raining. And in winter, you can turn to our large collection of fun games to spend the winter at home. So take a look now at 17 ideas for original games for children. 1. Gabaky Very similar to the rules of pétanque, gabaky is one of the all-round games that even children can play. Simply place the target 4 metres from the throwing line and aim to score a point. The soft balls mean they can be played in complete safety, making Gabaky an ideal idea for keeping children occupied. 2. Paper games Who can imagine that this material can become a real game that amuses children? And yes, this accessory that we don't pay much attention to allows the less young to be more creative. Whether it's papier-mâché, postcards, masks or banners, these papers can all be used - all it takes is a little imagination. 3. Modelling clay It's a favourite with little ones aged 3 and over, because it lets them work their hands with some very attractive shapes. You can buy them in children's toy shops at affordable prices. But if you've got a bit of time on your hands, why not make your own and opt for an edible version? 4. Knitwear There's nothing more fun than creative hobbies to keep little ones occupied. Knitting is a perfect idea for children aged 8 and over. To begin with, all you have to do is teach them to knit and spin the rows. 5. The toy factory You probably have lots of children's toys at home, but they're worn out or no longer attractive. Why not recycle them to make a new toy? You can take everyday objects such as plastic bottles or cups, packaging or empty cardboard rolls. Give them to your children so that they can provide you with another toy. Make sure they have accessories such as a plastic saw, fasteners, stickers and instructions for use. 6. Doll's house kit Building a doll's house is one of those children's play ideas that never goes out of fashion. All you need is thick cardboard parts. Start decorating them and gluing them together as you go along. You can choose the size according to your children's needs to comfortably accommodate their doll. 7. The Hideout Children will love this game, as it allows them to feel at ease in their secret corner. Use a large tablecloth or sheet. They can play while carrying the toys. 8. Le Latuvu If you're in a room where children need to be occupied, in a waiting room or in a shop, this game idea is ideal. It involves naming an object or a person who is in the same room as you. You have to count to 10 and the object must be seen before then. 9. Four corners For this game, we need 5 players: the 4 players occupying the "corners" and one player in the middle. The aim is to move from one corner to another without your place being taken by the player in the middle. The player who has no more corners moves to the centre. 10. The alphabet This is the simplest of all children's games. Choose a theme that begins with the alphabet and name it after that letter. They can be first names, car brands or town names. 11. James said It's a perfect idea if you have 3 or 4 children over the age of 7. You stand back and listen carefully to what the chef says. For example, James says: "Take two steps forward" or "Do a duck walk". If the player carries out the command without the instruction "James said", he returns to the back wall. 12. Soap bubbles Who hasn't played with soap bubbles during family outings or in the garden? As well as being affordable, the bubble tube is very easy to use. Children can have fun popping the bubbles thrown by others. 13. Inventing chimeras The children choose 4 or 5 words at random and write them on a sheet of paper. They try to use their imagination and write a story based on these words. 14. Comic strip For this game idea, you need a sheet of white paper and a pencil. Let your children draw on the paper. Once they have filled the sheet with drawings, all they have to do is make up a story based on their drawings. They then tell the story, letting their imaginations run wild. 15. A jigsaw puzzle If you're looking for relatively quiet games for children, choose the jigsaw puzzle. It can keep them occupied for hours, just choose according to their age. What a great idea to get some peace and quiet at home. 16. Kitchen utensils You can use the kitchen utensils and vegetables and fruit you have at home. What could be better than having a good time in the kitchen while guessing fun games with your children? This game can be played by children aged 8 and over. 17. Sack race Hands up anyone who has never played this game! Not difficult, is it? It's one of the most popular outdoor games for children. Set up as many bags as there are players. A start and finish line will do the rest. The fun is guaranteed, and you can even use pillowcases. Conclusion on play ideas for children As you can see, there's a whole host of ideas for entertaining your children. Our selection is obviously not exhaustive. You're exhausted from your days as a parent, aren't you? Then have some family fun with these games. If you need to recharge your batteries and relax a bit at home, suggest these many ideas for spending a pleasant afternoon with the children.

Meilleurs jeux d’animation pour une soirée de groupe drôle

Best entertainment games for a fun group evening

Looking for good entertainment? Do you want to organise a dinner party, birthday party or get-together at home but are worried that your guests will get bored? As a good host, your task will be to propose a series of fun entertainment games and let your guests choose the game they want to play. These challenges are generally simple activities, but they can be difficult to carry out because of the embarrassment they can provoke in people who are too serious or shy. Read this article and we'll be revealing a whole host of animation games for adults and group dynamics. Le Gabaky Gabaky, our game, is ideal when it comes to finding entertainment for an evening out. Gabaky can be played as a duel, but for even more fun, you can also play with two teams of two people, each with several balls. The balls are distributed according to the number of guests who will be taking part in this fun game. In general, all 8 balls must be used. Once the team has been formed, all you have to do is start the game by placing the target 4 metres from the throwing line. Then throw the balls, trying to hit the target to score points. The first team with the best placed balls to score 13 points wins the game. Only the balls on the board are counted at the end of the throws. The film game, animation and film culture If your colleagues are film fans, this will be the ideal game. You can set it up in advance or, if you have a pen and paper, you can improvise with your colleagues. The idea or concept of the game is very simple: just ask the people present to form pairs and write on a sheet of paper the names of several films that come to mind at that moment. The killer game In the killer's game, one person plays the role of the murderer while the others are the innocent victims. First, place slips of paper in a hat or bag, with some slips labelled "the murderer" and others labelled "the villagers" on the front. When the guests arrive at the party, ask them to choose a piece of paper that indicates their role in the game. The assassin tries to "kill" the other players by making a small gesture, such as a wink, and then taking them out of the game. They have to be careful because if another player sees the wink, they can identify the killer and take them out of the game. The joke game, a must-see event This is a classic test, but not for everyone. The joke has to be very well told and even acted. You can add a little difficulty by having them imitate a character, put on clown make-up or tell their story as if they were a child, a blueberry, a drunkard, etc. Photobooth Hiring and personalising a photobooth for a birthday party is a must. Your guests will love it while posing as they please. You can add all the accessories you want, and the most beautiful. These are the memories they'll take with them for the rest of their lives. Here's an idea for a birthday party entertainment game that's very popular at the moment. The photobooth is really fun and very different from the typical group photos at every birthday party. The "give me everything I ask for" game This is one of the simplest and funniest animation games for dinner parties with friends. The dynamics are simple and easy enough for many people to play, and although it can become complete chaos by the end, this game will provide many hours of fun. You start by shouting out a series of items such as, for example: hat, lipstick, black shoe, jumper, fruit, jewellery. This is just to say something, but it can be almost anything. Then, the first person to bring you everything you've asked for in under a minute wins. The treasure hunt If you want your themed party to be a success, as well as decorating your house, don't hesitate to organise a treasure hunt. It's an entertainment game that can be placed in any theme and you can organise it anywhere, and you'll see how much fun the guests will have with it! The treasure hunt is an idea for a birthday party game where guests have to pass tests and follow a series of clues that will lead them to the discovery of the treasure. Organising a treasure hunt may seem complicated, especially at first. But the truth is that with a little imagination and time, anyone can organise one to spice up the party. Beer Pong It's a classic game often seen in American films, but it's perfect for evenings out with friends. To play this game, simply follow these steps: buy some plastic cups and a table tennis ball. Then clear the table of any breakable objects or items and place the empty glasses at one end of the table. Try to get the ball into a cup. If you succeed, the other party drinks. If you fail, you drink. Conclusion on group animation games to try out At a birthday party, you can't miss the entertaining games that keep everyone amused and turn the party into a memorable moment. But the games wouldn't be as exciting if there were no tests and penalties. With this list of our best party games, your party is sure to be full of laughter and good humour. We've selected some fun and easy games to keep your guests entertained. What's more, they can be adapted to any adult birthday party, as well as any other type of meeting or evening event. Pay attention and create your own list of sanctions to include in the organisation of your party. From now on, your guests won't want to leave your house with these fun group entertainment games.