Comment construire un terrain de pétanque

How to build a pétanque court at home in 4 steps?

Pétanque is a national sport in many regions of France. Easy to play and fun, this game has become a real popular success in recent years, including among young people.

Everyone loves playing pétanque when the sun is out. Hence the idea of building a pétanque court at home to enjoy the beautiful days.

Do you have space in your garden and want to build one in complete peace? Discover here how to build a pétanque court if you want to play pétanque with friends or family at home on sunny Sundays.

Some information about the official dimensions of a pétanque court
For national competitions, the official dimensions of a pétanque court must be respected: 4 m wide and 15 m long.

However, for lower-level competitions, it is possible to play on small courts 3 m wide and 12 m long.

This last size is ideal if you only have a small area. For the construction of a pétanque court, you must provide the different materials if you do the work yourself.

If you decide to call on a professional, you will need to budget for it. Using a specialist is always advantageous, as they guarantee the quality of the work within the deadlines. But, if you are strong and energetic enough, why not maintain the project yourself? It's truly wonderful to take care of and make your own pétanque playing field.

Before starting the work, make sure your ground is flat. This will make digging easier. Also build your playing field in a shaded area or install a pergola to avoid being too exposed to the heat in summer.

4 steps to create a pétanque court

Pétanque is part of the traditions in France. That is why having a little corner to play quietly at home is the dream of many French people.

What if you made this dream come true and built your own pétanque court at home? After work, you can play at home whenever you want. Here are 4 simple steps to create a good pétanque court that combines comfort and aesthetics.

1. Move on to preparing the field

The first step is to define the location of the pétanque court in your garden. You will need to allow for a space of at least 12m x 3m, which corresponds to the traditional dimensions.

For the placement of the frames, use a mason's square to ensure the angles are correct. Then proceed with the excavation.

Excavate between 25 and 30 cm and continue leveling the ground. Then, using a hoe if necessary, remove the large roots and other weeds.

Finally, take a rake and use its back to smooth the ground.

Don't forget that building a pétanque court requires excellent physical condition. So, if you are not able to do it yourself, call someone to help you. With two people, the project progresses quickly.

2. Mark the area

In the next step, spread the coarse gravel over the entire area, to a total thickness of 5 cm. Then, proceed to level the ground. This is a crucial phase for your playing comfort; the ground must be flat and even so that your balls don't end up at the foot of the wall with every shot.

Continue to firmly compact the soil. Once this is done, place a perforated geotextile fabric to facilitate the drainage of accumulated water and prevent the growth of weeds.

Around the boule track, place the frames so that they form a rectangle the size of the boule track. This prevents the balls from leaving the alley during the game.

Adjust the angles and length correctly. If necessary, you can add reinforcements to the corners to optimize the structure's strength.

3. Level the playing field

Discover a second layer of finer gravel 10 to 15 cm thick. To protect the geotextile film you just laid and increase stability, add another 5 cm layer of gravel or stabilized sand.

Always compact the ground to flatten it. Moisten it and make sure it is level. After a few days, add sand again, always to a thickness of 5 cm.

Use a leveling bar and tamp the ground until it is perfectly compacted.

Place the frames on the edge of the ground symmetrically and securely. Note that they will be the first to receive the impact of the balls, so make sure they are well fixed.

4. Establish a rest period

After spreading a uniform layer of 5 cm of sand or stabilized gravel, water the area. Always tamp down. Use a vibrating plate to ensure the ground is level.

Then, leave it alone for at least 4 days, allowing the soil to improve. After this time, repeat the work with the same doses and moisten.

Finally, let it rest for more than 2 days and you will see the fruit of your efforts.

To perfect your boules playing field, create a fixed barbecue to set up a boules playing area where you can have fun with your family. Don't forget to install a box to store the boules and the jack.

Conclusion on the construction of a pétanque court

Pétanque can be played on almost any smooth and flat surface, but the playing area must be at least 3 m wide and 12 m long.

Do you want to have your own playground? Plan for various materials such as fine and coarse gravel, compacted sand, and a perforated geotextile film so that water can drain.

To obtain a suitable surface, remove a layer of 20-25 cm from the ground surface. Place about 5 cm of coarse gravel, level and compact it. Cover with a geotextile fabric to prevent weed growth and allow the soil to drain.

Add an additional 15 cm of gravel and compact it. Place a layer of yellow sand until the gravel is no longer visible. Moisten the sand and compact it once more.

Don't forget to consider the environment of your boule track. Set up some benches and tables to create the pleasant atmosphere you are looking for. If necessary, don't hesitate to install shading solutions to avoid sunburn during downtime.

There you go, your pétanque court project is now possible. All that's left is for you to get started and fully enjoy it.

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13 jeux de balle et de ballon à pratiquer

13 ball and balloon games to play

Balls are one of the favorite toys of children and their parents. Away from screens, children can entertain themselves physically. And to do this, the ball is ready to use and suitable for a wide variety of games. We present to you slightly different ball games, some more traditional and others more innovative. So, discover without further delay our 13 best ideas for ball and balloon games to entertain your children. 1. Gabaky The rules of this game are simple. You will first choose your color and place the target 4 meters away. Alone or in a team, the first player throws the Gabaky. It is the opposing team's turn to throw while trying to get a better position on the target. The team with the ball farthest from the target must play until it regains control. If a team has no balls left, it is the opponent's turn to finish the round. The team closest to the target wins the round. It's easy to understand, you just have to aim better than your opponent. No limits, the Gabaky can roll on 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. You just have to adapt intelligently to the game's situational conditions to win the victory. With family, involve your children in this game of small soft balls. Even grandpa and grandma can join in and surprise you. 2. Hide and seek hot potato style A person looking for others holds a ball (hot potato) while chasing the players at a given moment (collectively defined). Each time they find someone, that person takes the ball and must find the hidden person. The goal of the game is not to be the one holding the ball when time runs out, because the one with the ball becomes the new seeker to start the next round! 3. Play tag-ball A soft ball is used in a sufficiently large space. A player (a cat) who has the ball tries to hit another player. If they manage to touch the other participant, the latter will become a cat. 4. Keep the ball This simple ball game easily adapts to any garden and number of players (minimum 4 people). To start the game, players are divided into two teams and decide the duration of the game. The game begins 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 time runs out, the team with the ball wins the game! 5. Play with a beach towel Ask two or more players to grab the edge of the beach towel and place the ball on the towel. The players stand in pairs with a bath towel between them. They throw the ball into the towel and try to catch it. How many times can they do it? 6. Pass the ball This ball game is played in teams and must be played with several children. It involves making rows of 10, but there can be fewer. Each participant will spread their legs. The first one, who has the ball, will pass it under their legs to the person behind them. The next will do the same. The winner is the team that manages to get the ball to the last member of the line first. 7. The rackets Take turns hitting the ball with a tennis racket and avoid letting it drop to the ground. How many times can you do this before the ball touches the ground? 8. Throw the ball at a target Align the empty bottles and knock them down 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 at a certain distance from the starting line and aim for the finish line. 9. The ball at three and + This game requires a minimum of 3 players. Two people stand at a safe distance, a third player stands in the middle, the wings throw the ball to each other while the central player tries to intercept it. If there are many players, there can be 2 or 3 in the center. 10. 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Players throw the ball to each other, and each time a player catches it, they must name a few items from the selected category to avoid being eliminated. 13. Playing with points This fast ball game is a matter of points. First, everyone forms a large circle around the person with the ball (also called the thrower). When this game master leads the way by throwing the ball into the air, they say a specific number between 50 and 500. This number will be the number of points the person who catches the ball will gain or lose by dropping the ball on the ground. At the end of the game, the player with the most points will become the thrower! Conclusion on ball games to try There are many options for having fun with a ball, regardless of the player's age. Children love ball games, which means for them to catch, throw, toss, jump, leap, and encourage motor skills through small fun games. Inclusive and sporty, these ball games will provide your children with an unforgettable time. So, which one do you start with?

17 idées de jeux originaux pour les enfants

17 original game ideas for children

Are your children on vacation and you're running out of ideas to keep them busy? Sometimes, it takes very little to entertain them. Even city children who get bored quickly can find their happiness with this selection of game ideas for kids. 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 doesn't rain. And in winter, you can turn to our large collection of fun games to spend the winter at home. Take a look now at 17 original game ideas for children. 1. Gabaky Very similar to the rules of pétanque, Gabaky is one of the all-terrain games suitable even for children. You just need to place the target 4 meters from the throwing line and aim at it to score a point. The soft balls allow for safe play, making Gabaky an ideal game idea to keep children occupied. 2. Paper games Who can imagine that this material can become a real game that entertains children? Yes, this accessory that we don't pay attention to allows older people to be more creative. Whether it's papier-mâché, postcards, masks, or banners, these papers can be used, it just takes a bit of imagination. 3. Modeling clay It is one of the favorites among children over 3 years old, as it allows them to work their hands with very attractive shapes. You can buy them in children's toy stores at affordable prices. But if you have a little time, why not make your own and opt for an edible version? 4. Knits There is nothing more fun than creative hobbies to keep little ones busy. Knitting is a perfect game idea for children aged 8 and up. To start, you just need to teach them how to knit and spin the rows. 5. The toy factory You certainly have many children's toys at home, but they are worn out or no longer attractive. What if you recycled them to make a new toy? You can take everyday objects, bottles or plastic cups, packaging, empty cardboard rolls. 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Four corners For this game, we need 5 players: the 4 players occupying the "corners" and one player in the middle. The goal is to move from one corner to another without your spot being taken by the player in the middle. The one who no longer has a corner goes to the center. 10. The illiterate It is the simplest of games for children. Choose a theme that starts with the alphabet and name it according to that letter. These can be first names, car brands, or city names. 11. Simon says It's a perfect leisure idea if you have 3 or 4 children over 7 years old. You stand back and listen carefully to what the leader says. For example, Jacques says: "Take two steps forward" or "Do a duck walk." If the player follows the order without the instruction "Jacques said," they must return to the back wall. 12. Soap bubbles Who has never played with soap bubbles during small family outings or in the garden? Besides being affordable, the bubble tube is very easy to use. Children enjoy popping the bubbles blown by others. 13. Inventing chimeras 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 the sheet is filled with drawings, all they have left to do is invent a story based on their drawings. They then tell the story, letting their imagination run free. 15. A puzzle If you are looking for relatively quiet games for children, choose the puzzle. It can keep them occupied for hours, just choose according to their age. What a great idea to get some calm at home. 16. Kitchen utensils You can use kitchen utensils as well as the vegetables and fruits you have at home. What could be better than spending a good time in the kitchen while guessing fun games with your children? This game can be played from the age of 8. 17. Sack race Raise the hands of everyone who has never played this game! Not difficult, is it? It is one of the most popular outdoor games among children. Set up as many bags as there are players. A start and finish line will do the rest. Fun is guaranteed, you can even use pillowcases. Conclusion on game ideas for children As you can see, there is a wide range of ideas to entertain your children. Our selection is obviously not exhaustive. You are exhausted from these parenting days, aren't you? So, have fun with your family with these games. If you need to recharge your batteries and relax a bit at home, offer these many ideas to spend a pleasant afternoon with the children.

Meilleurs jeux d’animation pour une soirée de groupe drôle

Best party games for a fun group evening

Looking for good party games? Do you want to organize a dinner, a birthday, or a meeting at home but are afraid your guests will get bored? As a good host, your task will be to offer a series of fun party games and let your guests choose the game they want to participate in. These challenges are generally simple activities, but they can be difficult to accomplish due to the embarrassment they may cause in people who are too serious or shy. Read this article, we will reveal many animation games for adults and group dynamics. The Gabaky Gabaky, our game, is ideal when it comes to finding entertainment games for an evening. Gabaky can be played one-on-one, but for more fun, you can also play with two teams of two people, each with several balls. The balls are therefore distributed according to the number of guests who will participate in this fun game. Generally, the 8 balls should be used. Once the team is formed, all that's left is to start the game by placing the target 4 meters from the throwing line. Then throw the balls trying to aim at the target to score points. The first team whose balls are best placed and that scores 13 points wins the game. Only the balls that are on the board are counted at the end of the throws. The game of the film, an animation and film culture If your colleagues are movie fans, this will be the ideal game. You can set it up in advance or, if you have a pencil and paper, you can improvise with your colleagues. The idea or concept of the game is very simple, you just have to ask the people present to form pairs and write on a sheet of paper the names of several films that come to their mind at that moment. The killer game In the game of killer, one person plays the role of the murderer while the others are innocent victims. First, place pieces of paper in a hat or a bag, with some pieces labeled "the murderer" and others labeled "the villagers" on the front. When 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, a wink for example, then eliminating them from the game. They must be careful because if another player sees the wink, they can identify the killer and eliminate them from the game. The joke game, an essential activity This is a classic test, but not everyone can handle it. The joke must be very well told and even performed with good acting skills. You can add a bit of difficulty by having them imitate a character, put on makeup like a clown, or tell a story as if they were a child, a rookie, a drunkard, etc. Photobooth Renting and customizing a photobooth for a birthday party is truly essential. Your guests will love it while striking the pose they want. You can add all the accessories you want and the most beautiful ones. These are the memories they will carry with them for the rest of their lives. Here is an idea for an entertainment game for a birthday party that is very popular right now. The photobooth is really fun and very different from the typical group photos at every birthday party. The game of "give me everything I ask for" It is one of the simplest and funniest party games for dinners with friends. The dynamic is quite simple and easy, and many people can play it, although it can become complete chaos in the end, this game will provide several hours of fun. You start by shouting out a series of items such as, for example: hat, lipstick, black shoe, sweater, fruit, jewelry. It's just to say something, but it can be almost anything. Then, the first person who brings you everything you asked for in less than a minute wins. The treasure hunt If you want your themed party to be a success, in addition to decorating your home, don't hesitate to organize a treasure hunt. It's an activity game that can fit any theme and you can organize it anywhere, and you'll see how much the guests will enjoy it! The treasure hunt is a birthday party game idea where guests must complete challenges and follow a series of clues that will lead them to the discovery of the treasure. It may seem complicated to organize a treasure hunt, especially at the beginning. But the truth is that with a little imagination and time, anyone can organize one to spice up the party. Beer Pong It's a classic game often seen in American movies but that fits perfectly during evenings with friends. To play this game, you just need to follow these steps: buy plastic cups and a ping-pong ball. Then, clear the table of any objects or breakable items and place the empty cups at one end of the table. Try to get the ball into a cup. If you succeed, the opposing team drinks. If you fail, you drink. Conclusion on group animation games to try At a birthday party, you can't miss the entertaining games that amuse the participants and turn the party into a memorable moment. But the games wouldn't be as exciting if there were no challenges and penalties. With this list of our best party games for an evening with several people, laughter and good cheer are sure to be part of your celebration. We have selected easy and fun games so that your guests won't get bored. Moreover, they can be adapted to any adult birthday party, as well as any other type of gathering or evening event. Be attentive and create your own list of sanctions to include in the organization of your party. From now on, your guests will no longer want to leave your home with these group animation games that are so fun to play.