Tout savoir sur les règles de la Pétanque

All about the rules of Pétanque

Have you ever walked in a park and seen a group of people playing a curious game with metal balls? This is pétanque, a fun sport that is becoming increasingly popular in France.

It used to be said that pétanque was reserved for retirees and elderly people, as it is an excellent way to exercise and have fun. Today, this sport can be practiced as a hobby from childhood. People of all ages can play pétanque. There are even professional leagues and tournaments, which encourage people to take up this sport.

Are you passionate about this sport and want to learn a little more about the rules of pétanque? Discover the rules of pétanque and you will be able to play a game.

History of pétanque

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

In fact, the name "pétanque" comes from the Provençal language, more precisely from the expression "pè(s) tancats", which means "feet together". It refers to the position that players' feet must take to throw the balls.

In France, pétanque was introduced in 1907 and quickly won over many French people. Over the years, several federations have been created to regulate the various official pétanque competitions.

Definition of pétanque

Many games use balls. Each of them has very similar rules. But currently, what interests us is pétanque.

Pétanque is a game that attracts many people, both young and old. The objective is to throw a series of metal balls, without lifting your feet off the ground and from a fixed position. The player tries to place the balls as close as possible to a smaller wooden ball called the "cochonnet." This ball has been previously thrown by one of the players.

The mechanisms of pétanque are very simple and everyone can play it. It is a game that hides more depth than it seems. With a little practice and experience, you can greatly improve your aim and make precise throws.

How to play pétanque?

At the beginning 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 meters from the throwing circle and at least 1 meter away from any obstacle.

Each player then throws their 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 target. The other player tries to do better. If a team manages to bring the ball close to the target, a point is scored. It is then the other team's turn to play again to ensure they regain the advantage.

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

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

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

Where to play pétanque?

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

In this sense, it is preferable to play on flat grounds with a sandy surface to better control the balls. The pétanque court is rectangular in shape with minimum dimensions of 12 meters long and 3 meters wide. For national competitions, the court must measure 15 meters long and 4 meters wide.

What balls are used in pétanque?

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

First of all, the metal balls used for pétanque contain neither lead nor sand. Next, they must be surrounded by a series of grooves to be easily held. Finally, pétanque balls must have a diameter between 70.5 and 80 mm and weigh between 650 and 800 grams, while the wooden ball has a diameter of 30 mm.

Conclusion on the game of pétanque

Pétanque is one of the favorite sports of the French, simply because it can be played by people of all ages on almost any surface. Moreover, the rules of pétanque are easy to understand, as it only requires placing as many balls as possible close to the jack.

To start playing this game, it is necessary to apply some technical gestures. First, put your feet together and bend your knees slightly. Then, hold the ball firmly in the palm of your hand and adopt a concave shape. Next, bend your torso down and turn your wrist. Bring your arm back and stretch it behind your back. Then, bring your torso up while turning your wrist and bringing your arm forward. Finally, throw the ball with precision.

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

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