Rules of Pétanque
BOULES (Articles 16-24)
Article
16 – Throwing of the First and Following Boules
The first boule of an end is thrown by a player belonging to the team that has
won the toss or the last scoring end. Following boules are played by the
team not holding the point.
The player must not use any object or draw a line on the ground to give aid in playing a boule or mark the point of landing. Whilst playing his or her last boule, he or she must not carry another boule in the other hand.
The boules must be played one at a time.
Once thrown a boule must not be replayed. However, it must be replayed if it has been stopped or deviated accidentally from its course between the throwing circle and the jack by a boule or jack coming from another game, or by an animal or any moving object (football, etc.) and in the case defined in Article 8, second paragraph.
It is forbidden to moisten the boules or jack.
If the first boule played goes out of play, the opponent plays and so on alternately while there are no boules on the designated playing area.
If after shooting or pointing no boules are left on the designated playing area, the rules concerning a stalemate position defined in Article 29 apply.
Article
17 – Behaviour of Players and Spectators during a Game
During the regulation time allowed for a player to throw a boule the spectators
and the other players must observe total silence.
The opponents must not walk, gesticulate or do anything that could disturb the player about to play. Only his or her team-mate/s may stand between the throwing circle and the jack.
The opponents must remain beyond the jack or behind the player and, in both cases, to the side of the line of play and at a distance of at least 2 metres the one from the other.
The players who do not observe these rules could be banned from the competition if, after a warning from the Umpire, they persist in their conduct.
Article
18 – Throwing of the Boules and Boules going outside the terrain
No one is allowed a practice throw during a game. Players who do
not observe this rule could incur the penalties as defined in Article 10
During an end, boules going outside the marked terrain are valid (except as in Article 19).
Article
19 – Dead Boules
Any boule is dead from the moment it passes into an out-of-bounds
area. A boule straddling the boundary is valid. It only becomes dead
after having completely crossed the boundary of the authorised terrain or dead
ball line that is to say, when it is placed entirely beyond this boundary when
viewed from directly above.
If the boule subsequently comes back into the playing area, either because of the slope of the ground or by having rebounded from an object, moving or stationary, it is immediately taken out of the game and anything that it has moved after re-entering the playing area is put back in place.
Any dead boule must immediately be removed from the game; by default it is considered to be live the moment another boule is played by the opposing team.
Article
20 - Stopped Boules
Any boule played that is stopped by a spectator or the Umpire will remain where
it comes to rest.
Any boule played that is stopped by a player to whose team it belongs is dead.
Any boule pointed that is stopped by an opponent can, according to the wishes of the player, be replayed or left where it comes to rest.
If a boule shot or hit is stopped by a player, the opponent has a choice to:
(a) to leave it where it stopped, or
(b) to place it on the extension of a line which would go from the original position it occupied to the place it was found, but only on the playable area and only on condition that it had been marked.
The player purposely stopping a moving boule is immediately disqualified, along with his or her team, for the game in progress.
Article
21 – Time Allowed to Play
Once the jack is thrown, each player has the maximum duration of one minute to
play his or her boule. This short period starts from the moment when the
previous boule or jack stops or, if a point has to be measured, from the moment
the outcome has been decided.
This rule also applies to the throwing of the jack after each end.
The player not respecting this rule will incur penalties as stated in Article 10.
Article
22 – Moved Boules
If a stationary boule is moved by the wind or slope of the ground, for
example, it is put back in its place. The same applies to any boule
accidentally moved by a player, an Umpire, a spectator, an animal or any moving
object.
To avoid any disagreement, the players must mark the positions of the boules. No claim will be accepted for a boule which has not had its position marked, and the Umpire will give a decision according to the position the boules hold on the terrain.
However, if a boule is moved by a boule played in this game it is valid.
Article
23 – Players Throwing a Boule other than their Own
A player who plays a boule other than his own receives a warning.
The boule played is nevertheless valid but it must immediately be replaced
possibly after measuring.
In the event of it occurring again during the game, the guilty player’s boule is disqualified and everything it has moved is put back in place.
Before throwing a boule, the player must remove from it any trace of mud or any other substance. Penalties for this rule are as stated in Article 10.
Players must not pick up the played boules before the completion of the end.
Article
24 – Throwing Boules Contrary to the Rules.
Any boule thrown contrary to the rules is dead and, if marked, everything
it has moved in its travel is put back in place. The same applies to any
boule played from a circle other than that from which the jack was thrown.
However, the opponent may play the advantage rule and declare it to be valid. In this case, the boule pointed or shot is valid and everything it has displaced remains in its place.
[Next: "Points and Measuring" - Articles 25-31]
