Rules of Pétanque
DISCIPLINE (Articles 32-39)
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Article
32 – Penalties for Absent Teams or Players
During the draw and the announcement of its result, the players must be
present at the control table. A quarter of an hour after the result of the
draw has been announced, any team which is absent from the terrain will be
penalised one point which is awarded to their opponents.
After this quarter-hour wait, the penalty accrues by one point for each five minutes lateness.
The same penalties will apply during the competition, after each draw and in the case of a re-start of games after a break for any reason whatsoever.
The team which fails to present itself on the playing area within one hour of the results of the draw forfeits this game.
An incomplete team has the right to start a game without its absent partner; nevertheless it does not use the boules of that player.
Article
33 – Arrival of Missing Players
If, after an end has started, the missing player arrives, he or she does
not take part in that end. He or she is accepted into the game only as
from the next end.
If a missing player arrives more than one hour after the game has started, he or she loses all rights to participate in that game.
If his or her partner or team-mates win this game he or she will participate in the following games provided he or she was registered with that team originally.
If the competition is played in leagues, he or she will be able to take part in the second game whatever the result of the first.
An end is considered to have started when the jack has been placed on the playing area in accordance with the rules.
Article
34 – Replacement of a Player
The replacement of a player in doubles, or of one or two players in
triples, is only permitted up to the official announcement of the commencement
of the competition (whether vocally or by whistle, gun, etc.), and provided that
the replacement/s was/were not previously registered with another team in the
same competition.
Article
35 – Inclement Weather
In the case of rain, any end started must be completed, unless a
contrary decision is made by the Umpire, who alone has the authority, with the
Jury, to stop or annul it because of a “force majeure”.
If, after the announcement of a new phase of the competition, (2nd round, 3rd round, etc.), certain games have not finished, the Umpire may, after advice from the Organising Committee, make any decisions deemed necessary for the smooth running of the competition.
No player may absent himself or herself from a game or the terrain of play without the Umpire’s permission. If this is not given, Articles 32 and 33 apply.
Article
36 – Sharing of Prizes
Any sharing of rewards or prizes is strictly forbidden.
Any teams taking part in the final stages, or any other game, who show a lack of sporting spirit or respect towards the public, officials or Umpires, will be disqualified from the competition. This disqualification may affect the relative positions obtained in the final results as well as invoke penalties as in Article 37.
Article
37 – Incorrect Behaviour
The player who is guilty of incorrect conduct, or worse, showing
violence towards an official, an Umpire, another player or a spectator incurs
one or several of the following penalties, depending on the seriousness of the
offence:
(1) Exclusion from the competition.
(2) Withdrawal of licence.
(3) Confiscation or restitution of rewards and prizes.
The penalty imposed on the guilty player can also be imposed on his or her team-mates.
Penalties (1) and (2) are imposed by the Umpire.
Penalty (3) is imposed by the Organising Committee which, within 48 hours, sends a report with the rewards and prizes retained to the Association’s Organisation which will decide their destination.
In all cases, the Chairman of the Committee for the Association concerned will make the final decision.
Article
38 – Duties of the Umpires
The Umpires designated to control the competitions are charged with
ensuring that the rules of the game and the administration rules are strictly
adhered to. They are authorised to disqualify any player or team who
refuses to obey their decision.
The spectators who hold a valid or suspended licence and who, due to their behaviour, cause an incident on the terrain, will be the subject of an Umpire’s report to the National Association. The latter will summon the guilty party or parties before a qualified Disciplinary Committee who will decide on the penalties to apply.
Article
39 – Composition and Decisions of the Jury
Any case not provided for in the rules is put to the Umpire who may refer
it to the competition’s Jury. This Jury comprises at least 3 people and
at the most 5 people. The decisions taken by the Jury in applying this
paragraph are without appeal. In the case of a split vote, the President of the
Jury has the casting vote.
Decent dress is demanded of each player (bare torso and bare feet are not acceptable). Any player who does not observe these rules will be disqualified from the competition after a warning from the Umpire.
Note: The present rules have been approved by the International Congress of the Fédération Internationale de Pétanque et Jeu Provençal held in Grenoble on 3rd October 2002.
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