A Summary of the Petanque  Rules

The game of Petanque is played between two teams of 1, 2 or 3 players. In singles or doubles each player uses 3 boules. In triples each player use's 2 Boule. The game begins by tossing a coin to decide who should be first to play and so have the right to place the small target ball, the 'but' or 'jack'. The first player then traces on the ground a circle large enough to stand in (35cm - 50cm diameter) and throws the 'but' forward, a distance between 6 and 10 metres and at least 50cm from any obstruction or boundary. If he throws it outside these distances or too close to the boundary his team has the right to try twice again, otherwise the opposing team have three attempts to do the same. The first player of the team, who won the toss, or the preceding end, throws his first Boule, as near the 'but' as possible, he must be careful to keep his feet inside the circle and on the ground until the Boule he or she has thrown touches the ground. As soon as the Boule has stopped rolling, the first player of the opposing team throws his first Boule from the same circle and must try to place his Boule nearer to the 'but' than his opponent. The act of trying to put one's Boule as near as possible to the 'but' is called 'pointing' he/she can also try, it he/she wishes, to knock the opponent's Boule out of contention and this is called 'shooting'. If he/she succeeds in placing his/her Boule nearer to the 'but' than the first player, it is then the turn of the opposing team to throw a Boule to try to place one of their boule nearest to the 'but'. As long as a team has one of their Boule nearest to the 'but' the players of the other team must try to get a better boule by 'pointing' or 'shooting' their Boule. When they have no more Boule to play, it is the turn of the other team to throw their Boule. When all the Boule have been played, the team who has the Boule nearest to the 'but' counts one point for each Boule nearer the 'but' than his opponent's nearest Boule. Another 'end' then commences in the same way as before, a player of the winning team traces a new circle, throws the 'but' and starts to play. The game continues until one team has reached 13 points. When the 'but' has been thrown, no obstacle, even the smallest stone, may be removed between the circle and the 'but'. A Boule once played may not be moved unless it has passed over the boundary of the game or touched surrounding dead areas. It may happen that two Boule touch the 'but' or are at equal distance from it; then the players of each team play alternately until the point is won by one of the two teams.

The Official Rules of the Game of Petanque

Applicable to all National Federations/Associations who are members of the FIPJP (English Translation)

as per 7th October 2010

General Rules : Article 1-4

PLAY : Article  5- 10.

JACK: Article 11-14

BOULES: Article 15-23

POINTS AND MEASURING : Article 24-30
DISCIPLINE: Article 31-40

General Rules : Article 1-4

Article 1 – Composition of teams

Article 2 – Characteristics of approved boules

Article 3 – Approved jacks

Article 4 – Licences

PLAY : Article  5- 10.

Article 5 – Area of play and terrain rules

Article 6 – Start of play – Rules regarding the circle

Article 7 – Valid distances for the thrown jack

Article 8 – For the thrown jack to be valid

Article 10 – Displacement of obstacles

JACK: Article 11-14

Article 13 – Rules to apply if the jack is dead

Article 14 – Positioning the jack after it has been stopped

BOULES: Article 15-23

Article 15 – Throwing of the first and following boules

Article 16 – Behaviour of players and spectators during a games.

Article 17 – Throwing of the boules and boules going outside the terrain 

Article 18 – Dead boules 
Article 19 – Stopped boules

Article 20 – Time allowed to play

Article 21 – Displaced boules

Article 22 – A player throwing a boule other than his own

Article 23 – Boules thrown contrary to the rules

E.POINTS AND MEASURING : Article 24-30

Artivel 24 – Temporary removal of boules

Article 25 – Measuring of points

Article 26 – Removed Boules

Article 27 – Displacement of the boules or the jack
Article 28 – Boules equidistant from the jack

Article 29 – Foreign bodies adhering to the boules or jack

Article 30 – Complaints

F. DISCIPLINE- 31-40

Article 31 -   Penalties for absent team of players

Article 32 – Late arrival of players
Article 33 – Replacement of a player

Article 34 – Penalties

Article 35 – Bad weather

Article 36 – New phase of play

Article 37 – Lack of Sportsmanship

Article 38 – Bad behaviour

Article 39 – Duties of the Umpires

Article 40 – Composition and decisions of the Jury

Note: These rules were approved on the 7th October 2010 by the International Congress of the F.I.P.J.P. in IZMIR (Turkey)