Article 10 of the rules says that a team about to play, "...may fill in the hole which was made by the last boule thrown." How is this rule applied in actual practice? If the last boule thrown made a hole at the landing spot, a second hole upon rebound, and maybe even a little depression trail before stopping, what repair is allowed? I realize this doesn't come up often when playing on really hard surfaces, but when playing on sandy terrain, or on terrain covered with a top dressing of crushed shell, it happens with many high lobs. How is this rule interpreted in actual play on your local terrains?

Although, I agree, gardening half the terrain is a little excessive :-) I’ve always found that French players tend to play much more “in the spirit of the game”, rather than rigidly to the letter of the rules. This means that holes will usually be filled in and often a landing spot is prepared prior to pointing.

I don’t think that anybody would object if this were 1, 2 or 3 holes. “Common Sense” usually prevails – if a boule has made a hole or holes, fill them in. Also, unless players start marking the position of holes made by boules, how can you dispute whether or not a hole is the last one or not..?

I think there’s an interesting issue behind the rule: do you want to play on a totally irregular, unpredictable terrain, full of holes, where boules are liable to fly off at various angles upon landing or do you want more of a game of skill, where choosing (and preparing) the correct landing spot is an important part of pointing well?

Remember that petanque is derived from “Le Jeu Provençal” where pointers are ALLOWED to prepare a 50cm landing spot, before playing. Choosing and preparing the correct landing spot and are seen as key skills in playing. Many petanque players play in a similar spirit, i.e. it should be a game that rewards skilful play rather than a game of chance.

I would love to know why the petanque rules were changed – can anybody explain?

Ray Ager

Since the rules states the hole rather than the holes, etc. most people I play with fill-in the hole where the boule firt made contact with the soil.

At some lower-level of play, some people clean up the playing area, not completely but almost!

Cheers,
Guy

Gary,

I will ask Mike Pegg, National Umpire, and let you know his answer.

Regards

Barbara Randall

Dear Gary

I've had a reply from Mike Pegg, as follows:-

Mike's answer:-

"To answer your question, the mark or marks made by the last boule can be filled.



This includes all or part of any depression (track) the boule may of made.



I hope this helps, if I can be of further assistance please come back to me

Regards

Mike Pegg – International Umpire (FIPJP, BPF)"

I'm glad you brought this up because it hadn't occurred to me before that this might happen.

Regards

Barbara

Thanks, Barbara. It is interesting that Guy and Ray had such different interpretations. Guy's group of fellow boulers placed emphasis on the word "hole" as contrasted to "holes." However, they chose to ignore the word "last," since the rebound hole would obviously happen after the landing spot hole.

Ray pointed out that common practice in his area was to repair any significant damage to the terrain from the last boule played. Thus, ignoring both the singular "hole" and the modifier "last," while applying common sense and spirit-of-the-game logic.

Most of the places I've played (very informal groups) choose to avoid controversy by disallowing all repairs once a game has started. I think you're wise to ask Mike's stance because the rule is certainly applied very differently from area to area.

If article 10 was written this way:

''The player who is about to play or one of his partner may fill the mark or marks made by the last boule, including all or part of any depression (track) the boule may have made.''

rather than:

''the player who is about to play or one of his partners may fill in the hole which was made by the last boule thrown.''

then nobody would have any question about this part of article 10.... unless as one player is about to fill the marks, a boule from another piste (playing area) lands on your piste and makes marks, thus becoming then the last boule thrown!!!

Why am I writing this!

I guess you would erase the marks from the last two boules then!

Sorry,
guy

Upon re-reading the rules, I see I made an error when I talked about the last hole made. The rules say ,"...the hole which was made by the last boule thrown." The rules seem to presume that there is only one hole made by the last boule thrown, so maybe Guy has the correct interpretation purely from a technical point. It will still be interesting to hear Mike Pegg's explanation. Sorry if I've confused the issue.

I have asked Mike Pegg about this in the past. I'm fairly sure he'll confirm the LAST hole may be filled in.

Please bear in mind that this will be an 'official' umpire's ruling, based on strict interpretation of the competition rules, ie. not necessarily how the majority of players actually play the game, especially in France.

Remember that in 'friendlies/social' games, it's much more sensible for players to agree to play in the spirit of the game, rather than to any strict interpretation of the rules, *especially* where it involves an anomoly in the rules. Had Rule 10 said "hole(s)" rather than "hole", there would be no interpretation required.

Also remember the underlying principle: do you want to play a game of skill or a game of chance?

Have fun!

Regards,

Ray

Surely it's a game of skill having to avoid dents, stones, etc, rather than smoothing out the whole terrain which would require less skill.

Imagine! One shoots a boule that is 20 cm in front of the jack. The shooting boule is short by 20 cm, makes a (first) hole on the ground, jumps over the shot boule, hits the ground 50 cm behind the jack, and makes a second (last) hole.

Who would choose to erase the last hole, behind the jack rather than the first one in front of the jack?

I am not to sure that Mike, playing, would follow the rule on this one!

LOL,

Guy

What Mike said was that you can fill in all the holes made by a boule.

Thanks barbara for having asked Mike Pegg.

Mike, you are my hero!
Guy