For petanque to avoid decline logically there needs to be an influx of new players.

To compensate for those players now playing in “the heaven league”

The majority of new players will start by playing socially.

While the majority of people would think that for very new players a relaxed form of the rule would be appropriate.

Equally for international competition many people would think the rules should be followed strictly.

At what stage do people think that the rules become the most important part of the game?

Here are my suggestions for “Social Rules”.

Throwing the Jack
If the jack isn’t thrown to the ‘regulation’ distance, either move it or move the circle, rather than insisting on it being rethrown.

It’s often good practise and good fun to place the jack at a certain place on the terrain, e.g. on a hill or slope, in a dip, behind deeper gravel, etc.

If you’re playing with players who don’t have the physical ability to shoot well at 10m, agree to play short games. If you, say, throw a ‘legal’ 10m jack, move it back to an agreed distance. If the jack moves during an end, agree a void end and start again. Of course, if players agree to play, that’s fine too.

Conversely, if you want to practise longer ends, i.e. over 10m, that’s ok if everybody agrees.

If the jack is thrown close to a boundary or obstacle, rather than the regulation 1m distance, play it anyway. Again, it’s good practise to play a jack that’s close to the boundary. If you want a REALLY fun game, “anything goes” and rebounds off the boundary are OK!

Agree the distance with both teams before throwing the 1st boule. DON’T wait until the opponents play their 1st boule and then challenge the jack if they play a good boule. This is unsporting in competitions and deplorable in social games.

Teams
“Odd” numbers can play, e.g. 3 vs 2, 4 vs 3, etc with the same number of boules per team. Playing Singles with 4 boules per player makes for a better game.

Landing Spot
Preparing a landing spot is allowed.

Most important rule, HAVE FUN, be friendly to each other, help each other with advice on shots, tactics, line of play, etc. DON’T treat the most minor friendly game in the most competitive spirit as if your life and reputation depended upon it.

Treat friendly games as an opportunity to practise different shots, rather than a “win at all costs” approach. If a player doesn’t normally shoot, play short games and encourage them to shoot.

If a team-mate plays a bad shot, much better to laugh and help them with their next shot rather than berate them for playing badly.

I’m sure others will contribute with suggestions and look forward to hearing different ideas.

Allez-y!

Dear Ray,
You are the only petanqueur on this site. I will go further and say that you are a true Boulomane.
Are you french?
Regards
Jean-Philippe

The only thing I would slightly modify in "your rules" is the following:

Throwing the Jack
If the jack isn’t thrown to the ‘regulation’ distance, either - the opponents - move it or move the circle, rather than insisting on it being rethrown.

Good show Ray,
Guy

‘fraid I’m English but I have spent a fair bit of time playing in France over the last 10 years – must have learnt something!

I think that what Ray is pointing out is that it is much better to have a good time than a good rule-abiding game.

Most "Good games" I have played have not been played by the rules, they have been played by the rules of the heart, where the aim is to make sure all participants go home in a good mood.

Stig

I don’t know how other countries compare but, for me, the difference is if you play in France, particularly in the South, there is a real passion and 100 years of culture behind the game. It’s difficult to describe but I guess it’s something that, over the last 100 years, has grown into an established part of the culture.

Everywhere you go, there are both clubs and informal groups in the parks and village squares, where people gather and play. There are small and large competitions, with over 12,000 players at Millau and La Marseillaise.

There is the tradition of boules manufacture, “La Fanny”, a line of great players and champions, books, pictures, postcards, etc, featuring the game.

Petanque is very much a social game, an opportunity for friends to gather and meet, lots of banter, stories of different games and players, a drink or a meal together after playing.

Play is very much “in the spirit of the game”, rather than rigidly “to the letter of the rules” – and much more fun!

If you haven’t already done so, I would strongly advise any players to spend a “petanque holiday” in Provence, play in local games and competitions, visit the petanque museum at Vallauris (or St Bonnet le Chateau). You will have a wonderful time and experience the true tradition of how petanque is best played.

Allez-y!