Hello folks, just wanted to say hi and to let you know that we have started up a petanque forum at http://petanque.cyberguernsey.com/forum and would really like to see you all there. For those of you that know about the Guernsey club, you will also find that the site has undergone a total redesign, so please check it out!

Regargs

Dear All,

I represent 14 men/women who are looking for a mixed league to play in. In the East Midlands (Nottm) area.

Any idea who I should get in touch with ?

Regards,

Tim Gibson

I've just taken part in the first Marco Foyot coaching course and watched Marco play in the national tournament at Arles.

While Marco's team was one of the favourites, they actually went out in the 2nd round (I went out in the 1st!). A good and closely fought match which ended when the other team shot 2 boules and missed but the 2nd missed shot nudged the coche in their favour, which gifted them an easy last boule for the match.

Marco was slightly miffed that despite the opponents missing 2 shots, this actually led to them winning, basically due to a fluke.

In other boules games, such as La Lyonnaise and Boccia (I believe) the rules are much stricter: you have to nominate your target boule when shooting. If you miss, anything moved is put back in place, having previously been marked, thus eliminating the possibility of a missed shot actually working in your favour.

My question is: should the rules of petanque be the same or should they stay as they are and accept that luck/bad luck can win or lose a game?

Simple answer: YES Petanque is a sport. By any criteria such as skill, competitiveness, teamwork, tactics, visual appeal it must be classed as a sport. I'd love to see it shown on TV in the UK where I'm sure it would succeed in the long term just as other minority sports such as darts, snooker, etc. The main problem I see is identifying which Boules belong to each team and that could be overcome.

I have seen many good shots resulting in gifts for the opponents too. It sorts of evens out or in the long run the best players will have the best of it.
I vote for the rules to stay the same.... but then, who asked me!
Guy

ray ager wrote:
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Should the rules of petanque be the same or should they stay as they are and accept that luck/bad luck can win or lose a game?

Ray

I hope you enjoyed your trip I am sure you did. Are you thinking of writing a review of the course?

Anyaway back to your question. Having thrown a boule that bounced of another and carreau'ed your boule lying next to the coche when we played you on our visit to Brighton how can I say anything other than flukes should be allowed.

Don't like the idea of anything else too much marking needed.

Keith

ray ager wrote:
------------------------------------

I've just taken part in the first Marco Foyot coaching course and watched Marco play in the national tournament at Arles.

While Marco's team was one of the favourites, they actually went out in the 2nd round (I went out in the 1st!). A good and closely fought match which ended when the other team shot 2 boules and missed but the 2nd missed shot nudged the coche in their favour, which gifted them an easy last boule for the match.

Marco was slightly miffed that despite the opponents missing 2 shots, this actually led to them winning, basically due to a fluke.

In other boules games, such as La Lyonnaise and Boccia (I believe) the rules are much stricter: you have to nominate your target boule when shooting. If you miss, anything moved is put back in place, having previously been marked, thus eliminating the possibility of a missed shot actually working in your favour.

My question is: should the rules of petanque be the same or should they stay as they are and accept that luck/bad luck can win or lose a game?

Hi Ray,
I think that one of the things that give the game it's flare is that you sometimes have to or want to take chances. What I mean is that you may want to make a shot even though it's dangers due to the outcome of it.

For example:
If I have a harddangerous tir for 4 points, and if I miss the other team gets one point (and they're not even close to 13) then I think it's worth taking the chance.

Think about it, maybe e-mail me

ray ager wrote:
------------------------------------

I've just taken part in the first Marco Foyot coaching course and watched Marco play in the national tournament at Arles.

While Marco's team was one of the favourites, they actually went out in the 2nd round (I went out in the 1st!). A good and closely fought match which ended when the other team shot 2 boules and missed but the 2nd missed shot nudged the coche in their favour, which gifted them an easy last boule for the match.

Marco was slightly miffed that despite the opponents missing 2 shots, this actually led to them winning, basically due to a fluke.

In other boules games, such as La Lyonnaise and Boccia (I believe) the rules are much stricter: you have to nominate your target boule when shooting. If you miss, anything moved is put back in place, having previously been marked, thus eliminating the possibility of a missed shot actually working in your favour.

My question is: should the rules of petanque be the same or should they stay as they are and accept that luck/bad luck can win or lose a game?

Ray:
You ask should the rules of petanque be the changed or accept that luck/bad luck can win or lose a game?
First having followed a course with the best player and being amoung the best there are two things you know.
1.The game is great because of the rules are they are.
2. And the most important rule is common sense.
Even medium social players know that if you shoot across the gaming area there a lot of danger (or good luck) of something happening or going wrong. But again that is why one leaves the boules out in front.
Recently, I told a player (captain) who was marking the boules that he should mark away from the jack. If he touches the boules he is marking it is certain he will push his own boule away from the jack (common sense) or else his moved boule becomes null because he moved it.(rule)
His reply was I didnot see anything in the rules about that method of marking a boule.
Some plaayeres don't follow the rules and then other don't know how to follow the rules. Good officials use the rules with a bit of common sense.
My self, I play Lawn Bowling all summer and although the rules are similar the method of play is different. Would not change either game. They are what they are because of the years of players enjoyment that has made for good rules.

Enjoy.

John

Hi, I am new to this game but have played many others especially bowls. Watch any 'ball game' and often the final outcome can be 'one of luck'- the tennis shot that hits the net and drops over on a vital point eg. But I believe you make your own luck...you hit the ball (skillfully)so close to the net consistently that every now and again it works in your favour. In bowls we talk of the 3 L's, line length and luck; on your day you can beat anyone but 9 times out of ten the most skilful will prevail. I f we took all games back to where the luck started and re-started no one would play!
So the answer is make your own luck by reading the other's game; put that boule in a strategic spot so that on his next 'bad luck' shot the pig rolls to you! Are you lucky?
Chris

Rony Herut wrote:
------------------------------------

Hi Ray,
I think that one of the things that give the game it's flare is that you sometimes have to or want to take chances. What I mean is that you may want to make a shot even though it's dangers due to the outcome of it.

For example:
If I have a harddangerous tir for 4 points, and if I miss the other team gets one point (and they're not even close to 13) then I think it's worth taking the chance.

Think about it, maybe e-mail me

ray ager wrote:
------------------------------------

I've just taken part in the first Marco Foyot coaching course and watched Marco play in the national tournament at Arles.

While Marco's team was one of the favourites, they actually went out in the 2nd round (I went out in the 1st!). A good and closely fought match which ended when the other team shot 2 boules and missed but the 2nd missed shot nudged the coche in their favour, which gifted them an easy last boule for the match.

Marco was slightly miffed that despite the opponents missing 2 shots, this actually led to them winning, basically due to a fluke.

In other boules games, such as La Lyonnaise and Boccia (I believe) the rules are much stricter: you have to nominate your target boule when shooting. If you miss, anything moved is put back in place, having previously been marked, thus eliminating the possibility of a missed shot actually working in your favour.

My question is: should the rules of petanque be the same or should they stay as they are and accept that luck/bad luck can win or lose a game?

And some players think and act as if they invented the rules. I have read five books about pétanque; nowhere I can recall reading how to mark a boule, certainly not the way you described it. Marking away from the jack for our team's boule? I presume then you would say to mark toward the jack for your team's boule. How would you then mark the jack with 11 boules on the terrain? Toward/away from your/my team's boule?

Guy

john T. wrote:
------------------------------------
1.The game is great because of the rules are they are.
2. And the most important rule is common sense.
Even medium social players know that if you shoot across the gaming area there a lot of danger (or good luck) of something happening or going wrong. But again that is why one leaves the boules out in front.
Recently, I told a player (captain) who was marking the boules that he should mark away from the jack. If he touches the boules he is marking it is certain he will push his own boule away from the jack (common sense) or else his moved boule becomes null because he moved it.(rule)
His reply was I didnot see anything in the rules about that method of marking a boule.
Some plaayeres don't follow the rules and then other don't know how to follow the rules. Good officials use the rules with a bit of common sense.
My self, I play Lawn Bowling all summer and although the rules are similar the method of play is different. Would not change either game. They are what they are because of the years of players enjoyment that has made for good rules.

Enjoy.

John