GENERAL REMARKS·

Art. 1. Team composition·

Pétanque is a sport in which:

* three players compete versus three players (triplets)
* two players compete versus two players (doubles)
* one player competes versus one player (singles)

In triplets, every of the players plays with two balls. In doubles and singles, every of the players plays with three balls. No other versions (kinds) of the game are permitted.

Art. 2. Characteristics of the approved balls

Pétanque is played with balls, approved by the F.I.P.J.P., which are compatible with the following criteria:

1. Being made of metal.
2. Being of diameter from 7.05 cm (at least) to 8 cm (maximum).
3. Weight from 650 gram (at least) to 800 gram (maximum). The producerˊs trademark and weight must be engraved on the balls and always legible. In tournaments for players at the age of up to 11 years inclusively, it is possible for them to use balls of the weight 600 gram and of the diameter of 65 mm, upon the condition that their producer possesses homologation.
4. Not being filled with lead or sand. The general rule is that the balls may not be changed in any manner, nor having been modified or perfected after manufacturing by an approved producer. What is important is that the thermal re-processing of the balls in order to change its original hardness provided by the producer is forbidden.
5. Name and surname or initials of the player may be engraved on the balls, just as it possible with a logo of various kinds of, initials or acronyms, in accordance with the regulations relevant to the production of the balls.

Penalties for balls not compliant with the regulations

A contestant guilty of breaching point 4 of Art. 2 is immediately disqualified from the tournament along with their team.

Using the balls regarded as ˊperfectedˊ or subjected to the thermal re-processing, a contestant risks having their licence suspended for a period of time defined in the Disciplinary Code; without prior notice, they may also be punished in another manner by the Disciplinary Commission of the Federation to which a contestant belongs.
If the balls have been borrowed and it is possible to identify the owner, a period of suspension, the duration of which is defined in the Disciplinary Code of the Federation of the guilty contestant, will be meted out.

If a ˊnon-perfectedˊ ball, merely worn out or with a manufacturing defect, has not passed the official control or does not comply with the norms presented in points 1, 2 and 3 in Article 2, the contestant has to exchange it. An exchange of the entire set is also permitted.

Complaints connected with these three points and filed by contestants are only permitted· prior to the commencement of the game. Thatˊs why, it is in the contestantsˊ best interest to make sure that their balls and the balls of the competitors match the norms in force.

Complaints related to point 4 of Art. 2 are permitted at any time during the game but they must be filed between target throws. As of the third part of game (a third target throw), if a filed complaint is found to be unjustified, the competitors of the filing party receive 3 points. In case of balls which are open in order to undergo examination, the complaining party bears responsibility for that fact by means of having to return the sum equal to their value, or replace them; however, in no case may an additional compensation be demanded of them. The umpire or the panel may at any time subject the balls of one or more players to control.

Art. 3. Approved targets (ˊjacksˊ)

Targets (ˊjacksˊ) are made of wood or a synthetic material, bearing the producerˊs trademark, which has been approved by the F.I.P.J.P. along with the detailed specification, refering to the required standards. Their diameter must be between 25 mm (at least) and 35 mm (maximum).

Painted targets (ˊjacksˊ) are permitted regardless of their colour.

Art. 4. Licences

Every licence must be in compliance with the Administrative Regulations of the Federation and, in particular, must possess a current photo, the signature of its bearer and information on validity deadline, confirmed by the PFP. Prior to the commencement of the tournament, every of the contestants must present their licence. A contestant, male or female, must also present it later upon every request of an umpire or a competitor. If he/she fails to do so, it will be recorded in the minutes unless the licences have been deposited in the organizational office of the tournament prior to the commencement of the tournament.

GAME

Art. 5. Rules relevant to the area (courts)·

Pétanque can be played anywhere one wants. However, an organizer or the main umpire may decide that the teams be requested to play on a marked area. In such a case, when a country or international championships are held, courts must be at least 4 m wide and 15 m long. For other tournaments, the federation may permit changes to these criteria, however, the area must not be smaller than 12 m x 3 m.

When the fields are located next to each other, final lines (shorter sides of a court), at which both of the courts touch, are treated as lines, upon crossing which the ball is regarded as outed. When the area for playing the game is surrounded with a fixed barrier, it must be beyond the line demarcating out, at the distance of at least 30 cm, and maximum 4 m from it (it applies to the ˊcentral courtˊ).

Games are played until the moment of winning 13 points, with a possibility of playing until the moment of winning 11 points in case of a league and qualification games.

Art. 6. Commencement of the game – rules relevant to the circle

Contestants participate in the drawing in order to establish the team to choose the area for playing and to start it (throw the target). If the area for the game has been demarcated by the organizers, the target must be thrown within this area. The teams involved may not change the area for the game without the main umpireˊs permission. One of the members of the team which has won the drawing, chooses the place to start the game and draws the circle on the ground in such a manner that the entire feet of the contestants may be placed within this circle. However, it may not be of a diameter of less than 35 cm and larger than 50 cm. If a ready (manufactured) circle is used, it must have an internal diameter of 50 cm. The circle for throwing, valid for the three consecutive throws, which a team is permitted to perform, must be drawn or placed at least 1 m from any obstacle or out lines, and for tournaments, held in an open area, at least 2 m from another circle from which other teams are playing. The team which throws the target must erase (remove) all the circles which are placed near the one from which the team is playing at the moment. The inside of the circle may be entirely cleared of grysu, pebbles etc. during a given game, but they must be placed there again after concluding the game or at least prior to throwing the target in the course of the following game.
The circle is not treated as a forbidden area.

Feet must be placed entirely within the circle, not touching its perimeter and may not leave it or be entirely lifted above the ground until the thrown ball touches the ground. No part of body may touch the ground outside the circle. As an exception, the disabled (with the disability of the lower parts of the body) are permitted to place only one foot within the circle. For the people throwing from a wheelchair, at least one circle (this on the side of the throwing hand) must rest within the circle.

Throwing a target by one of the memebers of the group does not result in this player being obliged to start the game.

Art. 7. Proper distance of the thrown target·

So as to render the thrown target valid, following conditions should be met:

* The distance between the target and the nearest circle may be between:

1. at least 4 m, and maximum 8 m for youngsters,
2. at least 5 m, and maximum 9 m for cadets,
3. at least 6 m, and maximum 10 m for juniors and seniors

* the circle for throwing must be placed at least 1 m from any obstacle and the border of the game field.
* the target must be placed at least 1 m from any obstacle and the nearest border of the game field.
* the target must be visible for the player whose feet are placed on the outer borders of the interior of the circle and whose body is completely straightened up. In case of a controversial situaion, the main umpire takes an unquestionable decision, whether the target is visible.

In the next game, the target is thrown from the circle drawn around the point where it was lying after the previous game, excluding the following cases:

* the circle would have been placed at the distance of less than 1 m from the obstacle or the border of the game field.
* throwing the target on a distance required by the regulations could not possibly have been performed.

In the first case, the player draws the circle at a distance, stipulated in the by-laws, from the obstacle or the border of the game field.

In the other case, a contestant may withdraw along the extension of the line from the previous game, until the moment when he/she is able to throw the target at the maximum distance, stipulated in the by-laws. This case is only applied when the target may both be thrown at the maximum distance in any other direction. If, after three throws by the same team, the target has not been reached according to the rules set forth above, then the rival team takes it over; this team also has the right to perform three attempts (throws) and may move the circle backwards as it was described above. In such a case, the circle may not be changed again if this team also performs three wrong target throws.

In either case, the team which loses the target after the first three attempts, retains the right to play the first ball.

Art. 8. Correct target throw·

If the target being thrown has been stopped by the main umpire, a player, spectator, an animal or another moving object, the throw is regarded as invalid and must be repeated, but it is not included into one of the first three to which the team or the contestant are entitled. If after throwing the target, the first ball is played, the rival still has the right to question the correctness of the position of the thrown target. If these remarks have been found justified, the target is thrown again, and the ball is moved backwards. So as to throw the target again, both of the teams must, prior to that, agree that the previous throw was incorrect, or it must be determined by the main umpire. If one of the teams acts otherwise, it loses the right to throw the target. If the rival has also played the ball, the target is finally deemed correct and no remarks are permitted.

Art. 9. Finding the target invalid·

The target is found invalid in the six following cases:

1. When the target is moved out of the field of game, even if it returns on it. The target that stops on the border of the permitted area, is correct. The target becomes outed after crossing the border of the permitted area or out line, in other words, when it is placed entirely beyond the border, looking directly from above. A pool on which the target may float without restrictions is regarded as a non-permitted area.
2. When still being on the permitted area, the moved target is invisible from the circle, as it is defined in Art. 7. However, the target hidden by the ball is not ˊdeadˊ. The umpire has the right to temporarily remove the ball in order to ascertain, whether the target is visible.
3. When the target is moved for a distance, extending 20 m (for juniors and seniors) or 15 m (for cadets and youngsters) or for less than 3 m from the circle.
4. When on the marked field, the target of the game crosses more than one side line, dividing adjacent fields and when it crosses the final line of the adjacent fields.
5. When it is impossible to find the moved target, and the search time is limited to 5 minutes.
6. When between the target and the circle for throwing there is an area, not being a field of game.

Art. 10. Moving obstacles

The players are strictly forbidden to level, move or destroy any obstacle, being on the field of game. However, a player, throwing the target, may check the landing point with the use of one of their balls, by hitting the ground no more than three times. Moreover, a player who is playing, or one of their partners, may fill the hole, if the hole was made by the previous throw of the ball. For violating the rules above, the players are liable for penalties, defined in Art. 34 of Chapter Discipline.

Art. 11. Exchanging the target of the ball·

It is forbidden to replace the target or the ball in the course of the game, except for the following cases:

1. It is impossible to find the target or the ball, and the search time is limited to 5 minutes.
2. The target or the ball will fall apart: the largest of the parts is the criterion of judging of the throw. If the balls remain played, the largest part is immediately replaced with a new target or a ball of identical or similar sizes. A wronged player may, in the next game, exchange the entire set of balls.

TARGET

Art. 12. A masked or moved target

If, during the game, the target is accidentally hidden by a leaf or a piece of paper, these items are removed.

If the lying target is moved, for example by wind or area spadek, it is restored to its initial location, upon the condition that it was marked. The same course of action is adopted if the target is acccidentally moved by the umpire, a player, spectator, a ball or a target from the adjacent field, by an animal or other moving object. In order to avoid conflicts, players should mark the position of the target. No complaint may be accepted if the position of the balls or the target has not been marked. If the target has been moved by the ball, being played in the game, it is regarded as valid.

Art. 13. Moving the target on another field of game·

If during the game the target, marked or not, has been moved on another game area, it is a correct one according to the conditions defined in Art. 9. The players using this target wait until those, playing on the area, on which the target stopped, conclude the game and only then will they conclude their own. The players to whom this rule applies must show patience and civility. In the next game, the teams continue playing in the field which they have been assigned, and the target is thrown again from the place which it was occupying prior to being moved, according to the conditions defined in Art. 7.

Art. 14. Course of action adopted if the target is outed (dead)·

If during the game, the target has been moved onto a non-permitted area (out position), three cases are considered:

1. Both of the teams have balls in their hands – the game is invalid.
2. Only one of the teams have balls in their hands – then, it wins as many points as blls remain to it.
3. Both of the teams have no balls anymore – the game is invalid.

Art. 15. Positioning the target after stopping it·

1.
2. If the moved target is stopped by a spectator or the umpire, it will remain in this position.
3. If the moved target has been stopped by the player, their rival may:
4. let the target remain in its new position;
5. restore it to its original location;
6. place the target anywhere on the line going from its initial position to a new location, only within the area of game, no farther than 20 m (15 for cadets and juniors) and in the place, in which it is visible.

Points 2 and 3 may be taken into consideration only when the target has been marked. If not, it remains in the place, where it was stopped. If the moved target entirely leaves the game field, and then returns to it, it is regarded invalid and actions, described in Art. 13, are taken.

BALLS

Art. 16. Throwing the first and next balls

The first ball in a game is thrown by a player, belonging to the team which has won drawing, or won points in the previous game. Next, the member of the opposing team the ball of which is nearest the target plays. The player may not use any item or draw a line upon the ground in order to make it easier for oneself to play with the ball, nor mark a position, in which it is to land. During the game with last ball of a given player, it is forbidden to hold a ball in the other hand. The balls must be played one at a time. None of the thrown balls may be played again. However, the balls must be retracted if they have accidentally been stopped or their track between the circle and the target has accidentally been changed by the target or the ball from another game (another field of game), an animal, or any other moving object ·(the ball etc.), and also in a situation, defined in the second sentence of Art. 8.

It is forbidden to moist the ball or the target. Prior to throwing their ball, the player must remove from it all traces of mud or any other sediments, or they may face a penalty defined in Art. 34. If the first ball played in the game leaves the game field, then the competitor is the first to play, and next players play alternately until one of the balls remains on an assigned area. If, after throwing or finish, no ball remains on the assigned game field, provisions relevant to a non-concluded game in Art. 28 are applied.

Art. 17. Conduct of players and spectators during the game·

During the time assigned for performing the throw of a ball, spectators and other players must remain entirely silent. The competitors may not walk, make gestures, nor do anything else that might disturb a player during the game. Only the team partners of the player may stay between the circle from which the throw is amde and the target. The competitors must stay behind the target or the player, in either case on the side, as far as the game direction is concerned, and in the distance of at least 2 m from both of the abovementioned. Players who fail to follow these regulations may be excluded from the tournaments if, after having cautioned by an umpire, they will not change their conduct.

Art. 18. Throwing balls and balls leaving the game area

Noone may, in order to make an attempt, throw their ball during the game. Players fail to follow this rule, shall be punished, as it was set forth in the Chapter Discipline, Art. 34. During the time when the game is in progress the balls that have left the marked area are regarded as valid (subject to the provisions of Art.18).

Art. 19.· Out (dead) balls·

A ball is out (dead), when it has entirely crossed the border of the marked field (a ball that has stopped at the border is regarded as valid). The ball is regarded as out when it is entirely beyond the border if observed directly from above. The same applies to the situation when on the marked fields a ball entirely crosses more than one track placed next to the track on which the game is being played. If, then, the ball returns to the game field, whether because of the land slope, or bouncing againts an obstacle, be it moving or stationary, it shall be removed, and all elements which have been disturbed by it, after its return shall be restored to their initial positions (upon the condition that these have been marked previously).· Every out (dead) ball must be immediately removed out of the game. In case of negligence, it recovers its validity upon the moment of another ball being played with by the opposing team.

Art. 20. Stopped balls·

Every ball, stopped by a spectator or an umpire, remains where it was stopped. Every ball stopped by a player of the team to which it belongs is declared invalid. Every played ball, stopped by an opponent, may, according to the playerˊs using thevball, be played again or left in the place, at which it stopped.

If hit out or hit ball is stopped by the player, the opponent of the player who is guilty of that, may:

1. leave it where it stopped;
2. place it on the extension of the line, commencing from the place, at which it was initially placed, as far as to the place, at which it stopped, but only within the area of the game field, and only upon the condition that the ball had been marked before. A player who deliberately stops a moving ball is disqualified immediately, along with their team, from the game which is currently being played.

Art. 21. Permitted game time·

After the target has been thrown, every of the players has no more than 1 minute to play their ball. This time is measured from the moment when the previous ball or target stopped, or when the point is measures, until the moment, when the measurement is completed.

The same course of action is taken in case of throwing the target after every game.

A player who fails to follow this rule is liable for penalty, defined in Chapter ˊDisciplineˊ, Art.34.

Art. 22.· Movement of balls

If a stationary ball is moved, for example by wind or land slope, it is restored to its initial position. The same applies to every ball, accidentally moved by a player, the main umpire, a spectator, an animal or any other moving object.

In order to avoid disputes, the players must mark the balls. No complaint shall be permitted in relation to a non-marked ball, and the main umpire shall make a decision only in connection with the balls which have remained in the game field. If the ball is moved by another ball, played in the same game, it is regarded as valid.

Art. 23. A player throwing another playerˊs (not their own) ball

A player who has played with another playerˊs ball, receives a caution. A played ball is, nevertheless, regarded as valid, but it must be, immediately or after performing the measurement, replaced. If such an event reoccurs during the game, the ball of the guilty player is disqualified and everything that is moved by it is restored to its initial position. The players are not permitted to pick up played balls prior to completing the game.

Art. 24. Balls thrown with violation of the rules·

Every ball, thrown with violation of the rules, is regarded invalid (dead) and everything that has been moved as a result of its being played, if these items had been marked, returns to its position. The same applies to every next ball played from a circle other than that from which the target was thrown.

However, an opponent has the right to use the rule of advantage and claim that it is valid. In this situation, played or hitting out ball is regarded valid and everything has been moved as a result of its being played remains in its position.

POINTS AND MEASUREMENT·

Art. 25. Temporary removal of balls

In order to perform a measurement, it is permitted, after a prior marking their position, to temporarily remove the balls and obstacles, placed between between the target and the balls which are to be measured. After the measurement, the balls and obstacles which had been removed are restored to their places. If any items cannot be removed, measurement is performed with the use of a compass.

Art. 26.· Measurement·

Measurement is a duty of a player who was the last to play a ball, or one of the members of their team. The opponents have the right to repeat the measurement. Regardless of the position of the ball to be measured and stage of the game, the main umpire may be asked for assistance, and their decision is final.

The measurement must be performed with the use of proper instruments, which every team must possess. In particular, it is forbidden to perform the measurement with the use of feet. Players who fail to follow this rule, may be punished in the manner defined in the Chapter ˊDisciplineˊ in Art.34, if after having been cautioned by the umpire, they continue their improper behaviour.

Art. 27.·Balls lifted prior to accepting points

After concluding the game, every ball lifted prior to accepting points, is regarded invalid (dead), if it has not been marked previously. No complaint shall be permitted.

Art. 28. Moving the ball or the target·

The team, the member of which moved the target or one of the played balls during performing the measurement, loses a point.
If in the course of the measurement, the umpite moves or removes the target or the ball and if, after repeated measurement, a point· is won with a ball which was initially estimated to be nearest to the target, an umpire makes an independent decision.
The same applies to a hypothetical situation in which after the new measurement a point is not won by the ball which was initally estaimated as the nearest to the target.

Art. 29. Balls at the same distance from the target·

When the two balls which are nearest to the target belong to the two opposing teams, and are at the same distance from the target, three cases may occur:

1. If both teams have no more balls to play with, the game is regarded invalid, and the target belongs to the team which won points in the previous game.
2. If only one team has balls at disposal, it plays with them and wins as many points as many balls it places nearer to the target than the nearest ball of the competitor.
3. If both teams have balls at disposal, the team which was the last to play the ball, plays again, followed by the other team, and so, until one of them wins a point. If only team has balls, the provisions in the previous point hold.

If, after concluding the game, no ball remains within the area of the game field, the game is regarded invalid and no points are granted.

Art. 30. Ciała obce sticking to the balls or the target·

Every outside body sticking to the balls or the target must be removed prior to the measurement.

Art. 31. Complaints ·

In order for a given complaint to be taken into consideration, it must be submitted to the umpire. It is not possible to investigate a complaint if it was submitted after the result of the game had been determined. Every team is responsible for checking the opposing team (in terms of licences, category/classification, area, balls, etc.)

DISCIPLINE·

Art. 32. Penalties for the absence of a team or players·

During drawing and announcing its results, players must be present next to the control board. Fifteen minutes after announcing the results of the drawing, the team which is absent in the game area, shall be punished with the loss of one point that is awarded to the opposing team. After a fifteen-minute awaiting period, every consecutive 5 minutes of delay is punished by an extra point. The same penalties are applied in the course of the competition after every drawing and in case of re-commencing the game after the break, regardless of its cause. The team which fails to arrive at the field game within an hour since the commencement or recommencement of the game shall be regarded as disqualified from the current competition. An incomplete team has the right to commence the game without waiting for an absent player; however, it does not use this playerˊs balls. None of the players may withdraw from the game or leave the game field without an umpireˊs permission. If this condition is not fulfilled, arrangements defined in this and the subsequent Article shall apply.

Art. 33. Late players·

If, during an already-commenced game, a missing player arrives, they do not participate in the game in progress, and may only join the team in the subsequent one. If a missing player arrives later than one hour after commencing the game, they lose all and every right to participate in it. If the partners of the late player win the game (receiving the right to play further), they may participate in the subsequent games, if the missing playerˊs membership of the team was a subject of a prior notification. If a tournament is played in groups, a player may participate in the subsequent game, regardless of the result of the first one.

The game is regarded as commenced if the target has been placed in the game field in accordance with the by-laws.

Art. 34. Replacing the player·

Replacing a player in doubles or one or two players in triplets is only permitted until the moment of the official commencement of the competition (by a pistol shot, whistle, announcement etc.), upon the condition that player(s) replacing has/have not been registered as the member(s) of another team prior to the competition.

Art. 35. Penalties during the game·

In case of a playerˊs failure to follow the rules of the game, the following penalties may be applied:

1. Caution
2. Disqualification of a played ball or a ball which was to be played
3. Disqualification of a played ball or a ball which was to be played, and the subsequent ones
4. Excluding a guilty player from the game
5. Disqualification of a team responsible for breaching the by-laws
6. Disqualification of both of the teams in case of shared responsibility

Art. 36. Inclement weather conditions·

In case of a rain, every commenced game must be concluded, if no other decision is made by the umpire, who, along with the jury, is competent to stop or cancel the game due to the Acts of God.

Art. 37. A new phase of the game·

If, after announcing a new phase of the tournament (2nd round, 3rd round etc.) some of the games have not been concluded, the umpire, after having consulted the organization committee, may make any arrangements or make any decisions, which are deemed necessary for the proper course of the tournament.

Art. 38. Sharing the prizes·

Sharing prizes and compensations is forbidden. The teams which will be displaying lack of a sport spirit and lack of respect for the audience, organizers or umpires, shall be excluded from the tournaments. Such an exclusion may possibly cause having the obtained results not confirmed and appplying sanctions in Art. 39.

Art. 39. Misconduct·

A contestant who is guilty of misbehaviour, or, whatˊs worse, violence towards the organizer, the main umpire, another player or a spectator, may be subject to one or several of the following penalties, in dependence on the committed transgression:

1. Exclusion from the tournament.
2. Withdrawing the licence.
3. Confiscation of compensations and prizes.

A penalty applied towards the guilty player may also be applied towards their partners in the team.

Penalties 1) and 2) are applied by an umpire.

Penalty 3) is applied by an organization committee, which, within 48 hours, sends a report along with the confiscated compensations and prizes to the federation, which shall determine their future use. In all cases, the final decision is made by the chairman of the committee of a given federation.

Every contestant is expected to be wearing a decent outfit (naked breast and bare feet are not permitted). Every player who fails to follow these rules shall be disqualified from the ·tournaments after having been cautioned by the umpire.

Art. 40. Duties of the umpires

Umpires assigned as being in charge of the tournament are obliged to watch over strict obedience to the official administrative regulations. They are authorized to exclude every player or a team who shall refuse to obey their decisions.
Supporters having licences, forced to leave the tournament due to their conduct, being the cause of incidents on the area of the game, shall be mentioned in the report of the empire, addressed to the committee of the federation. The committee shall summon the supporters to appear before the disciplinary commission, which shall determine the administration of appropriate sanctions.

Art. 41. The composition and decisions of the jury·

Cases, not defined in these regulations, are subject to the decisions of the umpire, who may address the organizational committee of the tournaments with a request that an opinion be issued. The committee is comprised of at least three and no more than five members. Decisions made in the course of the application of this paragraph by the committee and the umpire, together constituting the commission, are final. In case of the equal division of votes in the commission, the opinion of the chairperson determines the course of action to be taken.