Most arguments on a pétanque terrain have a clear answer in the rulebook. Knowing who measures, what must be marked and when a complaint counts ends the discussion before it heats up.
Every rule below comes from the FIPJP rules, with article numbers so you can check them on the spot.
What most disputes are about
Casual and tournament games alike tend to stall on the same few issues:
- Which boule is closer to the jack
- A jack or boule that moved before anyone marked it
- Foot faults in the circle
- Players standing or talking in the thrower’s line
How to measure under the rules
Who measures
Article 25 gives the job to the player who threw last or a teammate. The opponents always have the right to measure afterward.
Before measuring, mark the positions and you may lift away boules or obstacles between the jack and the boules in question. Put them back exactly where the marks show.
What to measure with
Each team must carry proper measuring instruments; measuring with your feet is forbidden. A tape with a caliper end handles most cases; our equipment page shows the common types.
If you move something while measuring
Under Article 28, the team whose player disturbs the jack or a contested boule while measuring loses the point.
When two boules are equal
If the closest boules of the two teams are exactly the same distance away, play continues with the team that last threw playing again, then alternating. Article 29 covers each case.
If neither team has boules left, the end is dead. The team that scored in the previous end throws the jack.
Mark the jack and every contested boule
Article 22 is blunt: no claim is admissible for an unmarked boule; the umpire rules only on the positions in front of them. The same applies to the jack.
Draw a short line in the gravel behind the jack and around any boule that matters. It takes two seconds and prevents most arguments.
Behavior on the terrain
Where to stand
Article 17 says opponents of the thrower stay beyond the jack or behind the player, off to the side and at least 2 m apart.
Talking it through
Describe what you saw instead of accusing anyone. “I think the jack moved after it stopped” gets a calmer answer than “you moved it.”
Settle disagreements inside your own team away from the opponents. Admit a wrong call quickly; your credibility on the next measure depends on it.
Umpires and complaints
When to call one
Article 31 requires complaints to go to an umpire; nothing can be raised once the game is over. Complaints about an opponent’s boules are made between ends; from the third end, an unfounded one gives the opponents 3 points.
Penalties
Article 35 sets three levels of sanction:
- Yellow card: a warning
- Orange card: the player’s next or current boule is disqualified
- Red card: the player is excluded from the game
The umpire’s decision is final. FPUSA’s umpire program lists certified umpires for each region if your club wants one for an event.
For the rest of the rules in plain language, see the rules of pétanque. Terms like “end” and “holding the point” are defined in our glossary.
Frequently asked questions
Who measures a close point in pétanque?
The player who threw last or a teammate. The opponents can then measure too.
Can you measure with your feet?
No. The rules forbid it; each team must carry a proper measure.
What happens if a boule moves during measuring?
The team whose player disturbed the jack or a contested boule loses the point.
Can you complain after the game ends?
No. Complaints go to an umpire during the game; once it finishes, none are accepted.
