General
1. Pétanque can be played in doubles or triples format all in one competition. Each player has two boules (triple team) and three boules (double team).
2. If the game is played in double or triple, only one non-European athlete per team is eligible to take part (first come first serve principle). It’s not allowed that any sports team can have more than one non-Armenian participant. Non-Armenians who have proven (ID card or other governmental document) first-degree (married or child) family relation with an Armenian person are not counted as non-Armenian players.
3. The minimum age is 12+ years. Athletes turning this age during the year of the Euro Armenian Games (EAG) will be accepted.
4. Pétanque is typically played on a flat, open area, often made of hard-packed dirt, gravel, or sand. The playing area should be relatively open and free of obstacles. This will be determined by the EAG host.
5. Boules: These are metal balls, made of steel, with a diameter of around 7-8 centimeters and weighing approximately 650-800 grams. Cochonnet (Jack): This is a smaller wooden or plastic target ball, usually about 3-4 centimeters in diameter.
Group and final stages
6. A coin toss determines which team starts with ball.
7. It is played until one of the team has won a total number of rounds or a certain minutes played during a game. The numbers of rounds and game lengths is determined by the EAG host.
8. Not showing up on time (EAG schedule) means automatic loss of the game.
Basic Rules
9. Starting the game:
– The starting team or player throws the cochonnet onto the playing surface, aiming to position it at a distance of 6 to 10 meters (approximately 20 to 33 feet) away.
– The cochonnet must be thrown within a designated playing area and must not land closer than 1 meter (approximately 3 feet) to any obstacle, such as a wall or tree.
– The starting team draws a small circle on the floor. There are also small prefabricated plastic or metal circles used (determined by EAG host).
10. Taking turns:
– The team that threw the cochonnet starts the game by throwing their first boule. Every player will then have to throw their boules from the circle during that round (in other words, this will be the starting point for all players).
– Players must keep both feet on the ground and within the designated throwing circle (about 50 centimeters in diameter) when making a throw.
– Players take turns throwing their boules until all boules have been played.
11. Scoring:
– After all boules have been thrown, the team with the boule closest to the cochonnet scores points.
– Only boules that are closer to the cochonnet than any of the opponent’s boules count for points.
– The winning team scores one point for each boule that is closer to the cochonnet than the closest boule of the opposing team.
– If two boules from opposing teams are equidistant from the cochonnet, they cancel each other out and no points are awarded.
12. Continuing play:
– The team that scored points in the previous round starts the next round by throwing the cochonnet and playing their boules.
– Play continues in this manner until one team reaches a predetermined number of points, typically 13, 15, or 21.
13. Additional rounds may be played to determine an overall winner. This will be determined by the EAG host
Points
2 points for a winning match
0 points for a lost game or by disqualification
Poule
When a team in the group stage has an equal number of points, first the points difference counts.
– Example: 31 points for and 21 points against counts as + 10
If the points difference is equal, the number of scored points is counting
When the number of scored points is also equal, the mutual result counts
During the tournament the house rules and general terms and conditions of the Euro Armenian Games are applicable.
Rules
For cases where the above rules are not adequate enough, refer to the pétanque rules of the Fédération International de Pétanque, F.I.P.J.P (fipjp.org).