Frequently Asked Questions

Yes, provided there are lanes available.

Yes by prior arrangement with the Secretary so we can ensure a lane is available for you. A maximum of five visits  as a visitor are permitted. After this we would ask that you apply for a club membership and confirm your membership with Petanque England (which provides appropriate insurance cover).

Depending on the competition, until the required number of points is achieved or until the game reaches its maximum agreed time period e.g 50 minutes. Anything from 30 to 75 minutes would be deemed as quite usual.

First player (if singles) or team (doubles or triples) to reach 13 points.

Either term is correct and acceptable. ‘Coche’ is the shortened version of ‘Cochenet’ which translates from French as ‘Little Pig’. Petanque England use ‘Jack’ which is also the term used in Bowls for the target ball. 

‘Mugs Away’ is a slang expression which refers to the practice whereby the loser of the last game plays first in the subsequent game.

‘Pointing’ is where a player throws their boule with the aim of placing it in a particular position, most often closest to the jack or in a ‘blocking’ or other strategic position to inhibit the play of the opposition.

‘Shooting’ is to hit another boule, often with a direct hit without the thrown boule touching the terrain before impact, knocking he target boule away from its current position. This play is usually chosen when the opponents boule is very close to the jack.

A ‘Carreau’ is where a player has ‘shot’ the opponents boule out of position with a direct hit, leaving their own boule in virtually the same position.

To ‘Fanny’ an opponent is to beat them without losing a point i.e to win 13-0. A fun term which is claimed to have it’s origins from the early days of the game in Lyon.

‘Melee’ is a type of competition where players enter a individuals rather than members of a team. Players are then randomly assigned into teams of either two or three. Game are played in timed rounds and at the end of each round another draw takes place to determine the teams for the next round.

Each player accumulates points based on the performance of their team in each round and the overall winner is the individual who has secured the highest total of points.

At BPC we have a monthly Melee for club members where we each pay a small entry fee which goes into a prize pot from which cash prizes are won by the leading players on the day. There is usually a cash prize also for the ‘Friendliest’ player I.e whoever has got the smallest number of points.

A ‘Dead end’ is when the Jack is moved out of play and both teams still have boules to play. Neither team scores any points from the end and the end is re-started with the same team keeping control of the jack.

However, if when the Jack is moved out of play only one of the teams has boules to play, that team wins the end and scores points equal to the number of their unplayed boules.

At club practice sessions ad hoc teams are created by playing a ‘throw in’. All the players stand in a ‘flat’ semi circle and throw one boule upon command towards a single jack which has thrown in by whoever is supervising the ‘throw in’.

That supervising person then uses the relative position of the boules to choose the teams and their opponents for the first game. When everyone has completed their game there is usually another throw in to repeat the process for the next game(s).

Joining Petanque England provides you with insurance cover and access to the network of PE Coaches and National petanque community. If you choose the ‘Competitor’ membership you also receive a PE Licence which allows you to play at Regional and National Level in PE competitions. Many local leagues also require players to have the PE licence.