How to play basics

Pétanque is played in two teams with two sets of differently marked balls (boules). You can play in teams of two (3 boules each); three (2 each) or one against one (3 each).

1. Draw a circle on the ground 50cm in diameter.

2. A player from team one stands in the circle and throws the jack (the small target ball) to land 20 to 33 feet from the circle, 3 feet away from any obstacle. Team one throws a first ball as close as possible to the jack, this is called pointing.

3. A player from team two tries to get a ball closer and take the point. If successful the play returns to team one. If not, they continue to throw until they do.

4. The team that does not have the point plays until either they get closer or they run out of balls. The other team then throws the rest of their balls.

5. The team closest to the jack gets a point for each of their balls closer to the jack than the closest ball of the other team.

6. The team that scored draws a new circle round the jack and throws it to start the next round.

Play ends when one team reaches 13 points.

The Official FPUSA rules can be found here

Sportsman-like behavior is expected

​Basic petanque techniques are illustrated here

Training Manual