WINTER LEAGUE RULES 2025

Matches are played on Sundays commencing 12 noon.

1.0 A team may consist of a minimum of 4 and a maximum of 12 players in any league match.

2.1 In each league match teams will play:

  1. 2x Doubles (2 players using 3 boules each) (Played first concurrently)
  2. 2x Triples (3 players using 2 boules each)
  3. 2x Singles (1 player using 3 boules)

2.2 The total number of games per league match will therefore be 6.

2.3 No individual player may play more than three games in the same match.

2.4 No individual player may play more than one game of doubles or singles in the same match.

2.5 A team cannot use the same three players for both games of triples. (i.e. the second triple must contain at least one player who was not in the first triple)

2.6 A single and a triple can be played concurrently, then same again unless both teams have sufficient players and there are sufficient pistes to allow more games to be played concurrently.

3.0 All league matches shall be played to Pétanque England rules and all league games will be played to 13 points.

4.0 Where there is a choice of terrains (playing areas), the visiting team will be advised on arrival which terrain will be used for the duration of the match.

5.0 Score sheets

  • a. Names of all players taking part in a league match must be recorded in the provided place on the match score sheets.
  • b. It will be the responsibility of the HOME team captain to forward the league match result to the Results Secretary within SEVEN DAYS of the match date. Failure of the home team to comply with this rule will result in the home team having one league point deducted from their total for the season, and the Executive Committee will decide the best course of action to avoid any unfair advantage or disadvantage accruing to any team whether or not involved in the match in question.

6.0 Each team must appoint a captain for each league match. This appointment need not be the same member for each league match.

7.0 League match captains will be responsible for agreeing to the game scores and final league match result.

8.0 If there is a dispute concerning the rules of play during a league match, it will be the responsibility of BOTH captains to report the matter IN WRITING to the Results Secretary if no agreement can be reached on the night of the league match.

9.0 League Positions.

Three League points will be awarded per match won. One League point for a draw. League positions will be decided by:-

  • a. Total League Points
  • b. Games Won
  • c. Game Points difference.
  • d. Game Points scored.

10.0 In the knockout stage, where a draw occurs the Team with the highest points will be the winners. If the points are also equal then it will go to the Golden Boule, which is 4 players from each team using only ONE boule each, with a toss of a coin to decide who goes first, with only ONE end to be played, and the winner of this end wins the match.

11.0 Penalty Sanctions.

  • a. Under normal circumstances, all league matches should start within 5 minutes of the stipulated time of 12.00 noon.
  • b. Should no player from the opposing team appear by the end of the 5 minutes grace period the following penalty sanctions will apply: The non-offending team may claim one game point in each of the opening two games of Doubles, and a further game point after each subsequent 5-minute period until the opposing team arrives or a maximum of 45 minutes have elapsed, at which point the games will be claimed 13-0. On arrival, the offending team joining a game late will start with a zero points score. If the opponents have still not appeared after the opening Doubles have been conceded 13-0, the non-offending team will claim subsequent games after a further 5 minutes per game. All 4 remaining games (2x Triples & 2x Singles) will be claimed after the same 5-minute period has elapsed if sufficient lanes were available for all the games to have been played concurrently.
  • c. If a team is represented by less than the minimum four players at the end of the 5 minutes grace period, the non-offending captain must ask the opposing team to commence play although their team is incomplete. In this case, the remaining players of the incomplete team may only play their own boules; those of the absent player/s are forfeit. Late arriving players may join their partners at the start of the next end after they arrive.
  • d. In the event of a Team starting a match with less than the minimum four players, the score sheet will be filled out and games commenced according to the following convention:
  1. All two players names must be filled in for the first Doubles before any players names are filled in for the second Doubles.
  2. The names of late arriving players will be allocated to vacant places in the first or second Double until all of the places in both Double are filled.
  3. For the first and second set of Triples and Singles the players are filled in with the Singles first, then the names in the Triple.

12.0 Postponement of League matches.

  • a. A League match may only be postponed on the scheduled fixture date due to very inclement weather e.g. resulting in a flooded or snow-covered piste. It is the responsibility of the home team captain to notify the Results Secretary of the postponement and date of the re-arranged match within seven days.
  • b. A team may rearrange a match only with the agreement of the opposing team captain up to two days before the match date. The match must be played as close as possible to the original date and preferably before the original scheduled date of the fixture. Should a match not be played by the agreed date the postponing team will be penalised by the deduction of one League point, but the match will still have to be played at a later date before the end of the current League season. In the event that a postponed match cannot be re-arranged, the Executive Committee will decide the best course of action to avoid any unfair advantage or disadvantage accruing to any team whether or not involved in the unplayed match.
  • c. Any team wishing to postpone a match due to unforeseen circumstances within two days of the match date should contact the opposing team captain as soon as possible to rearrange. If a match is postponed without good reason less than two days before the scheduled start time, the team that required the postponement will have one League point deducted from their total, but the match will still have to be rearranged before the end of the season.
  • d. Where a League match is abandoned and remains unfinished, and arrangements to complete the match are not agreed within seven days, then the complete and incomplete scores from the original abandoned match will stand.
  • e. Where a League match that was previously abandoned has to be completed at a later date, either team may introduce a substitute player with the agreement of the opposing team captain.
  • f. If any member of the Executive Committee is involved in a disputed match, that member must declare an interest and withdraw from the meeting while the matter is being discussed until the outcome has been decided.

13.0 Player / Team Commitment.

  • a. Any player, having played for a team, is deemed to be committed solely to that team for the remainder of the current season.
  • b. Under exceptional circumstances a request to transfer to another team must be notified to the Executive Committee via the Results Secretary and subject to approval before any change takes place.
  • c. Should a player play for a new team prior to Executive Committee approval then that player’s games in the match will be void (13 – 0 to the non-offending team).

14.0 Other Competitions.

  • a. The League Committee will be responsible for the efficient organisation of all other Marches Petanque competitions in accordance with articles 3 (b) and 6 (b) of the Constitution.
  • b. The League Executive or Committee when deciding on a venue for a Marches Pétanque competition will not take into account any players personally banned from that venue.

15.0 Discipline.

  • a. It is the Publicans’ generosity (when playing on licensed premises property) that provides us with the facilities to play pétanque. Therefore, players and supporters alike will not be allowed to bring their own drinks to licensed premises, subject to paragraph ‘b’ below. This is normally a public house rule anyway and is also a common courtesy. The consumption of own foodstuffs will only be allowed with the publicans’ permission. Otherwise, all beverages and foodstuffs must be purchased at the venue.
  • b. Individuals should notify the publican of any dietary requirements and therefore permission should be sought for the individuals concerned to consume their own drinks/foodstuffs at venues.
  • c. Any breaches of rules, complaints or matters of indiscipline or inappropriate behaviour before, during or after matches should be REPORTED IN WRITING to the Secretary with seven days of the incident occurring.
  • d. It will be the responsibility of the Executive Committee to investigate all reported incidents and where deemed necessary, impose any penalties or sanctions that it thinks fit to individuals or clubs who are found to be culpable. 16. Coaching • a. Coaching by non-players during matches should only be allowed if ONLY JUNIORS are playing in singles, pairs or triples matches.

 

 

Version. 23 July 2025