LEAGUE RULES
Marches Petanque Rules
(Amended 8th April 2012)
Rules 1 to 14 relate to (but are not exclusive to) the main summer league competition.
1. A team may consist of a minimum of 6 and a maximum of 12 players in any
league match.
2.1 In each league match teams will play:
1. 2x Triples (3 players using 2 boules each)
2. 2x Doubles (2 players using 3 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 two games in the same match.
2.4 No individual player may play more than one game of the same format (i.e.
triples, doubles or singles) in the same match.
2.5 The match will commence with the 2 Triples (played concurrently), followed by
the Doubles and ending with the Singles.
2.6 It is permissible for the Doubles and Singles to be played concurrently if there
are sufficient piste’s available and if both Teams Captains agree that they have
players available in accordance with rules 2.3 and 2.4.
3. All league matches shall be played to E.P.A. rules and all league games will be
played to 13 points.
4. 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. Prior to the start of any league match, the home captain must explain to his/her
opposite number, all out of bounds rules of that terrain.
6 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.
7. Each team must appoint a captain for each league match. This appointment
need not be the same member for each league match.
8. League match captains will be responsible for agreeing to the game scores and
final league match result.
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9. 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.
10. 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
11. Penalty Sanctions.
a. Under normal circumstances, all league matches should start within 5
minutes of the stipulated time of 7.30pm .
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 Triples, 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 Triples have been
conceded 13-0, the non-offending team will claim subsequent games after a
further 5 minutes per game.
All 4 remaining games (2xDoubles & 2xSingles) 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 six 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 six players,
the score sheet will be filled out and games commenced according to the
following convention:
1. All three players names must be filled in for the first Triple before any players
names are filled in for the second Triple.
2. The names of late arriving players will be allocated to vacant places in the first
or second Triple until all of the places in both Triples are filled.
3. Late arriving players must be allocated places in the Triples (as point 2 above)
even if they arrive after the end of the game(s). In this way a player who arrives
after the completion of both Triples will be permitted to play in only one of the
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remaining Doubles or Singles if, had they arrived sooner, they would have been
required to make up the numbers in a Triple.
4. The principle applied to the Triples (as point 3 above) will also apply to the
Doubles and Singles. Hence if a team has insufficient players available to start
both Doubles after the Triples have been completed, both players names for the
first Double must be filled in on the scoresheet before any players names are
filled in for the second Double. Likewise, no players names will be filled in for the
Singles unless all four places in the Doubles have already been filled.
12. 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 with the agreement of the opposing team
captain. The match must be played 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. If a match is postponed less than 24 hours 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. 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
Petanque competition will not take into account any players personally banned
from that venue.
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14. Discipline.
a. It is the Publicans’ generosity (when playing on licensed premises property)
that provides us with the facilities to play Petanque. 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 REP0RTED IN WRITING to
the Secretary with seven days of the incident occurring.
d. I 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.
15. Coaching
a. Coaching by non-players during matches should only be allowed if a Junior is
playing a singles match.
b. The Executive Committee will consider exceptional individual requests forassistance, ie the coaching of Youth groups.