Pétanque Ann Arbor

Playing Together Builds Community

2011-10-05T17:19:00.000-07:00

Pétanque, similar to bocce, is one of the world's fastest growing outdoor sports. Simple to learn; challenging to master.

What is Pétanque ?
Why is Pétanque the Ultimate Social Sport ?
What are the Rules of the Game ?

What is Pétanque ?

A distant relative of horseshoes and a cousin to the Italian game of bocce, pétanque developed in France in the early 1900’s. It is one of Europe’s most popular outdoor games and is growing fast in the US, Canada, Australia, and Asia. It is also a professional sport.

The aim is to toss a number of hollow steel balls (boules) as close as possible to a small target ball, called a jack or cochonnet (meaning "piglet" in French). Players take turns and the team that ends up nearest to the target ball, once all balls are played, wins.

While in horseshoes the aim stake is fixed, pétanque’s target ball may be hit at any time, which can completely turn around the score at the last second. And whereas bocce calls for a smooth court, pétanque is played on a rougher, more informal surface.

Why is Pétanque the Ultimate Social Sport ?

Way to meet neighbors and make new friends
Plenty of time for chat
No special athletic ability need
Good sport for grandparents and grandchildren
Ideal pick-up sport: come alone, with partner, or with family
All ages and abilities, play from a wheelchair
Teams informally formed and reformed
Free, no club or game fees

What are the Rules of the Game ? (from Pétanque America)

1		The game is played by 2 teams of 1, 2, 3 or 4 players. Teams of 1 or 2 players use 3 boules per player. Teams of 3 or 4 use 2 boules per player.
2		Toss a coin to choose which team will start. A player on this team chooses the starting point by drawing a circle of about 20 inches in diameter.
3		This player tosses the little target ball between 18 and 30 ft away, but not closer than 20" from any obstacle or boundary. The thrower's feet must stay inside the circle until the target ball has reached the ground.
4		Any player from this team then throws the first boule, trying to place it as close as possible to the target ball. Again, both feet must remain inside the circle when throwing.
5		A player of the second team comes into the circle and tries to throw a boule even closer to the target ball. Or knocks away the first team's leading boule. The boule nearest to the target ball leads.
6		It's up to the team not leading to throw until they get a leading boule. Then it's up to the other team again. When a team has no boules left the other team throws their remaining boules and tries to place them as close as possible to the target ball.
7		When neither team has any boules left the points are counted. Only the leading team scores: as many points as it has boules that are closer to the target than the best one of the losing team. In the example on the left, the "blue" team has 3 boules closer to the target ball than the nearest boule from the "green" team, and thus gets 3 points.
8		An "end" is over when each team has thrown all its boules. The winning team starts a new end, by drawing a circle where the previous end finished, and tossing the target ball again. The game continues until one of the teams has accumulated 13 points.

Open Tournament - September 11, 2011 - 1:00 p.m.

2011-08-21T19:02:00.000-07:00

We had twenty three beginners and advanced players.
Teams of triplets and doublets were randomized.
Thanks to all who participated
Congratulations to the winners:
1. Jeanette
2. Bo
3. Gilbert and Michel who tied
Photo: Gilbert, Jeanette, Bo, and Michel.

More photos by Jeff Widen: http://www.flickr.com/photos/jeffwiden/sets/72157627525821021/show/

Alliance Francaise Open Tournament - Royal Oak

2011-05-29T18:47:00.000-07:00

Saturday June 4^th, 2011 at 1:00 p.m.

Contact Info for Registration:

French Institute of Michigan:

· Tel.: (248) 538-5440

· info@frenchinstitute.org

· www.frenchinstitute.org

Open Tournament Results - August 29, 2010

2010-08-30T19:18:00.000-07:00

Twenty-two participants competed on a warm afternoon.

Winners were:
* 1st place - Michel D
* 2nd place - Jeff W
* 3rd place - Howard A

Welcome New players: Pierre S, Lori B, Harrison K, Bill R, & Bob M from NC.
Photos courtesy of Jeff W: Photos
Tournament review by Jeff W: Review

Kiwanis Open Tournament - August 1, 2010

2010-08-02T08:03:00.000-07:00

Eighteen participants competed on a perfect afternoon for petanque.
Everyone enjoyed good food and, most of all, playing together.
Winners were:
* Juniors: 1st place - Maria K
* Overall: 1st place - Larry H, 2nd place - David R; 3rd place - Arnold A
Welcome Arnold from California.

Mini-Tournament: July 11, 2010

2010-07-16T11:56:00.000-07:00

Tournament was run by randomly selecting teams for each of 3 games. Each game was limited to 30 minutes. Winning team must score more than 7 points.

All eyes are on Linda.

Cheryl gives a pointing lesson.

Winners: 1st place: Michel(BotRt), 2nd place: Larry(TopRt), 3rd places: James(TopLt) and Jennette(BotLt).

MORE PHOTOS by Widen

Burns Park Elementary - Wednesday, June 9, 2010

2010-06-10T03:31:00.000-07:00

Slow courts after rain - Lots of great lobs.
Many, many thanks to PE teachers: Ms. Rambo and retiring Ms. Stevenson.

__9:25 a.m.		5th Grade	Team A	Team B
	Court 1			7-1
	Court 2		7-0
	Court 3		7-2	7-0
	Court 4			7-5

__10:00 a.m.		5th Grade	Team A	Team B
	Court 1
	Court 2		7-2	7-4
	Court 3			7-5
	Court 4		7-4

_10:35 a.m.		5th Grade	Team A	Team B
	Court 1
	Court 2			7-4
	Court 3		7-1
	Court 4			7-4

Burns Park Elementary - Monday, June 7, 2010

2010-06-08T16:01:00.000-07:00

Great Play - Congratulations to all 5th Grade teams.

__9:00 a.m.		5th Grade	Team A	Team B
	Court 1		7-4
	Court 2
	Court 3			7-3
	Court 4

__9:35 a.m.		5th Grade	Team A	Team B
	Court 1		7-0
	Court 2		7-6
	Court 3		7-0
	Court 4

_10:10 a.m.		5th Grade	Team A	Team B
	Court 1		7-3	7-4
	Court 2		7-6
	Court 3		7-0	7-0
	Court 4			7-0

Burns Park Elementary - Friday June 4, 2010

2010-06-08T15:57:00.001-07:00

Congratulations 3rd and 4th Graders.
One B-team won 7-0 and 7-1 games. Awesome.
One A-team won 7-3 and 7-1 games. Incredible.
At least one team won a 7-1 game.
At least 1 won scored 7-1, 7-2, 7-3, 7-4, and 7-6 games.
Great play from everyone.
Remember priority is safety and sportsmanship.

Burns Park Elementary - Thursday, June 3, 2010

2010-06-08T15:56:00.001-07:00

Congratulations 3rd and 4th Graders.
At least 5 teams won 7-0 games and,
at least 1 team won a 7-1, 7-2, and 7-3.
Very good play.

Picnic in the Park - August 22, 2009

2009-08-26T18:08:00.001-07:00

Photos by Linda Levy

Detroiters get ball rolling.

First Gen. AA pétanquer.

Pooch likes the toss.

Entrepreneur gets the job done.

Moms are watching.

Truly a sport for all sizes.

The art and grace of pétanque.

The maestro scores.

MORE PHOTOS by Levy