Penalties

YELLOW | ORANGE | RED

Mike Pegg 2021

 PENALTIES
Introduction

In the sport of pétanque, there are many offences that can occur in a game situation, for which there are a
number of penalties that the umpire can impose.
Faults, such as taking more than one minute to play a boule or throw the jack. The penalty for this fault is a
warning (yellow card) to the team concerned.
If such a fault were to be repeated in the same game, the penalty would be the disqualification of one boule
(orange card) per player - 3 boules in a triples game - so the seriousness of a fault, the penalty and the effect it
can have on a game should not be underestimated.
The following pages are designed to help umpires, coaches and players understand the various penalties available
in our sport and how they can be applied.
We hope you find this document useful.
CEP UMPIRING COMMISSION
Mike Pegg (England) - Patrick Grignon (France) - Sjoerd Pieterse (Netherlands)
 WARNING
YELLOW CARD

An official warning (yellow card) must always be presented clearly for the player or team to see.
The umpire must always explain why the warning is given, clearly justifying the reason.

01 02 03 04 05

Marking the circle Marking the jack Play Time limit Bad behaviour

Although any player may mark the Any player may mark the position of An official warning is given in the For exceeding the time allowed to A player who is guilty of bad
circle the responsibility rests with the jack however, the responsibility case of a player’s first fault in a play - 1 minute - the team receives behaviour or refuses to comply
the player who throws or places the of marking the jack belongs to the game, for not observing the rules a warning. with the umpires decision receives a
jack. player who threw, placed or moved during a game. warning.
the jack during play.
In the case of the placed jack, for a
second fault during the game the
team receives a warning.

An official warning (yellow card) for playing matters will apply for the duration of a game.
An official warning for issues related to behaviour will apply for the duration of the competition
 DISQUALIFICATION
ORANGE CARD

Disqualifying a boule (orange card) must always be presented clearly for the player or team to see.
The umpire must explain why the boule is being disqualified, clearly justifying the reason.

01 02

Boule played Boule to be played

After a second fault, resulting in an orange card, the boule played is cancelled as After a second fault, resulting in an orange card, the next boule to be played is
follows: disqualified as follows:
1. When a boule that is shot or pointed does not hit any other boule or 1. A boule that is shot or pointed which does not hit anything on the
the jack and remains on the playing area, it is disqualified and must be authorised playing area and goes out of bounds.
removed. To be consistent with the penalty, in this particular case the next boule to
2. When a boule shot or pointed, has moved another boule or the jack, it is be played is disqualified.
disqualified and must be removed. Any boule or the jack that has been
moved must be put back in place if marked. - If the boules or jack are not
marked they remain in their new location and the teams are advised they
“must” mark the position of the jack at all times.
The “advantage” rule does not apply.

During a game, a player may be penalised with disqualification of a boule (orange card) only once.
There is no disqualification of a boule for a fault concerning bad behaviour.
 EXCLUSION/DISQUALIFICATION
RED CARD

Exclusion or Disqualification (red card) must always be presented clearly for the player or team to see.
The umpire must explain why the player or team is being excluded or disqualified, clearly justifying the reason.

01 02 03 04

Exclusion of the player Disqualification of the team Disqualification of both teams Bad behaviour

After a third playing fault, resulting After a third playing fault resulting In a case when both teams have After a second behaviour issue
in an red card, the player is excluded in a red card that involves the team colluded, perhaps to arrange a involving a player or teams, resulting
from the game in question. they are disqualified from the result or outcome of a game, both in a red card, the player or team is
The player’s team may continue game and a win is awarded to their teams are disqualified from the disqualified from the competition.
to play but they cannot use the opponent. competition.
excluded player’s boules.

The exclusion of a player or disqualification of the team (red card) should only be awarded after a third “playing” penalty in the game.
The exclusion of a player or disqualification of the team (red card) should be awarded after a warning (yellow card) for bad behaviour.
 THE HANDLING OF CARDS - PLAYING FAULTS AND BAD BEHAVIOUR

Successive playing faults during a game

1st playing fault Warning (Yellow card)

CASE 1 2nd playing fault Disqualify boule played, or to be played (Orange card)

3rd playing fault Exclusion from the game (Red card)

The penalties applied for playing faults are valid for the game in question only.

Successive playing faults / bad behaviour

Game Following games

Playing fault Disqualify boule played, or to be played
1st fault Bad behaviour Warning
Bad behaviour Exclusion from the competition
CASE 2
2nd fault Bad behaviour Exclusion from the competition
 THE HANDLING OF CARDS - PLAYING FAULTS AND BAD BEHAVIOUR

Successive playing faults / bad behaviour

Game Following games

1st fault Playing Warning Same as Case 1

CASE 3
2nd fault Bad behaviour Exclusion from the competition

Successive playing faults and bad behaviour

Game Following games

1st fault Playing Warning

Same as Case 1
CASE 4 2nd fault Playing Disqualify boule played, or to be played

3rd fault Bad behaviour Exclusion from the competition

 THE HANDLING OF CARDS - PLAYING FAULTS AND BAD BEHAVIOUR

Successive playing faults / bad behaviour

Game Following games

1st fault Bad behaviour Warning

CASE 5 2nd fault Playing Disqualify boule played, or to be played Same as Case 2

3rd fault Playing Exclusion from the game

Note: For any playing fault the penalty is only valid for the game in question.
A “warning” (yellow card) for bad behaviour remains valid for the duration of the
competition, if a multi-day competition, then up to and including the last day.
There is no orange card for bad behaviour !
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Mike Pegg 2021