To receive this award, candidates must achieve eight consistent successes out of twelve attempts in 8 of the first 10 tasks.
On completing 8 out of the 10 tasks, task 11 must be completed to the examiner’s satisfaction to pass this award.
Those taking this award must have passed the Red Dragon Award, Parts 1 and 2.
The Gold Dragon Award (Part 1) may be given when four practical activities from this award, tasks 1-10, are completed successfully to the above standard.
The examiner will be an independent, qualified WPA coach who is not involved in the mentoring or coaching of the candidates.
Activities to be completed
- Demonstrate to the examiner that a candidate can throw a jack within a circle of 75cm in diameter. The circle’s centre is to be 7m from the throwing circle.
- Demonstrate to the examiner that a candidate can point a boule to within a circle of 50cm in diameter, whereby the examiner is responsible for ensuring that the distance at which a boule is pointed is varied at least three times.
- Demonstrate to the examiner that a candidate can high point using the correct throwing method over a rope/bar which is 3m above the ground, landing the boule in a circle that is 1m in diameter, the front edge (that closest to the throwing circle) placed at 6m from the throwing circle. The boule must remain inside the circle for the boule to score.
- Demonstrate to the examiner that a candidate can high point using the correct throwing method over a rope/bar 3m above the ground, landing the boule in a circle that is 1m in diameter, the front edge placed at 9m from the throwing circle. The boule must remain inside the circle for the boule to score.
- Demonstrate to the examiner that a candidate can hit a boule without dropping short, using a soft looping shooting method to hit a boule 40cm behind another. The target boule is placed 8m from the throwing circle, and the obstructing boule is placed at 7.60m.
- Hit the left boule, where two boules are placed 10cm apart at varying distances within the minimum and maximum distances defined in the Official Rules of Pétanque.
- Demonstrate to the examiner that a candidate can promote a boule by landing in front of a boule and bringing the target boule to within 20cm of the jack at a minimum distance of 6m.
- Point a boule with the use of spin landing in a 50cm diameter circle which is to the side of three boules, and then spin the boule from the left to the right to within 1m of the jack, which is placed 2m directly behind the three boules in front of the jack. The three obstructing boules should be not less than 5m nor more than 6m from the throwing circle.
- Point a boule with the use of spin landing in a 50cm diameter circle, which is to the side of three boules and spin the boule from the right to the left to within 1m of the jack, which is placed 2m directly behind the three boules in front of the jack. The three obstructing boules should be not less than 5m nor more than 6m from the throwing circle.
- Demonstrate to the examiner that a candidate can point a boule that moves the jack at 6m back by at least 10cm.
- To play as a double a complete game of pétanque, adhering strictly to the Official Rules of Pétanque and showing the examiner that they have worked tactically as a team.
While performing the above tasks, the examiner will record the stance, which forms part of the assessment.
Understanding
Candidates should be able to prove an understanding to the examiner of the following:
- Explain to the examiner what happens in the following circumstances:
- What can be removed from the terrain during an end?
- What happens if a boule or jack is displaced by a boule or moving object from another game?
- What happens if a boule or jack is moved while measuring?
- How far must a jack be displaced from the throwing circle to be declared dead?
- How close to the throwing circle can the jack be moved before it is declared dead?
It is expected that the Gold Dragon Award will take between one and two years to complete.