The Welsh Petanque Association (WPA) is dedicated to encouraging the sport of pétanque amongst the young. Our goal is to create a supportive and competitive environment where junior players can grow their skills and participate at all levels of competition. Most importantly, we aim to ensure they have fun along the way.
We aim to cultivate a passion for pétanque, promote good sportsmanship, and nurture the next generation of talented and enthusiastic players. |
Our vision is to build a welcoming and inclusive community where young players can flourish, develop, and succeed in the sport of pétanque. |
RECRUIT & INSPIRE
Attract and engage young people in our sport: How – through schools, youth organisations, and by offering pétanque as part of the Duke of Edinburgh Award program.
DEVELOP POTENTIAL
Enhance their skills using the Skills Award Scheme, starting with the White Dragon Award. Encourage participation in games and integration with adult members. Seek guidance and support from Club Officers, coaches and experienced players.
AIM HIGH
Advance through the Dragon skills —Green, Red, and Gold. Stay in contact with Regional Officers and reach out to juniors@welshpetanque.org.uk. Participate in national and club training sessions, focusing on playing frequently and competitively. The more you play, the better you get.
| Category | Category Age Range |
| Cubs | Aged 8 years and under. |
| Minors | Reached the age of 9, 10 and 11 years. |
| Cadets | Reached the ages of 12, 13 and 14 years. |
| Juniors | Reached the ages of 15, 16 and 17 years. |
To ensure the consistency of Junior development, four categories (see above) have been defined to enable Juniors of equal age and physical ability to play together and not be grouped in sessions with much older youths. This also allows coaches to work with them across age categories.
Junior Development Pathway
Dragon Skills Award Scheme
Juniors start their journey by mastering the fundamentals of the sport, earning the White Dragon Award as their first milestone. They then progress through Green, Red, and finally Gold Dragon Awards, each level representing a new stage of growth and development.
The Red and Gold Dragon awards focus on honing skills and achieving high consistency, which is essential for national and international competitions. These levels are achieved over time, allowing young players to grow as they gain experience.
Except for the Gold Dragon Award, each comprises two parts, Part 1 and Part 2, which are both completed to achieve the full award and allow progression to the next award level.
The detailed requirements for each level can be found below.
Successful participants are recognised for their achievement at both club and national levels.
WPA-qualified coaches at local clubs play a crucial role in guiding juniors through the award journey. They can seek additional support from the National Coach or contact the WPA at juniors@welshpetanque.org.uk for further assistance.
It is hoped that both juniors and coaches will enjoy the Dragon Skills Award scheme, which provides a clear, rewarding progression for young players and offers coaches a structured framework to help them develop their young players’ potential.
Click on the button below for further information about the Dragon Skills Awards.