DISCIPLINE – Welsh Pétanque Association

Article 32 – Penalties for absent teams or players

At the time of the draw and the announcement of its result, the players must be present at the control table. A quarter of an hour after the announcement of these results, the team which is absent from the terrain will be penalised one point which is awarded to their opponents. This time limit is reduced to 5 minutes in games that are timed.

After this time limit, the penalty accrues by one point for each five minutes of the delay.

The same penalties apply throughout the competition, after each random draw and in the case of a re-start of games after a break for any reason whatsoever.

The team which does not present itself on the playing area within the hour of the start or restart of games is declared to be eliminated from the competition.

An incomplete team has the right to start a game without waiting for its absent player; nevertheless it does not use the boules of that player.

No player may be absent from a game or leave the playing area without the authorisation of the Umpire. In any case this absence will not interrupt the course of the game, nor the obligation for the partners to play their boules in the specified minute. If the player has not returned by the moment they are to play their boules, they are cancelled at the rate of one boule per minute.

If permission has not been granted the penalties outlined in article 35 shall apply.

In the case of an accident or medical problem officially recognised by a doctor, the player may be granted a maximum absence of fifteen minutes. If using this option should prove fraudulent, the player and his team will be immediately excluded from the competition.

Article 33 – Late arrival of players

If, after an end has started, the missing player arrives, he or she does not take part in this end, he or she is accepted into the game only as from the following end.

If a missing player arrives more than one hour after the start of a game, he or she loses all rights to participate in that game.

If his or her team-mates win this game, he or she will be able to participate in that which follows provided that he or she was originally registered with that team.

If the competition is played in leagues, he or she will be able to take part in the second game whatever the result of the first.

An end is considered as having started as soon as the jack has been thrown regardless of its validity. Special arrangements can be made for time limited games.

Article 34 – Replacement of a player

The replacement of a player in Doubles, or of one or two players in Triples, is permitted only up to the official announcement of the commencement of the competition (gun, whistle, announcement, etc.), on condition that the replacement/s was/were not previously registered in the competition as belonging to another team.

Article 35 – Penalties

For non-observation of the rules of the game the players incur the following penalties:

Warning;which is officially marked by the umpire presenting a yellow card to the
player at fault.
However, a yellow card for exceeding the time limit will be imposed on all the players
of the offending team. If one of these players has already been given a yellow card,
they will be penalised by disqualification of the boule played or to be played.
Disqualification of the boule played or to be played; which is officially marked by the
umpire presenting an orange card to the player at fault.
Exclusion of the responsible player for the game; which is officially marked by the
umpire presenting a red card to the player at fault.
Disqualification of the team responsible;
Disqualification of the two teams in case of complicity.

The warning is a sanction and can only be given after an infringement of the rules.
Giving information to players or requesting they should respect the rules at the start of a competition or of a match is not to be considered as a warning.

Article 36 – Bad weather

In the case of rain, any end started must be completed, unless a contrary decision is made by the Umpire, who alone is qualified, with the Jury, to decide on its suspension or cancellation in the case of a “force majeure”.

Article 37 – New phase of play

If, after the announcement of a new phase of the competition (2nd round, 3rd round, etc…..) certain games have not ended, the Umpire, after advice from the Organising Committee, may make any arrangements or decisions that he judges necessary for the good running of the competition.

Article 38 – Lack of Sportmanship

The teams that argue during a game, who show lack of sportsmanship and respect towards the public, the organisers or the Umpires, will be excluded from the competition. This exclusion can incur non-confirmation of the possible results, as also, the application of penalties set out in Article 39.

Article 39 – Bad behaviour

The player who is guilty of bad behaviour, or worse, violence towards an official, an Umpire, another player or a spectator incurs one or several of the following penalties, depending on the seriousness of the offence.

Exclusion from the competition.
Withdrawal of licence or of the official document.
Confiscation or restitution of expenses and prizes.

The penalty imposed on the guilty player can also be imposed on his or her team-mates.

Penalty 1 is imposed by the Umpire.

Penalty 2 is imposed by the Jury.

Penalty 3 is imposed by the Organising Committee which, within 48 hours, sends a report with the expenses and prizes retained to the Federation’s Organisation which will decide on their destination.

In all cases, the Chairman of the Committee for the Federation concerned will make the final decision.

Correct dress is required of the players, specifically it is forbidden to play without a top and for safety reasons, the players must wear fully enclosed shoes protecting the toes and heels.

It’s forbidden to smoke during play, including electronic cigarettes. It is also forbidden to use mobile phones during the games.

Any player who does not observe these rules, will be excluded from the competition if they persist after a warning from the umpire.

Article 40 Duties of the Umpires

The Umpires designated to control the competitions are charged to be on the watch for strict application of the rules of the game and the administration rules which complete them. They have the authority to disqualify from the competition any player or any team who refuses to comply with their decision.

The spectators with valid or suspended licences, who, by their behaviour, are the origin of incidents on the terrain of play, will be the subject of an Umpire’s report to the Federal executive. The latter will summon the guilty party or parties before a competent Disciplinary Committee who will decide on the penalties to apply.

Article 41– Composition and decisions of the Jury

Any case not provided for in the rules is submitted to the Umpire who can refer it to the competition’s Jury. This Jury comprises at least 3 people and at the most 5 people. The decisions taken by the Jury in applying this paragraph are without appeal. In the case of a split vote, the President of the Jury has the casting vote.