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The Independent Pétanque League

League & Match Format

1. The Fixtures:

1.1 All Teams will play each other on a Home and Away basis on their Division and those Teams on the other Division once. Each match will consist of 5 games:-

2 games of triples each player to throw only TWO boules.
3 games of doubles each player to throw only THREE boules.

Note:- the number of boules each player may throw applies even if a Team has to play with players short.

Where possible, the triples game should be played first. All games are to be played to thirteen points.

1.2 The League fixture list will be drawn up on a weekly basis for the season. Matches must be played during the specified week, normally on Wednesday evenings. The Home Team shall be responsible for reconvening the match. If matches are convened on any other day it shall be by mutual agreement, preference being given to the choice of the Team not asking to reconvene the match. 48 hours notice of cancellation or rearrangement must be given except under exceptional circumstances, and the League Organiser advised of any changes as soon as possible.

1.3 Any Team unable to fulfil the above conditions (except in exceptional circumstances), shall forfeit the match, losing all games and winning only a token 13 points. The 'innocent' Team will be awarded full points of 65.

1.4 Rather than forfeit a match, Teams would be encouraged to play with fewer than 6 players (4 as an absolute minimum), as any points scored may be better than the few on offer. All matches to be replayed within 4 weeks of cancellation or it will be forfeited in favour of the Team that did not cancel the original fixture.

2. TIME OF MATCHES:

Both Teams shall be at the match venue by 20.00 hrs. All players should start playing by 20.15 hrs. Players arriving late may join the game at completion of the end in play.

3. LATE START OF PLAY:

3.1 At times a team may know that they cannot make this start time, in which case they should 'phone their opponent in good time to warn them of their late arrival.

3.2 A game should not be delayed if one player is expected to arrive shortly. The game should be started without them. However, by agreement of both Captains, and as this is a Friendly League, a double match may be played first.

3.3 Failure to give warning of late arrival, or persistent late arrival to matches, should be reported to the League Organiser, and may result in loss of ten points from the offending Team's score.

4. AT ANY MATCH:

Both Teams must have:-

a) two suitable measuring devices (1 per game).
b) a copy of the League & Match Format
c) a copy of the EPA Rules (formerly the BPA Rules) and the League amendments
d) score sheet

Home Team:-

e) sufficient score boards
f) adequate rakes

5. THE SCORING:

5.1 Each Team must provide a Match Report Form to record all the details of the match and the Captains may choose their Teams as they see fit. Names must be entered on the form prior to that game of triples or doubles starting.

5.2 Scores will be recorded on the Match form to show:-

a) points scored by each Team in each game
b) total number of games won by each Team at the end of the match
c) total number of points won by each Team at the end of the match.

5.3 The Home Team will 'phone in' the total points and total games scored by each Team to the League Organiser that week, before 12.00pm noon on Saturday, or e-mail, or text. Failure to do this on more than two occasions will lead to a deduction of 10 points from their total points score for every following late score.

5.4 The Match Form should be kept by the Team Captains for scrutiny should a dispute arise, but both Captains should agree the scores and sign each others sheets on the night to avoid any discrepancies later.

6. TEAM POSITIONS WITHIN THE LEAGUE:

6.1 The number of points won will determine League positions in all Divisions.

6.2 Where two or more Teams have won the same number of points, the number of matches won shall determine their relative position, then the number of games won.

6.3 If any positions are still indeterminate, they shall be determined by the number of points lost.

7.0 FORCE MAJEURE

7.1 If the Team Captains agree that a force majeure prevents completion of a match, it shall be reconvened at a mutually agreed time or date.

7.2 If the match is reconvened later on the same day, all scores stand and unfinished games continue where they left off.

7.3 If the match is reconvened at a later date, the scores for finished games will stand but unfinished games will be restarted using the original players where possible.

7.4 In the interests of safety, it is strongly recommended that play be stopped for the duration of localised electrical storms.

7.5 All matches to be replayed within 4 weeks of cancellation. Or forfeit will occur to the 'offending' Team.

8.0 UMPIRING:

8.1 Arbitration in any one game may be delegated to a player not involved in that game. The delegated player must be treated as if he/she were the Umpire and their decision accepted as final.

8.2 Being a Friendly League it is hoped that each of the Teams will be sporting and unbiased in any decisions made by an umpire, and if no umpire used that they agree any minor dispute between themselves, with the Team Captains, as befitting the League.

8.3 Any case of dispute, omission, or confusion over the Rules should be referred to the League Organiser, whose decision will be accepted as final.

Version 3.0, issued 05/03/2008

Copyright: Tracey Asquith - Fox, League Organiser and the Committee of the Independent Pétanque League. With acknowledgement to the official EPA Rules.