It's a genuine earthquake in boulodrome changing rooms! While jeans had been tolerated for decades at many competitions, the FFPJP is radically getting tougher for the 2026 season. The goal? To professionalise the image of our sport and align it with top-level standards. From now on, to set foot on the terrains in a championship or a National, you'll have to leave the denim in the wardrobe.

The 2026 Dress Code: What's changing

The new official text is unequivocal: players must wear an "exclusively sporty" outfit. Jeans, even black or very dark ones, are now formally excluded from official competitions. This decision is part of a desire for consistency with the 2026 rules and the return to wild pétanque, where the purely athletic aspect is brought back to the centre of the game.

Which outfits are allowed?

To avoid any dispute during the check, players should opt for:

• Bottoms: Shorts, Bermuda shorts, cropped trousers or "sport"-type trousers (tracksuit or technical fabric).
• Tops: Polo shirt or jersey in the club's colours (team uniformity is compulsory from the very first games).

Don't forget that your outfit check often takes place at the same time as your licence check. Make sure you're administratively ready by consulting our complete guide for your 2026 licence step by step.

The penalties you face

A player who doesn't comply with the regulation outfit will be refused access to the terrain by the umpire. Unlike a classic playing foul, there's no white card here: it's immediate compliance or exclusion from the competition.

To properly organise your travel and check the specific requirements of each club, don't hesitate to use our free tools for petanque players to prepare your season stress-free.

Conclusion

The end of jeans is a strong symbolic step for French pétanque. While this measure grates with some regulars, it aims to give our discipline a more modern and dynamic image. So get out your finest tracksuits and head to the terrain!

See our article on 2026 Rules Alert: Sweeping can cost you dearly!