Pétanque rules: jack (cochonnet) distance of 6 to 10 metres

The jack distance is one of the best-known rules in pétanque — and one of the worst-applied. Many players only remember « 6 to 10 metres », sans vérifier les autres conditions pourtant essentielles : visibilité du but, distances aux obstacles, ligne de fond, autres jeux... Cette fiche t'explique la règle officielle de manière simple et pratique, avec les scénarios concrets que tu rencontreras sur le terrain. 6 m minimum distance du bord intérieur du cercle au cochonnet 10 m maximum au-delà, le lancer n'est pas valable 3+ conditions à vérifier en plus de la seule distance

The 6-to-10-metre rule — what the rules really say

The official FIPJP rules specify that the distance is measured from the inner edge of the circle to the jack — not from the centre of the circle, not from the player's feet. This measuring point is precise and often misapplied in friendly games.

📏 ZONE DE VALIDITÉ DU COCHONNET ZONE VALIDE 0 m 6 m ← min zone réglementaire max → 10 m + Zone invalide Zone valide Mesuré depuis le inner edge of the circle — not from the centre, not from the player's feet. 📄 FIPJP principle For junior and senior players, the distance between the inner edge of the circle and the jack must be between 6 metres minimum and 10 metres maximum. If the jack is thrown too short or too long, it is not valid and the procedure laid down by the rules applies. Source: Official FIPJP rules — Article on throwing the jack ⛔ Classic measuring error

The official measuring point is the inner edge of the circle. Measuring from the centre of the circle or from your feet gives a result different by several tens of centimetres. In competition, this gap can invalidate a throw everyone thought was valid.

The other distances to respect (often forgotten)

The 6–10 metre rule is necessary but not sufficient. A jack exactly 7 metres from the circle can be perfectly non-compliant if it doesn't meet the other placement conditions. That's why a jack is never automatically valid just because it's in the right distance range.

🧱 Distance to obstacles

The jack must be at a minimum distance from any fixed obstacles present on the pitch. A jack tight against a wall or a pitch edge can be invalid even at 8 metres.

🏁 Distance to the back line

The jack must respect a minimum distance from the pitch's back line. This condition is often ignored in friendly games on open ground, but it applies in competition.

⚽ Distance to other games

In competition with several adjacent games, the jack must be far enough from the other ends in progress. The proximity of another game can invalidate the placement.

⭕ Authorised playing zone

The jack must land and stay within the playing zone defined for the game. A jack out of bounds — even at a good distance from the circle — is not valid.

💡 Paquita's advice

Memorise this: distance is the baseline condition. The other conditions (obstacles, back line, other games) are additional filters that can invalidate a throw that's nonetheless in the right distance range. Checking in order avoids missing a non-compliant throw.

Jack visibility from the circle

It's one of the least-checked conditions in practice — and one of the most important. The rules require the jack to be visible from the throwing circle under the prescribed conditions. A jack hidden behind a fixed obstacle or in a deep hollow may not be valid.

👁️The player about to throw must be able to see the jack from the circle. It's them who's concerned, not the spectators or team-mates positioned elsewhere.
🪨A natural feature (hollow, mound) can mask the jack without anyone being at fault. The rule sets out precisely the conditions in which visibility is required.
🎳A boule in front of the jack (hidden jack) is a special case treated differently. A jack partially masked by a boule often remains valid. See our dedicated article on the hidden jack.
⚖️In case of disagreement on visibility, it's the umpire who decides in competition. In a friendly game, the right reflex is to check together before the first boule is played.

🔗

Jack visibility at the throw and a dead jack during the end are two separate questions. For anything that happens after the first boule played, see our article on the 7 cases of a dead jack during an end.

Difficult pitch: what to do when you can't place the jack?

Some pitches — too short, cluttered, with other games too close — make the regulation placement of the jack very difficult, or even impossible from a given circle. The rules provide an official procedure for these situations. There's no valid house rule — the official procedure exists and must be applied.

1 La même équipe tente de relancer depuis le même cercle Si le premier lancer est invalide (trop court, trop long, mauvais placement), la même équipe dispose d'un second essai depuis le même emplacement de cercle avant que la procédure évolue. 2 Si toujours impossible : le droit passe à l'équipe adverse Après un ou plusieurs essais infructueux, l'équipe adverse récupère le droit de placer le cochonnet dans une position réglementaire de son choix — dans les limites autorisées. 3 En dernier recours : repositionnement du cercle Dans les situations les plus bloquées, le règlement peut autoriser le déplacement du cercle de lancer à un nouvel emplacement valide. Ce cas doit être validé par l'arbitre en concours. 4 En concours : appeler l'arbitre dès le premier doute Ne pas improviser. L'arbitre connaît la procédure exacte et applique le règlement selon le contexte du terrain. Toute solution inventée entre joueurs peut être contestée et invalider la mène.

Practical scenarios on the terrain

📏 Le cochonnet atterrit à 5,5 mètres En dessous de 6 mètres, la distance minimale n'est pas atteinte. Le lancer n'est pas valide, même si le but est visible et bien placé sur le terrain. La même équipe doit relancer. → But invalide — à relancer 🎯 Le cochonnet est à 7 mètres mais collé à un arbre Distance correcte, mais trop proche d'un obstacle fixe. La condition de distance aux obstacles n'est pas respectée. Le but n'est pas valide malgré la bonne plage de distance. → But invalide — non conforme ✅ Le cochonnet est à 8,5 mètres, visible, loin des obstacles Toutes les conditions sont remplies. Le but est valide. Si personne ne conteste avant la première boule jouée, la position est acquise pour les deux équipes. → But valide — on joue 🔁 L'équipe rate deux fois la zone valide Après des essais infructueux depuis le même cercle, l'équipe adverse récupère le droit de placer le cochonnet dans la position réglementaire de son choix. → L'adversaire place le but 📐 Doute sur la distance — personne n'a de mètre En concours arbitré : appeler l'arbitre immédiatement, avant toute boule jouée. En amical sans arbitre : estimer ensemble de bonne foi. Jouer sans mesurer vaut acceptation tacite de la position. → Appel arbitre ou accord mutuel ⏱️ Contestation après deux boules jouées Trop tard. Une fois la première boule jouée sans contestation, la position du but est généralement acquise. Contester après coup est irrecevable — même si le but était objectivement invalide. → Contestation irrecevable

The pre-play checklist

Taking 5 seconds to check these three points at the start of an end avoids most disputes. Build this habit into friendly games and it becomes automatic in competition.

⚡ CHECKLIST — Before the first boule

1 Distance 6–10 m — estimate by eye or measure if in doubt. In competition, call the umpire immediately if the distance looks borderline.
2 Visibility from the circle — stand in the circle and check whether the jack is visible. Any doubt is settled before the first boule, never after.
3 Distances to obstacles and other games — check that the jack isn't too close to a pitch edge, a fixed obstacle or an adjacent end.
4 Mutual agreement before playing — if both teams tacitly agree by throwing their first boule without contesting, the position is acquired. Now is the time to speak up.

📏 The essential tool

A pocket tape measure in the bag is the best investment for a competition pétanque player. It avoids eye estimates on borderline distances, settles doubts in 10 seconds, and lends authority to whoever uses it. In competition, only the umpire's tape measure is authoritative — but yours helps you know whether it's worth calling one.

Common mistakes to avoid

✗Measuring from the wrong point — the inner edge of the circle is the official starting point. Measuring from the centre or the player's feet throws the measure off by several centimetres.
✗Forgetting the distance to the back line — checking only the distance to the circle without looking at whether the jack is too close to the back of the pitch.
✗Throwing the jack too close to an obstacle — tree, bench, low wall, another circle... The safety distance to obstacles adds to the 6–10 metre condition.
✗Validating a non-visible jack — not checking whether the jack is visible from the circle before starting to play.
✗Starting to play before checking — playing the first boule without ensuring the jack's validity permanently closes the contestation window.
✗Inventing a house rule on a difficult pitch — when no one can place the jack correctly, the rules have a procedure. Improvising creates avoidable disputes.

FAQ — Your frequently asked questions

Yes. The 6–10 metre rule applies to junior and senior players. For the youngest categories (poussins, benjamins, minimes), adapted distances are provided for by the rules, generally shorter to account for physical capabilities. Check the current FFPJP rules for the exact categories concerned. Under the rules, the check applies to every end. In practice, most players estimate by eye and only measure when in doubt. What matters is that the contestation is raised before the first boule is played — not after. In top-level competition, umpires can measure systematically on request. In an open friendly game, players can agree on different distances. In official competition (FFPJP, FIPJP), the rules apply strictly and no informal agreement between teams can override the official distances. The umpire has the final say. 6.00 metres is the minimum distance — it's valid. The rules say "minimum 6 metres", so exactly 6 metres is compliant. The dispute usually comes from cases at 5.90 m or 6.05 m that players perceive differently with the naked eye. That's where a pocket tape measure (or the umpire) is essential to settle it objectively. No. The circle is placed around the jack of the previous end — that is, where the jack had stopped after the points were counted. So each new end starts at a different spot on the pitch, which can lead to difficult-pitch situations. Our article on the throwing circle details the placement rules in 2026. Yes — but it's a different mechanism. The throw's validity is assessed at the moment of the throw. If the jack is valid and play begins, it can then become dead during the end in 7 specific situations (out of the pitch, unfindable, etc.). These two rules are distinct. Our article on the dead jack during an end détaille ces 7 cas. 📚 Sources officielles

📎 Articles liés 2026 Rules Mandatory rigid circle — everything that changes in 2026 Rules Validity of the jack throw — complete official procedure Rules Dead jack during an end — the 7 official cases Rules How long to play? The one-minute rule Refereeing Laser measuring: video refereeing is coming to your clubs Umpiring Umpiring videos — decisions and applications of the rules 2026 Rules Sweeping = card — Article 10 clarified Full rules Official FFPJP rules — full commented version

© La Pétanque by Paquita — petanqueland.fr
Content based on the official FIPJP rules. In case of doubt, always consult the official version in force.

Jack distance:
of 6 to 10 metres — and not only that