Pétanque rules: validity of the jack throw

The jack throw seems a simple formality — in reality, it's one of the phases where mistakes and disputes are most frequent. But trop court, but arrêté par un spectateur, but touché par un partenaire, contestation trop tardive… Beaucoup de joueurs ne connaissent pas la procédure officielle. Cette fiche reprend les règles de validité du lancer du but selon le règlement FIPJP, avec les cas les plus fréquents sur le terrain. 4 conditions à vérifier avant que le lancer soit valide 1 règle clé contester avant la première boule jouée 2 cas distincts partenaire vs élément extérieur — procédures différentes

The 4 conditions for a valid throw

To be valid, a jack throw must simultaneously meet four regulatory conditions. If one of them is not fulfilled, the jack is not valid and must be re-thrown — or the opponent gains the right to place it depending on the context.

📏 Regulatory distance

The jack must land between 6 and 10 metres from the throwing circle. No more, no less. See our full article on official distances.

🗺️ Good terrain placement

The jack must remain in the authorised playing area — not on forbidden terrain, not outside the limits defined for the game.

👁️ Jack visibility

The jack must be visible from the throwing circle. A jack completely hidden behind a fixed obstacle is not valid under the prescribed conditions.

🚧 Safety distances

The jack must be at a sufficient distance from fixed obstacles, edges and other adjacent games according to the regulatory standards.

📄 Principe FIPJP Le lancer du but est soumis à des conditions cumulatives de distance, de visibilité et de placement. Le non-respect de l'une de ces conditions rend le lancer non valable, même si toutes les autres sont respectées. La vérification doit être faite avant la première boule jouée. Source : Règlement officiel FIPJP — Article sur le lancer du but

Jack stopped by an outside element

The rules provide for precise cases where the jack is stopped or deflected during its throw by a factor independent of both teams. In all these cases, the principle is identical: the throw is cancelled and must be replayed — no team should benefit from an advantage due to an outside event.

🦺 Referee → Jack to re-throw 👥 Spectator → Jack to re-throw 🐾 Animal → Jack to re-throw 🌬️ Unexpected moving object → Jack to re-throw 💡 Paquita's tip

This rule protects the fairness of the end: an outside event must never advantage or disadvantage a team. If a spectator accidentally stops the jack in a good position for your team, it must still be re-thrown — even if it suits you. The referee watches over it.

Jack stopped by a partner — the little-known case

It's the most poorly known point of the rules on the jack throw, and the source of many conflicts on the terrains. The logic is different from that of an outside element — and the consequence is far more penalising for the offending team.

⛔ Jack stopped by a PARTNER

Fault attributable to the team that threw the jack
The opponent gains the right to place the jack
They may place it in any regulatory position of their choice
The offending team cannot dispute this placement
Play resumes normally from this new position

✓ Jack stopped by an OUTSIDE ELEMENT

Event independent of both teams
Jack simply re-thrown by the same team
No advantage given to the opponent
We start again as if the throw had not taken place
The team keeps its right to throw

⚠ The classic trap

Many players think that any "disturbed" jack is re-thrown. That's false when a partner intervenes. In that case, the opponent places the jack where they wish — within the regulatory limits. It's one of the most advantageous rules for the team that knows how to claim it.

Practical scenarios on the terrain

👟 Le cochonnet tombe à 4,5 mètres du cercle La distance minimale réglementaire n'est pas atteinte. Le lancer n'est pas valide — même si le but est en zone autorisée et parfaitement visible. Il doit être relancé par la même équipe. → But à relancer 🐕 Un chien de spectateur dévie le cochonnet en vol Élément extérieur incontrôlable. Peu importe où le but aurait atterri, le lancer est annulé et rejoué par la même équipe dans les mêmes conditions. → But à relancer 🤚 Un coéquipier arrête le but du pied pour éviter qu'il parte trop loin C'est une faute imputable à l'équipe. L'adversaire récupère immédiatement le droit de placer le cochonnet dans la position réglementaire de son choix — sans discussion possible. → L'adversaire place le but 🌳 Le cochonnet roule derrière un arbre — non visible depuis le cercle Si le but est totalement invisible depuis le cercle dans les conditions prévues par le règlement, le lancer n'est pas valide. La même équipe doit relancer depuis le même cercle. → But à relancer ✅ Le cochonnet est à 8 mètres, visible, en zone autorisée Toutes les conditions sont remplies. Le but est valide. Le jeu peut commencer. Si personne ne conteste avant la première boule jouée, la position est acquise. → But valide, on joue ⏱️ L'adversaire conteste la distance après que deux boules ont été jouées La contestation est tardive. Dès que la première boule a été jouée sans contestation, la position du but est généralement considérée comme acceptée. La contestation après coup est irrecevable. → Contestation tardive — irrecevable

Dispute: until when can you act?

The dispute of the jack's validity is not open indefinitely. The FIPJP rules provide for a moment when the jack's position is considered acquired — and after which any dispute becomes inadmissible.

⚡Dispute immediately — as soon as the jack comes to rest in a doubtful position, before any other gesture.
🎳Before the first boule is played — once the first boule is thrown without prior dispute, the jack's position is generally considered accepted by both teams.
⚖️In a tournament: call the referee — don't try to measure yourself if the doubt concerns the distance. The referee is the only authority to officially validate or invalidate the throw.
🤝In a friendly game — agree between players before the first boule. A tacit agreement (playing without disputing) amounts to accepting the throw.

⏱️ Paquita's 5-second rule

As soon as the jack comes to rest, take 5 seconds to look: distance, visibility, terrain. That's enough to detect 90% of disputed cases. If you play your first boule without checking, you lose your right to dispute. These 5 seconds avoid disputes that last 5 minutes.

The procedure before the first boule

The jack throw must be seen as a full official step in its own right, not as a simple formality. Here is the recommended procedure, applicable in tournaments as well as friendlies:

1 Check the distance from the circle Estimate by eye whether the jack is between 6 and 10 metres. In case of doubt in a tournament, ask the referee to measure before playing. Don't wait until you've played to dispute. 2 Check the visibility from the circle Stand in the circle and look whether the jack is visible. A jack partially masked by a boule remains valid — full visibility is not required in all cases. 3 Check the terrain placement and distances to obstacles Make sure the jack is in the authorised playing area and respects the regulatory safety distances from fixed obstacles and adjacent games. 4 Agree with the opponent before the first boule If both teams tacitly agree by playing without disputing, the position is acquired. This is the moment to speak — not after the fourth shot. ⏱️

The jack throw is also governed by the playing-time rule: once it's your team's turn to throw, the clock applies. Consult our full sheet on the playing-time rule so you don't get caught out.

Common mistakes on the terrain

✗Confusing a re-throw and a jack given to the opponent — when a partner intervenes, the opponent places the jack. Many players refuse this right through lack of knowledge.
✗Disputing too late — playing your first boule without checking, then trying to dispute after a bad result. A post-boule dispute is inadmissible.
✗Forgetting to check visibility — focusing only on the distance and ignoring that the jack is partially or totally masked from the circle.
✗Throwing quickly without checking the distances — in a tournament, the eagerness to play quickly makes you forget the basic checks. Taking 5 seconds avoids 95% of disputes.
✗Measuring yourself by hand — in a refereed tournament, any disputed measurement must be made by the referee. A "homemade" measurement has no regulatory value.
✗Confusing a badly thrown jack and a dead jack during an end — these are two distinct situations. A badly thrown jack is resolved before the first boule; a dead jack during an end follows another procedure. See our article on the dead jack during an end.

FAQ — Your frequently asked questions

It's the team that scored the point in the previous end that throws the jack. For the very first end of the game, a coin toss determines which team starts. If the first throw is invalid and replayed several times, it's always the same team that re-throws — except in the case of a partner intervening, where the opponent gains this right. If the team tries several times to place the jack validly from the same circle without succeeding (terrain too difficult, insufficient space), the rules provide for the right to throw to pass to the opposing team. If that team also fails, the referee or the players designate a new circle position according to the terrain's conditions. In case of doubt, the referee is indispensable. The validity of the initial throw (before the first boule) and the deadness of the jack during an end (after boules have been played) are two distinct things. A jack valid at the throw can become dead during the end if one of the 7 dead-jack situations occurs. Conversely, a doubt about the initial throw can no longer be raised once the first boule has been played. Our article on the dead jack during an end details these 7 cases. The concept of visibility at the throw is governed by the FIPJP rules — the player about to play must be able to see the jack from the circle. A jack partially masked by a boule (bouchon) is a special case treated separately, distinct from a jack completely invisible behind a fixed obstacle. See our dedicated article on the hidden jack. Agree between players on the basis of the official rules, before the first boule. If the doubt concerns the distance, a pocket tape measure is enough to decide — it's the most useful tool on the terrain. In the event of a persistent disagreement, the wisest solution is to re-throw the jack to start the end in a neutral context. The goal remains to play, not to argue. Yes. The circle must itself be valid and placed in accordance with the rules for the jack throw to be valid. A badly placed circle (too close to an obstacle, in a forbidden area) invalidates the whole procedure. See our article on the throwing circle and its rules in 2026. 📚 Sources officielles

📎 Articles liés Rules Dead jack during an end — the 7 official cases Rules Playing distance in pétanque — the official measurements 2026 Rules Mandatory rigid circle — everything that changes in 2026 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

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Content based on the official FIPJP rules. In case of doubt, always consult the official version in force.

Validity of the throw
of the jack