1. APPLICATION
1.1. These Rules apply to all competitions held under the auspices of the English Pétanque
Association (EPA). Where the term “national” is used in these rules it applies to England.

2. OBJECTIVES
2.1. To improve the standard of play by promoting events at a high level of competitiveness.

3. GENERAL
3.1. The number, dates and venues of the events will be determined by the Management Committee and published in advance.
3.2. The Director of Playing will be responsible for the organisation of the competitions and will
appoint an Organiser for each event.
3.3. The National Umpire will appoint a qualified umpire to adjudicate at each event.
3.4. The Organiser of each event will be the representative of the Management Committee and can
appoint a jury of at least three members should the need arise. The decision of such a jury will
be final in the event of any dispute.
3.5. Regulations for play shall be the "Official International Rules of the Game of Pétanque”.
3.6. Teams of 4 players may enter and participate in triples event. A team may change no more than
one player in a game and then only between two ends after notifying the umpire.
3.7. The use of the resin or manufactured circle as detailed in the “Official Rules of the Game of
Pétanque” will be restricted to the semi finals onwards of a competition and only then at the
discretion of the umpire.
3.8. Any infringement of these "Competition Rules" or of the "International Rules of the Game of
Pétanque” may invalidate entry or cause disqualification and/or necessitate the forfeiture of any
position or prizes previously awarded.
3.9. Any event may be cancelled at the discretion of the EPA Management Committee.

4. ELIGIBILITY
4.1. All EPA members holding a valid EPA licence are eligible to compete.
4.2. All players must produce their EPA licence on registration at each event.
4.3. Any player failing to produce a valid EPA licence will be fined £20 (juniors £5) at registration.
4.4. Players entering the England Junior Championship must be aged 17 or less in the full calendar
year of the event.
4.5. Players entering the England Ladies Championship must be female members and may be any
age.
4.6. Players entering the over 50‟s Championships must be aged 50 years or over at the time of the
event.
4.7. Players competing to represent the EPA in International events must be eligible to represent
England, be able to travel and available to play.
4.8. Players may be required to produce evidence of eligibility/nationality and/or age to the EPA.

5. ENTRIES
5.1. National competitions must be entered in advance.
5.2. Entry forms must be completed with the team captain's name, telephone number, each other
player's name and all EPA licence numbers.
5.3. At all competitions, teams will be given a number by which they will be known throughout the
competition or series of competitions.
5.4. Entries accompanied by a cheque, payable to the EPA, for the correct entry fee are to be sent
to the address published on the entry form. No allowance will be made for delays in the postal
service.
5.5. The closing date for entry to a competition is the preceding Monday as published on the entry
form.
5.6. Teams requiring written confirmation of entry must include a self-addressed stamped postcard
with their entry form.
5.7. EPA retains the right to refuse entry into any of its competitions.

6. REGISTRATIONS and the DRAW
6.1. Registration will open by 8.45 am and close promptly at 9.15 am.
6.2. All players will register at the control desk by handing in their EPA licence. Only players who
have properly registered in this way by the close of registration will be permitted to take part in
the competition. Replacement of a player may only be allowed under Article 33 – Official Rules
of the Game of Pétanque.
6.3. Any player failing to register in person during a qualifying series will not be eligible to play during
the final stages i.e. top 16 or top 8.
6.4. The draw will take place in the presence of the umpire immediately after the close of
registration.
6.5. Play will commence as soon as possible after the completion of the draw and announcements.
7. FINANCIAL

7.1. The entry fees for EPA competitions are:
Triples Qualifiers 1, 2, 3 & Triples Championship (top 16) - £30 per team
Ladies Triples Qualifiers 1, 2 & Ladies Triples Championship (top8) - £30 per team
Espoirs Triples Qualifiers 1 & 2 - £21 per team
Junior Doubles - £10 per team
Junior triples - £15 per team
Singles - £10 per player
Doubles, Mixed Doubles & Over 50‟s Doubles - £20 per team
Home Nations Triples Qualifier - £15 per team

8. COMPETITION ORGANISATION
8.1. The Organiser of the day has the right, subject to the entries and conditions and after
consultation with the umpire, to alter the format of play.
8.2. The Champion of Champions Shooting event will be played to the FIPJP world Championship
format.
8.3. All Other Competitions, apart from the Inter-regional Championship and Champion of
Champions events, will be organised on the Swiss System.
8.4. The Inter Regional Championship (with Wales by invitation) will comprise two divisions of 8
regions in Division One and Two. After 7 rounds the teams in each division will be seeded for a
further 5 rounds.
8.5. The Inter Regional Challenge will be one division played by 4 teams from each Region on a
round robin format.
8.6. The Champion of Champions Doubles and Triples will be played on a snake system.
8.7. European Cup for Clubs Knockout event will be run under the rules issued with the entry form.
8.8. A lunch Break of 30 minutes may be held at the discretion of the Organiser and Umpire. The
Umpire will blow a whistle to start the break, which will be for approximately 30 minutes; the end
in progress must be completed, with no players allowed on the terrain during this break. The
umpire blowing a whistle will indicate start of play.

9. QUALIFICATION/REPRESENTATION
9.1. Qualification to represent England in the Home Nations will be the top 8 teams at the EPA
Home Nations Qualifying event. The junior teams to represent England in this event will be
selected (see article 9.3).
All players representing England in the Home Nations Tournament will be required to meet their
own costs.
9.2. The team placed first over all in the 3 English Triples Championship Qualifiers will qualify as the open team at the INSPT.
The team placed first over all in the 2 Ladies Triples Championship Qualifiers will qualify to
represent England at the INSPT.
The team placed first over all in the 2 Espoirs Triples Championship Qualifiers events will qualify
to represent England at the INSPT.
The Junior Doubles and Triples combined will be used to select the team for the INSPT.
All the players, with the exception of, the juniors and espoirs, representing England in the
INSPT will be required to meet part or all of their costs.
9.3. The team placed first in the EPA Triples Championship top 16 will qualify to represent England
at a European event or the World Championships.
The team placed first in the ladies Triples Championship top 8 will qualify to represent England
at a European event or the World Championships.
The Junior Doubles and Triples combined will be used to select the team to represent England
at the Junior European Championship and Home Nations Tournament.
The Espoirs teams (male & female) to represent England in the Espoirs European
Championship will be selected from those that take part in the two Espoirs Qualifiers.
All the players, with the exception of, the juniors and espoirs, representing England at a
European event or the World Championship will be required to meet part or all of their costs.

10. STANDARD OF DRESS
10.1. In all competitions teams will be required to wear clean and smart matching tops.
A „top‟ may be a shirt, polo shirt, T-shirt, fleece, jacket, blouson, jumper or any similar garment.
„Matching‟ is defined as of the same colour and design.
To further clarify this rule, it is not necessary, for example, for a polo shirt to be the same colour
as a jumper: polo shirts within the team must match and jumpers (if worn) must also match but
not necessarily with the polo shirts.
In the event of inclement weather, waterproof tops may be worn and will NOT have to be
matching.
10.2. At the Champion of Champions (Doubles/Triples) and the Inter-Regional Championship and
Challenge Tournament all teams must play in full Regional team kit comprising of clean and
smart matching tops and bottoms.
10.3. Any player failing to comply with the standard of dress will be fined £10 (Juniors £3) and may be disqualified from the competition.
10.4. The Umpire is responsible for enforcing the standard of dress.

11. AUTHORITY
11.1. Where the competition is disrupted by teams or players being absent on the day or leaving
before completing all their games the Organiser, in consultation with the Umpire, may call the
Jury and request a change of the format of the competition and these Rules as appropriate. A
report will be sent to the EPA Management Committee who may invoke penalties on the
team(s) concerned.
11.2. The Organiser, after consulting with the Umpire has the final say in the interpretation of these
Rules.