Advanced tactics.
Focus and Concentration No.1
Petanque is just one of those games where there is a relaxed atmosphere wherever the game is played. However it can quickly turn very serious at a very competitive level and that can be at any venue be it in a village pub or national qualifier. The key is focusing on the moment you as a player have most impact in the game. Most players would agree this is when you are throwing your boule and teams can do little to help the player in the circle. This is true to a degree but when things get serious all manner of distractions can be noticed. So we will break the key moment throwing moment into A. The player in the circle and B. How their teammates can help.
The player throwing the boule needs to be able to focus on the matter in hand. The boule they are throwing. If they cannot concentrate on this it could be for many reasons.
Practice.
Lack of practice will lead to lack of ability and the keen edge of concentration will not be available to the player if they cannot focus on the throw and how they aim to execute the throw. This comes from practice.
Tiredness
This can be a real problem if you try to stay focused all day. The key is to relax during the days play and even during a game. Develop an ability to use the circle as a focal point where you can take a breath and concentrate. You only have a minute to play you boule but you will see many players’ faces change as they walk to the circle. Sometimes the smile will disappear and they draw strength from within to play a boule so often thrown on the practice pitch
Cold and wet.
We do play in the UK so be prepared for the downpour you know will catch you and soak you. Also wear warm but light clothing. It may take a little time but choosing the right jacket is a real key to playing in the UK.
Aware of your surroundings.
We have all had people walk onto the terrain as we are playing a boule. If you think they will put you off be polite and ask if they can move from where they are, be still just for a moment or just make them aware they are causing a problem. There is no need to be rude in this situation as we all get involved in something that may be in direct eye line to another player in the circle in another game. Most times just knowing they are there will prevent a shock. See teammates later.
Nerves.
We all get the flutters in an important game and this can be national international or in a Pub league game. Petanque is all about the excitement of each boule thrown knowing it could change the whole game. Practice and a lot of games under your belt will ease the nerves.
Last but never least Alcohol.
This is a real problem if you enjoy 3 or four pints when you play. This may settle the nerves and in some cases improve your play but the benefits will seldom last and it will drain your focus and awareness of the game as the day continues.
Focus and Concentration No.2
Making more from a tight end
Welcome to the very first coaching tip of 2009. In this session we will look at making hay while the sunshines. How to get a big scoring end and how to turn the key to unlocking the win from a game. There has been some rule changed over the last few weeks but this does not affect the fact that Petanque is a game of advantage and you want to hold more boule than the opposition at all times.
In any situation blood can rush to your head but when you have 5 boule left and the opposition have one victory can be glimpsed. Thing is, you have to make in happen. The head has six boule in it, that is one of yours and five of theirs. But why are you interested n the head? Well their fifth boule has sneaked on. Your first point was a good one. It stopped two inches in front of the jack. The opposition shot twice as it seemed reasonable a point would be difficult to beat the holding boule. They missed twice so turned to a defensive play strategy. Four-boule left to play and you have a very very close boule. The first point played by the opposition is hard. A nasty pushing point designed to disrupt the boule holding and maybe getting a push on the jack or the holding boule. Even if this boule misses its target it will only go two feet passed the boule and jack. This is a semi defensive boule. It may dislodge the holding boule. It may move the jack back but it will definitely not block the way in for the next three boule they have to play. It is a key boule. To be two feet short at this stage would be a disaster. It must rest or pass the holding boule to be of any assistance. They are looking to cover the piste to cut down any scoring areas to a minimum. The two boule shot earlier are still live at the back of the piste but 8 feet away. The pushy boule played will stop two feet passed the jack if it misses everything on its journey. This has, if played to the correct length reduced the scoring area to two feet. If the direction was correct it may now be holding. It passed the head and stopped as required. Three boule left and these need to be played short or jack length. The first should be played onto the back of the holding boule. This will reduce the current scoring area to 5 inches. It cannot be shot, as it will take the holding boule with it. The shot is played and it is good and touches the back of the holding boule. Defence looking good. The next boule needs to be in the head but away from the two boule. Six inches short should do the trick. It is played slightly too long and collides with the pair of boule. The impact pushed the holding boule onto the jack and then past it. The opposition have had a bit of luck and are now on. It is a fairly clear shot as the boule has pushed yours over slightly to one side and their boule is touching the jack. Five boule played one boule and the shooter is already on their way to the circle.
Wait! A shot on the target holding boule may, possibly kill the end. You have a five to one boule advantage and by killing the jack you have just let them off the hook. This is a key situation in petanque. This is an end you need to get something from. With thought and good play you could score three or four from this set up but it does depend a little on luck. The last point was too hard and disrupted the end. It should have been six inches in front of the jack. Why? Well that nasty pushing pointed shot they played is very effective in disturbing jack and boule alike. A short boule stops this shot if it is in line with the boule of jack and is a great defensive boule. Touching boule and off line boule can be used or removed with a good shot. Defensive boules need to be spread in the head to try and cover ground and disrupt the other team.
So your turn to play a heavy point. It is trying to push the holding boule back or sideways but it is trying to move it. If it is long and it should only be two feet long at least it will cover their back boule. The shot is played and it hits the holding boule and moves the jack back two inches to your other boule.
Job done. The task is getting the opposition to play their last boule. You must have boule left to play when the opposition are out. This is the whole point of the game. It is a game of advantage. The more the better. Your know for a fact that on this end you will have four boule left to play once they have thrown there last boule. The options are numerous, Shoot the jack dead for three points. Shoot their closest boule and point in for up to four, maybe five points. Do not rush these boule. When the opposition are throwing you will have stood around. Maybe up to 6 minutes and if measuring took place, maybe longer. Do not rush to get involved in the game. You have your allowed time and use it wisely. Keep a keen eye on their closest boule and how it will affect how you score. If you shoot it where will it go and how will it get there. How many of your boule will it pass after your impact? Where will your boule go? The acceleration of an object as produced by a net force is directly proportional to the magnitude of the net force, in the same direction as the net force, and inversely proportional to the mass of the object.
Newton’s 2nd Law. The boule you hit will go somewhere. Will it move the jack back to those two back boule of the opposition?
A careful but positive approach may lead to disaster but if you are holding three of four points and the next boule is a risky shot. It is a simple choice not to throw it.
Focus and Concentration No.3
Do not left that pointed boule get in the way of a big end
This session we are going back to tactics. We have looked at how play can take many twists and turns in this game of Petanque. Games can be lost and won purely on tactics. Simple ones like changing the jacks position during a game you are in control of or shooting when you should point and vice versa.
Pointing when you should shoot is a tactic that seems simple at first. If the point takes the prime position then where is the harm? You may even win the end so what is the problem?. We will look at an end in full flow. The opposition have played four boule and are holding to the side of the jack. You have three boule left and are 2nd and third in the head. The boule are set up in a pocket so you cannot fail to point into the pack to hold the point. You have three boule left and take position to point. The head is tight but the point looks straight forward. The score is 4 all in what has up to now been a tight game. Stop! Another point into the tight head will put you on but the set up of boule and jack will mean a low score in every situation. The oppositions boule will be protected as soon as your pointed boule stops in the head. The opposition cannot out point your boule without moving the jack and they cannot shoot your boule without moving theirs. The boule you are about to play will close the head right down. They will be happy being 2 boule against three to get one against them in this situation. The score will be 5-4 to you but by shooting the score could be 7 or 8-4. How? By attacking the head you are removing their boule from the defensive positions. You may get a carreau, the jack may flick up but you still have the same amount of boule as them. You must be looking to play the best shot you can. You cannot think every thing will go wrong, we know sometimes it does but you have to be bold but not reckless.
You shoot and hit there boule out of the head. You do not spot carreau but are now in a situation where you are holding 1,2 and 3 places. The opposition can either shoot the jack or defend. They aim to rest on the jack hoping any shot from you will kill the jack. The point is slightly long but holding. You shoot again and clip the boule out of the holding position. Not far enough but you are now 1st 3rd and 4th. They point with there last boule trying to keep well away from there only boule in the head. Looks like they have been reading a few tips from somewhere. Two boule together can be taken out with one boule for a big score. So worried about keeping away from their only boule in the head they play short and you are now 1st 3rd and fifth in the head. You shoot the 2nd boule and carreau for three. Not a great success but two extra points have been wrung out of a canny opposition. 7-4 is a good result and if the game remains as tight you will be able to put the pressure on. 7 points is a finish place. The chances of getting six in one end is difficult but not impossible. Every point you get now is closer to the magic 13. This can be a huge benefit in the later phases of the game.
Jack control.
If things are going well with your jack positioning during the game, Keep going! It might seem attractive to send the jack longer, or to a different place. It might look sunny in the corner of the piste or you might think you can play better over in another direction. The truth is if you are winning stick with it. No opposition have ever told me they are struggling in a certain direction. That is what the scoreboard is for. Not just to keep the score but to tell you things are going well. Doubts creep into your head when you think the opposition will finally get to grips with the piste and jack position. This maybe true but one thing is for sure you can play the direction. Stick with it. One clue to see if the team are struggling in a difficult direction is to see where they stand when you are throwing the jack. If they seem to congregate in the place you are about to throw the jack, ask them to move! Politely but ask them! It may seem as if nothing is occuring but we have all seen it happen. If you are in control of the game and the jack, keep control. If you want to play long then play long, again if the opposition stand 8 metres away from you just give them a polite gesture to move. This is where you team can help by walking out the distance. A body is hard to ignore. No need to be rude, although they were rude first, just politely ask them to be careful as a jack is coming their way.
So to sum up, accurate shooting is a better option than accurate pointing in certain situations. Jack position is crucial, do not let your concentration drift and do not be intimidated as to where to throw the jack.
Good luck
First published April 2008