Pétanque - sometimes called boules, is a game that can be enjoyed by all the family and socially with friends for fun or more competitively up to European and World Championship levels. French in origin, it is now played right across the world and is one of the most inclusive activities available where people of all ages, gender, ability and fitness can play equally together.

The most highly regarded of throws in pétanque is the "carreau". This is when a player shoots their opponent's boule in such a manner that their boule stops in exactly the same position as the original boule.

Played with hand-sized hollow metal boules on various types of dirt or gravel surfaces (terrains) the object of the sport is to get as many of your team' boules closer to a small wooden ball (jack) than the nearest of your opponents. Classically, pétanque is a team game of Triples (3 players with two boules each) or Doubles (2 players with three boules each) or Singles (1 player with 3 boules).

There are two main roles in pétanque :
1. Pointer - tries to get their boule as close as possible to the jack
2. Shooter - tries to remove an opponent's boule

The basic rules are simple and new players can start playing straight away but the various techniques of pointing. and shooting as well as the tactics can take years of practice to master.