European Championship Regulations 2023-24
As adopted by the Directors - April 2023
I. GENERAL PROVISIONS
Article 1. Scope of application
1.01 The Confédération Européenne de Pétanque (CEP), recognised by the FédérationInternationale de Pétanque et Jeu Provençal (FIPJP), is the only administration authorisedto organise European Championships and to award the title of European Champions.
1.02 These regulations govern the rights, duties and responsibilities of all parties participatingand involved in the organisation of a European Championship
.Article 2. Definitions
2.01 For the purpose of these regulations, the following definitions shall apply:CEP: Confédération Européenne de Pétanque.Directors: CEP Board of Directors.Host: Member federation or other organisation designated by the Directors toorganise a European Championship.
2.02 In these Regulations, any phrase introduced by the words “including”, “include”, “inparticular”, “for example” or any similar expression is illustrative and does not limit the meaning of the words preceding them.
2.03 In the context of these regulations, the masculine gender used in relation to a physicalperson (for example, names such as president, coach, participant, player, umpire, memberof a jury, or pronouns such as he, they or them) shall, unless specifically stated otherwise,include the feminine gender.
2.04 Unless expressly provided otherwise in writing, for the purposes of the EuropeanChampionship Regulations, a year is a calendar year, beginning on 1 January and ending on 31 December.
Article 3. Frequency of the championships
3.01 The Directors shall supervise the organisation of the following European Championships:
a. In the even numbered years;• The European Championship Triples: Juniors, male and female• The European Championship Triples: Women
b. In the even numbered years, at the same time and venue;• The European Championship Singles: Men - Women• The European Championship Doubles: Men - Women• The European Championship Doubles: Mixed
c. In the odd numbered years;• The European Championship Triples: Veterans• The European Championship Triples: Men.
d. Every year;• The European Championship Triples: Espoirs, male and female
3.02 The Directors may organise a “Precision Shooting” Championship at each of these Championships.
Article 4. Championship organisation
4.01 The Directors will delegate the organisation to the host, but will remain fully responsible for the supervision conduct and results of the Championships.
4.02 The host, having made all necessary preparations for the Championship in accordance with the CEP’s Championship Specifications, shall submit a detailed programme to the CEP President or Secretary General for approval.
Championship Rules 7
4.03 The host, in cooperation with the CEP, will inform all participating federations of the exact location and all hotel information (including rooms and meals), at least four months in advance in order to enable them to make the necessary travel arrangements.
4.04 All European Championships shall be played under cover unless otherwise agreed by the Directors.
Article 5. Registration
5.01 Only CEP member federations, having paid their fees have the right to register a team.
5.02 Registration forms shall be sent to the federations by e-mail at least four months before the competition.
5.03 The participating federations must return their completed entry forms at least three months before the competition, indicating, if possible, the number of persons, thenumber and type of bedrooms and the number of nights of accommodation, so that the host can take the necessary steps to organise their stay.
5.04 The composition of the federation’s team must be registered at the latest two months before the date of the championship. Partial changes may be made later.
5.05 All these forms must be sent to the e-mail address indicated on the form and invitation letter.
Article 6. Participation6.01 In order to participate in a European Championship, each player, team official or otherteam personnel must respect and comply with the CEP Rules, Regulations and the WADA Anti-Doping Code, including the conditions of participation established by the CEP, as wellas with the rules of the relevant federation.
6.02 Each federation establishes its sport’s rules for participation in a European Championship, including qualification criteria. The application of the qualification criteria is the responsibility of the federations.
6.03 Players, team officials and other team personnel taking part in a European Championship may allow their person, name, image or sporting achievements to be used for promotional purposes during the European Championship in accordance with the principles determined by the CEP.
6.04 The entry or participation of a player in a European Championship shall not be conditional on any financial consideration.
Article 7. Insurance
7.01 Federations are responsible for and undertake to arrange, at their own expense, all necessary and appropriate insurance cover for their delegations, including players, coaches and officials.
7.02 All insurances must cover the full period of the championship.
Article 8. Finances
8.01 The participating federations will cover all their own travel and accommodation costs,including meals etc.
8.02 The Host Federation will make every effort to provide accommodation for the delegationsat a reasonable price, giving preference to group bookings. All participating federations are required to book their accommodation through the host using the e-mail address and form provided.
8 Championship Rules
II. FEDERATION TEAM
Article 9. Eligibility of players
9.01 Every player taking part in a European Championship must be a national of the country they represent and must hold a valid International Licence for at least six months at the time of the championship.
9.02 All matters relating to the determination of the country which a player may represent inthe European Championship shall be resolved by the Directors.
9.03 A player who is a national of two or more countries at the same time may represent either one of them, as they may elect. However, once they have represented one country in a European Championship they may not represent another country unless they meet theconditions set out in the following paragraphs, which apply to persons who have changed or acquired a new nationality.
9.04 A player who has represented one country at a European Championship and who has changed their nationality or acquired a new nationality, may participate in the European Championship as a representative of their new country provided that at least three years have elapsed since the player last represented their former country.This period may be reduced or even cancelled by the Directors, with the agreement of the federations concerned, taking into account the circumstances of the individual case.
9.05 If an associated State, Province or Overseas Department, a country or colony acquires independence, if a country becomes incorporated within another country by reason of a change of border, if a country merges with another country, or if a new federation is recognised by the Directors, a player may continue to represent the country to which they belong or belonged. However, they may, if they prefer, choose to represent their country or be entered in a CEP Championship by their new federation if one exists. This special choice may only be made once.
9.06 In all cases in which a player would be eligible to participate in the European Championship, either by representing a country other than their own or by having the possibility to choose the country they wish to represent, the Directors may take all general or individualdecisions on matters relating to the nationality, citizenship, domicile or residence of aplayer, including the duration of any waiting period.
9.07 At the request of the CEP, federations shall provide a certified copy of all documentationon which the CEP intends to rely in establishing the player’s eligibility under these rules.
9.08 The burden of proof in determining a player’s eligiblity rests with the federation and the player concerned.
9.09 The federation shall provide the CEP with valid and authentic documentation of theplayer’s eligibility and such other evidence as may be required to establish the player’s eligibility on a definitive basis.
9.10 In accordance with these rules, a player’s eligibility shall be guaranteed at all times by the federation they represent.
Article 10. Age limits
10.01 Championships under these regulations may be divided into age group classifications, ineach of which the age limit in the year of the championship sha ll be as follows:• Juniors – aged 17 or less.• Espoirs – Adult licence holders under the age of 23 years*.• Veterans - aged 55 or above.*Note: The Directors may allow a federation to enter a player who is no younger than 15 years of age inthe year of the championship, provided that the federation in question confirms that it has only 5 or less licences in the category (gender) and age group for Espoirs.
article 10. Championship Rules
10.02 A player is eligible to compete in an age group championship under these rules if he or she is within the age range specified in the relevant age group classification.
10.03 A player must be able to provide proof of their age by presenting a valid passport or otherform of identification as permitted by the applicable regulations of the championship.
10.04 A player who fails or refuses to provide such proof will not be eligible to compete in the championship.
Article 11. Coaches
11.01 Each team must have a coach who is not a player but holds a valid International Licence.
11.02 The coach is responsible for the team and in particular for their good sportsmanship andappearance as described in these rules.
11.03 The coach shall respond to any appeal or request from the control table or host federationand shall participate in any random draw for their team.
11.04 During the championship, the coach shall be present with the team at the playing areaassigned to them by the control table or the umpire.
11.05 The coach must not move or gesticulate during play, and under no circumstances are theyallowed to intervene on the terrain. However, at the request of the players, the coachmay give advice, provided that this does not lead to an extension of the time allowed for throwing the jack or a boule.
Article 12. Singles and Doubles
12.01 Each federation may only register a maximum of 4 players, 2 women and 2 men.
12.02 Each player may only participate in a maximum of two events.
12.03 A singles team will consist of 1 player and a coach
12.04 A doubles team will consist of 2 players of the same gender and a coach.
12.05 A mixed doubles team will consist of 1 male player and 1 female player and a coach.
Article 13. Triples
13.01 A triples team will consist of 3 or 4 players with a coach.
13.02 During the Triples Championship, the coach is permitted to change a player during agame, but only the once and then only between two ends after informing the opposing team.The change of a player must be recorded on the scorecard for that game.
Article 14. Team Clothing
14.01 At all championships, the players and coach shall wear clothing which is clean anddesigned and worn in such a way as not to be offensive.
14.02 The players and coach of a federation shall wear matching team clothing, tops (jackets,shirts etc.) and trousers or shorts of the same colour and design (the length of which shall not be shorter than the player’s fingertips when the arms and fingers are extended at theplayer’s side).
14.03 The tops, with at least short sleeves, must be identical and display the logo or badge ofthe federation they represent on the front and the name of their nation on the back.
14.04 Denim or Jeans, regardless of colour, are not permitted.
14.05 Advertising is permitted only on the players’ tops and is limited to a maximum of 3 advertisements, each no larger than 30 cm2.
14.06 The advertising shall be identical for each player in the team and must comply with the laws and regulations of the nation hosting the championship.
Article 14. Championship Rules
14.07 The logo of the kit manufacturer is not considered as advertising.
14.08 A player, or team, who after being warned by the umpire, fails to comply with these teamclothing rules, will be disqualified from the championship.
Article 15. Discipline
15.01 In the event of a licence holder breaching the published rules and regulations, the CEP may notify the licence holder’s federation of their violation; the federation will be responsible for imposing the sanctions, in accordance with its rules and regulations.
15.02 The CEP reserves the right to exclude from a championship any license holder whose conduct is in breach, or repeatedly in breach, of the published rules and regulations or which, in the opinion of an appointed umpire or official of the CEP is sufficiently serious to constitute an act of misconduct.
15.03 It is prohibited to smoke (including electronic smoking devices), to consume alcohol, or use mobile/smart phones in the area of play.
15.04 Doping controls and/or alcohol breath tests may be carried out during the championship.
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III. CHAMPIONSHIP
Article 16. Draw
16.01 The draw will take place in the presence of an umpire at such time and place as deemed convenient by the Directors.
16.02 The top 4 federations, from the previous year’s championship, will be seeded from 1- 4.The remaining federations will be randomly drawn for positions 5 and onwards.
16.03 The Directors reserve the right to change the number of seeded teams to suit the number of participants.
Article 17. Rules and structure
17.01 The rules for play shall be the “Official Rules for the Sport of Pétanque” as established by the FIPJP and any variations set out by the Directors in these and any other specific rules.
17.02 Each championship will comprise of two stages, the Swiss System with time limited games and the Direct Elimination.
Article 18. Swiss system
18.01 The Swiss system will consist of 5 or 6 rounds, depending on the number of teams, which will be played in order to rank the teams according to their number of wins.
18.02 In the event that teams have the same number of wins, they will be ranked according to the Buchholz system and then, if they are still tied, according to the difference between the number of points won and the number of points lost (e.g. won 13, lost 9 = Points Difference +4).
18.03 All games are played on defined lanes. The lines defining each lane are considered as“dead ball lines”; if the jack crosses a line defining a lane, i t is considered dead.
18.04 The time limit for each game is:• Singles: 45 minutes• Doubles: 60 minutes• Triples: 75 minutes
18.05 In each format, the teams will be informed that the time limit has expired.
18.06 At the end of the time limit, the current end will be completed and if no team has reached 13 points, two more ends will be played.
18.07 If the score is tied, after the two additional ends, the teams play an extra end.
18.08 During this extra end, the jack cannot become dead (out of play). If the jack goes out of the defined playing area it is returned to its original position .
Article 19. Elimination
19.01 All games will be played in a single elimination format to 13 points and with no time limit,to determine the overall winners.
19.02 Based on the results of the Qualification Swiss system, teams will be seeded with the top16 progressing to the Championship.The remaining teams will proceed to the Nations Cup where, if necessary, a preliminary elimination round may be held to reduce the number of teams to 16.
19.03 The winners of the Championship shall be announced as the “European Champions” for that year.
19.04 The winners of the Nations Cup shall be announced as the winners of the Nations Cup for that year.
19.05 The Directors reserve the right to alter the format of any championship to suit the number of teams.
Championship Rules
Article 20. Medals
20.01 Medals are presented to the top 4 teams in both the Championship and Nations Cup as follows:• Winners, a gold medal for each player and the coach• Runners-up, a silver medal for each player and the coach.• Losing Semi-Finalists, a bronze medal for each player and the coach.
IV. CLOSING PROVISIONS
Article 21. Implementing provisions
21.01 The Directors appointed to the Control Table are entrusted with the operational management of the championship and are therefore authorised to take the decisions and adopt the detailed provisions and guidelines necessary for implementing these regulations.
Article 22. Jury
22.01 The jury will consist of the official representative appointed by the CEP Executive Committee, the umpire, a member of the host federation (other than the President) and a member of the Organising Committee, one of whom will be designated as president ofthe jury.
22.02 In the case of a split vote, the president of the jury has the casting vote.
22.03 The decisions reached by the jury are without appeal.
Article 23. Unforeseen circumstances
23.01 All matters not provided for in these regulations, such as cases of force majeure, will bedecided by the control table after consultation with the umpire and, if deemed necessary,the jury. These decisions are final.
Article 24. Non-compliance
24.01 Any breach of these regulations may be dealt with by the CEP in accordance with these Regulations and the CEP Statutes.
Article 25. Annexes
25.01 All annexes form an integral part of these regulations.
Article 26. Authoritative version
26.01 If there is any discrepancy in the interpretation between the English or French versions ofthese regulations, the English version prevails.
