Organised Pétanque Tournament – Special Team-Building Event

Description

A proper pétanque tournament organised in the style of a ‘World Cup’ for your company in Réunion!
Hosts, rounds, knockout stages, points, prizes… Join our entertainment team at a pétanque court and take part in a colourful day out!

1. Event overview

Example for 40 participants
- Team composition: 20 teams of 2 people (doubles)
- Facilities: 4 pétanque courts
- Equipment and hosting: 1 scoreboard (2 organisers) + 1 PA system with microphone
- Overall format:

1. Group stage (5 teams per court)
2. Knockout stage (the top 2 from each group = 8 teams in the quarter-finals)
3. Consolation tournament / Losers’ bracket (the 12 teams that did not qualify)

2. Phase 1: Group stage (qualifying matches)

With 5 teams per pitch, each group operates as a mini-league (each team plays the other 4 in its group).
- Time format: To ensure the day does not go on too long across four pitches, group matches are played to 11 points (or by time: a maximum of 25 minutes per match).
- Play on a single court: As there are five teams for just one court, the teams take turns playing. Whilst one match is in progress, the others rest or cheer on their teammates.

Qualification:
- The top two teams from each group qualify for the Main Draw (quarter-finals).
- The 3rd, 4th and 5th-placed teams in each group proceed to the Consolation Tournament / Losers’ Bracket.

3. Phase 2: Main Draw (1st and 2nd in each group)

Knockout matches are played to 13 points.

Bracket (Quarter-finals → Semi-finals → Final):
- 1st in Group A vs 2nd in Group B → Winner QF1
- 1st in Group C vs 2nd in Group D → Winner QF2
- Winner QF1 vs Winner QF2 → Winner SF1
- 1st in Group B vs 2nd in Group A → Winner QF3
- 1st in Group D vs 2nd in Group C → Winner QF4
- Winner of QF3 vs Winner of QF4 → Winner of DF2
- Winner of Semi-Final 1 vs Winner of Semi-Final 2 → CHAMPION!
Third-place play-off: The semi-final losers face each other to decide 3rd and 4th place.

4. Phase 3: ‘Consolation’ tournament (losers’ bracket)

To ensure everyone continues to play and has a good day, the 12 eliminated teams compete in a secondary draw:

1. The four third-placed teams receive a bye (direct qualification to the quarter-finals of the Consolation bracket).
2. The four fourth-placed teams and four fifth-placed teams play a play-off round (8 teams / 4 winners join the third-placed teams in the quarter-finals).
3. The draw continues: Consolation Quarter-finals, Semi-finals and Final (matches to 11 points).
5. Role of the scorers’ table (2 people + microphone)

The two people at the score table ensure the tournament runs smoothly and maintains a good atmosphere.

- Person 1 (Scorekeeper):
- Records the results submitted by the players at the end of each match.
- Calculates the group standings (wins, then goal difference in the event of a tie).
- Completes the knockout stage draw.
- Person 2 (Announcer / MC):
- Hosts the event over the microphone (welcome, announcing the rules, soft background music).
- Call the teams onto the pitch (e.g. “Pitch 1, Team Dupont versus Team Martin!”).
- Remind latecomers and announce the time remaining.

6. Provisional schedule for the day

Of course, it will be possible to organise this activity as a half-day event only.

09:00 – 09:30: Welcome, coffee, group draw & briefing over the PA system
09.30 – 12.30: Group stage (Matches 1 to 6)
12.30 pm – 1.30 pm: Lunch break / Shared meal
1.30 pm – 3.30 pm: End of group stage (Matches 7 to 10)
3.30 pm – 4.30 pm: Quarter-finals (Main & Consolation)
4.30 pm – 5.15 pm: Semi-finals (Main & Consolation)
5.15 pm – 6.00 pm: Grand Final + Third-place play-off + Consolation Final
6.15 pm: Prize-giving ceremony and closing drinks reception

Equipment checklist for the scorers’ table

- 1 table + 2 chairs
- Bluetooth speaker + 1 or 2 wireless microphones
- Printed group stage fixtures + Knockout stage bracket
- Pens, paperweight, calculator
- Tape measure / Folding ruler (in the event of a tie on the pitch)
- Pegs or laminated numbers to clearly identify the 4 pitches (Pitch 1, 2, 3, 4)