The Bagnols Marcoule Sports Association’s pétanque school has new “highly motivated young players”

Jean-Pierre Michel, Gabriel Duhamel, Evan Moussu et Alain Donnadieu le 8 janvier pour la première séance de la saison 2025. Midi Libre – A. C. D.

The 2025 pétanque season began on January 1st. This year, the Bagnols Marcoule Sports Association school has four new young people.

The pétanque season has just begun. For this new year, the Bagnols Marcoule Sports Association (ASBM) pétanque school has 15 athletes, aged between 7 and 18. “We have very motivated young elements, says Jean-Pierre Michel, an instructor for three years at the club.The future of an association is the young people, so it is important to renew itself. And then we are the school with the most young people in the area!“

The ASBM academy, which was created twenty years ago, is made up of four categories: Benjamin, Minime, Junior and Cadet. Every Wednesday, from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m., the young people spread out on the Christian-Ville bowling alley to tackle the different exercises. Precision work, mastery of the point gesture, long raffle… The goal is to prepare the young people as best as possible before the Gard championships, all categories, scheduled for March 9 in Uzès. “At the end of the session, we take the time to organize a commented game, explains Alain Donnadieu, president of the sports association. At each point, we analyze decision-making, strategic choices, and movements. This allows them to progress well.“

Training sessions not always full

The ASBM youth teams are used to playing for the top spots. In addition to regularly participating in the French championships, the pétanque school won the Occitanie champion title two years ago. This season, the club has even strengthened with the arrival of four new young members. However, for the past few weeks, it has been rare for all the members to be present at each training session.

“Today, it is true that the young people have several activities on Wednesdays, observes the president. Sometimes, they have football or tennis training so they don't come every week. And then there are also a lot of families with separated parents who live far away.”

Registrations with the ASBM for the pétanque school and in the senior category are still open. For more information, contact 06 72 76 09 90. I subscribe to read the rest