Bocce Balls
From youths and seniors, both men and women, to the physically fit and physically challenged, bocce welcomes people from all walks of life and puts them on the same level playing field.
Played everywhere from backyard barbecues to international tournaments, bocce is the perfect blend of skill and chance, competition and fun, and exercise and relaxation. Already a part of the Special Olympics, bocce has a great chance of being added to the 2008 Olympics, so go ahead and join the millions of people around the world who have helped to keep the ball rolling!
How To Play Bocce
The Official Rules of Bocce can seem complicated and daunting to a beginner, but ultimately it's a simple game that takes minutes to learn and a lifetime to master. Although variations on Bocce Ball Rules exist depending on where you're playing, these are the basics:
- Bocce Ball Courts range from 8 to 12 feet wide and up to 92 feet long but all you really need is an open space where the bocce balls can roll freely.
- 2-4 people can play. When played in teams of two each teammate receives two of the same colored bocce balls. If you are playing with 4, but not divided into teams, distribute the bocce balls according to color and stripe pattern.
- Establish a throwing line and determine which team will toss out the pallino (smaller target ball). That team will also play the first bocce ball. (Bocce balls should be rolled or tossed underhand only)
- After the first team has played their first bocce ball the opposing team must now attempt to capture the “inside” position by rolling their bocce ball closer or knock their opponent’s bocce ball further away (known as spocking). Once they have a bocce ball closest to the pallino the next team plays again.
- The game continues with each team trying to capture the inside position until all bocce balls have been played.
- The team whose bocce ball is closest in the end receives 1 point, and continues to receive an additional point for every bocce ball they have that is closer than their opponent’s closest bocce ball.
- The team that scores the points in a round tosses the pallino for the next round and plays their bocce ball first. The first team to15 points wins.