Bocce

History:

Bocce was brought to America by Italian immigrants in the 19th century, and the game is believed to date back to 4000 B.C.  Early versions of the game were believed to have been played in Egypt, Asia Minor, and Rome.  Every region has different rules for the game, but this article will focus on the rules created by the United States Bocce Federation.

Object of the Game:

Two teams comprised of one, two, or four players roll or throw balls at a smaller target ball.  After all balls have been thrown, points are awarded for balls closest to the target ball.

Playing Field:

A bocce court is 13x91 feet (a long narrow rectangle).  A center line divides the court.  A foot line extends 12-15 feet from each end.  The court is framed 10 inch high walls.

Equipment:

Bocce ball- Can be made of any material, 4 1/4 inches in diameter, weighing 2.2 pounds.
Target ball (or pallino)- made of any material, 1 3/8 inches in diameter.
Measuring device- a yardstick or tape measure may be used to measure distances between balls.

Rules:

Each team consists of an even number of players.  Half of each team stands at each end of the court. (two team members at one end, two other team members at opposing end, for instance).

If a player's bocce ball makes contact with the backboard (the two short walls of the rectangle), it is considered dead and is removed from play until the end of the frame.

Throws can be made from a standing position or a running position, but a player cannot step on or over the foot line.

A player is allowed to intentionally displace an opponent's ball.

Play begins with a coin toss.  The winner gets the first toss of the pallino (target ball).  The player has two attempts to toss the pallino past the center line.  If the player fails, the opposing team has two chances to put the pallino in play.  The first bocce ball is thrown by whichever team successfully puts the pallino in play.

If the bocce ball hits the backboard, the team must roll again.  After a successful roll, the player steps back and allows the opposing team to roll a ball.

The team whose bocce ball is closest to the pallino is called the inside team, the other team is the outside team.  Once a team gets inside, it stops rolling and lets the outside team play.  This team continues rolling until it beats the inside team.  This order continues until all bocce balls are thrown.  Each frame is complete when both teams have thrown/rolled all of the balls.

Only the inside team scores.  One point is given for each ball from the inside team that is closer to the pallino than any ball of the outside team.  The first team to score 12 points wins the game.  There can be any number of frames in a match.