Bocce is a game of skill and strategy.  The object is for one team to get as many of their balls (boccia) closer to the pallina (the smallest ball) than the opposing team's closest ball.  There maybe be anywhere from two to four to eight players on a team.  Each player must take turns rolling (lagging) the ball towards the pallina ball, which has already been thrown onto the field.  The players are given points for the balls rolled closest to the pallina ball.  Players may also throw on the fly (volo), striking the ball to move the point ball.  Balls, including the pallina, may also be displaced by the balls of other players.

—Special Olympics International National Governing Body

International Bocce Association (IBA)
rules.boccestandardsassociation.org
Venue Coordinator: Katie Callaghan Venue Assistant: Maura Kirk
Sports Director: Dave Fusco
Location: The Shipley School  Directions

Events

Doubles (2 per team)

Attire

Awards

Equipment

Facilities

Rules — Download the Special Olympics Official Bocce Rules

A.  Court and Equipment

1. Official league and tournament ball sizes may be from 107 mm (4.20”) to 110 mm (4.33”).
2. Courts are 12’ x 60’ with 3” end walls.
3. Courts will consist of indoor tennis court with an astro-turf cover and PVC piping frames.
4. Half Court Marker – minimum distance is played at the start of the frame.  During the course of play the position of the pallina may change as a result of normal play; however, the pallina may never come to rest closer than the half court marker (30-foot line) or the frame is considered dead.

B.  Divisioning

1. Preliminary rounds will consist of a skill assessment.  Each team will be given two skills to    complete.  The scores will be totaled and teams will be divisioned accordingly.  However, bocce individual skills is not an official event.  Therefore, awards will not be given.  Skills events are:

   a. Throwing the pallina

   b. Spocking

C.   Format

1. Pool play will be used with medal rounds if time permits.

1. The “in” team is the team who has been declared by the official to have position closest to the pallina.
2. The “out” team will continue to roll their balls until they have established “in” position or until they have exhausted their balls.
3. Balls may be rolled, tossed, bounced, banked, etc. They may also “spock” or hit opponents’ balls to try to gain position or push opponents “out.”
4. A player can grip the ball by placing his or her hand over or under the ball.  As long as the ball delivered is of an underhand style.  An underhand delivery is defined as releasing the ball below the waist.
5. Points are given to the team who has established the “in” position by the end of the frame.  That team is also given an additional point for every one of their balls that is closer to the pallina than their opponents’ balls.
6. Team members will alternate turns.
7. The team who wins a frame will start the next frame by tossing the pallina and their first ball.
8. Players may not cross the foul line with any part of their foot or by any apparatus used by an athlete such as a wheelchair, cane etc. during the release of the bocce ball.  The ball is declared dead if the ball comes in contact with other balls or the pallina.  The referee will put them as close as possible to their original position.
9. Players who play more than his number of balls – When a player rolls an extra ball during a frame, the ball in question is declared dead.  If the ball comes in contact with other balls or the pallina, the referee will put them as close as possible to their original positions.
10. Illegal Movement of an Opponent’s ball –

    a)   If, after all eight balls have been thrown, a player moves one or more of his or her opponents’ ball/s, the opponents’ ball/s that were moved will be awarded one point each and play continues.

    b)   If a player moves one or more of his or her opponents’ balls, and there are remaining un-played balls, the referee will place the balls as close to their original position and play will continue.

11. Interference With a Ball in Motion –

    a)   By one’s own team – When a player interferes with his or her team’s ball in motion, the referee witnessing the foul must declare the ball being thrown dead.

12. No coaching from the sidelines from team coaches and/or spectators.  See Rule #13.
13. Coaches:

    a)   Coaches may coach their athletes during competition at the following times:

    1. Prior to the match
    2. When the athlete is not in the service box

    b)   Coaches/spectators may not:

    1. Call the athletes out of the service box
    2. Enter the service box
    3. Coach from the sideline

    
    c)   Any coach who disrupts the flow of the game will be given a warning.  If the behavior continues the athletes will forfeit that match.

    d)   Volunteers will be provided to assist athletes in and out of the serving box.  Coaches/spectators may not enter the service box.  One warning will be given and if the behavior continues the athletes will forfeit that match.

1. Ties during frame:  The team that rolled last will continue to roll until the tie is broken. 
2. Ties at end of frame:  In the event that the two balls closest to the pallina belong to opposing teams and are tied, no points will be awarded.  The pallina returns to the team that last delivered it.  Play resumes from the end of the court from which the frame was last played.
3. Tournament Ties:  Tie breaking procedures for teams involved in the tie only:

   a)      Head to head (for two-way ties)

   b)      Least points scored against (all games for the teams tied with pool play)

   c)      Point differential (all games for the teams tied within pool play)

   d)      Tie

Tentative Schedule of Events

Sports Rules Committee

• Venue Coordinator: Katie Callaghan
• SOPA Sport Director: Dave Fusco
• Head Coach: TBA
• Alt. Head Coach: TBA