About Bocce

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What does it take to be the kind of sport that appeals to the sports passion of many civilizations? The following provides an outline of the principles of the sport, the courts, the equipment, and the disciplines.

Game principles

The aim of the game

The aim of the game is to place one’s bocce balls as near as possible to a target ball that is called the jack. The opponent, in turn, attempts to place his/her bocce balls nearer to this jack or to move the bocce balls that prevent him from doing so.

Method of play

At the beginning of the game, the team that has won the jack by casting lots throws it and then plays its first bocce ball. Subsequently, the team that does not hold the point must play until it regains the point by bowling or throwing. When a team has delivered all its bocce balls, the other team plays on and attempts to score further points by bowling, or throwing, if necessary, at the bocce balls in its way. It can also throw at the jack. In this case, the jack must be designated.

Scoring

When the bocce balls have all been played, one team scores a point for each of its bocce balls that are closer to the jack than the closest bocce ball of the opposing team.

Team formation

Teams may be formed in any of the following configurations:

one against one (singles) with four bocce balls to each player,
two against two (doubles) with three bocce balls to each player,
three against three (threes) with two bocce balls to each player,
four against four (fours) with two bocce balls to each player.

The match

Points for the Match and Duration of the Match - Programs and announcements for competition must announce the number of points required to win a match and, when appropriate, the maximum duration of the match.

Figure 9: Game - checking distance

Figure 10: Scoreboard

Figure 11: Bowled delivery steps

The number of points must not be less than 7 and not more than 13.

The maximum duration of each match may not exceed 3 hours. In all cases, the times allotted to matches must allow the competition to finish at a reasonable hour. However, if it becomes absolutely necessary, the Organizing Committee in agreement with the Referee can reduce the number of points and the duration. The number of points will never be less than 7 and the duration never less than one hour.

Figure 12: Bowled delivery steps

The winning team

The team which wins the match is one which:

First reaches the specified score within the maximum time allowed when such time is per-determined, or
Has the higher score at the end of regular time.

Figure 13: Clock/Timer

Courts

The bocce court is a rectangular shape. The dimensions are 27.50 m long and 2,50 m-4 m wide; the accepted international standard is 3 m wide.

Figure 14: Bocce court

The court is divided with parallel lines in two 0,50 m back area rectangles, two 2 m rectangles (added rectangles), two 5 m rectangles (validity rectangles for the jack), and one 12,50 m rectangle or central rectangle.

Equipment

The essential equipment used in classic bocce includes:

metal bocce balls,
a jack,
a measure.

Bocce balls

Bocce balls are metallic or synthetic spheres, with a diameter of 90-100 mm and weight of 900 grams to 1200 grams. There are bocce balls with a smaller diameter for children.

Synthetic bocce balls are used as target or obstacle balls for specialized bocce disciplines like precision throw and progressive throw.

Figure 15: Metal bocce balls

The jack

The jack is a wooden sphere with a diameter of 35-37 mm. During a game/match, only one jack is used.

Exception: In the precision throw, the target jack must be white and of synthetic material and the obstacle jack must be red.

Jacks 1

Figure 16: Jacks

Measure 4

The measure

The measure is a metallic L-shaped stick of 50 cm with the end being 5 cm long. Its thickness is 4-6 mm. It is used for measuring the distances from bocce balls and jacks and marking the semicircle, which is 50 cm from either a bocce ball or jack.

Figure 17: Measure

The special equipment

Additionally, there is special equipment for technical bocce disciplines:

For precision throw, one can use a mat 0,75 m wide, 6 m long, and 6 mm thick; white and red target and obstacle synthetic bocce balls that have diameters of 100 mm and 95 mm, respectively; and target and obstacle jacks that have a diameter of 36 mm.,

For progressive throw, one can use a mat 0,75 m wide, 5,20 m long, and 6 mm thick; white target bocce balls that have a diameter of 100 mm.

The referee’s equipment includes the ruler for measuring long distances; a small scale for measuring the weight of bocce balls; and vernier calipers for measuring the diameter of bocce balls.

Bocce sport also has its special clothing and shoes as well as a variety of different sports bags for carrying bocce balls, clothes, shoes, scoreboards, and other equipment.

Progressive throwing mat - w187

Figure 18: Progressive throw mat

Figure 9 Photo Credit: Bocce Federation of France (ffsb.fr - youtube.com)

Figures 10, 13, 15-18 Photo Credit: Bocce manufacturers and distributors (see Equipment Pictures page)

Figures 11, 12, 14 Photo (Drawing) Credit: Federation Internationale de Boules (FIB - fiboules.org)

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