BOCCE BALL

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


 

 

 

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

CONTENTS                                                                           PAGES

 

BOCCE BALL                                                                        3-6

Introduction                                                                  3

History                                                                         3

How It Is Played                                                          3-4

The Courts                                                                   4         

                Rules                                                                            4-6

            Strategies                                                                     6

 

BOCCE BALL FOR DISABLED ATHLETES                        7-10

            Boccia                                                                          7

The Game                                                                    7

            The Court                                                                     7         

            The Balls                                                                      8

            Chutes And Ramps                                                       8         

            Precision Boccia                                                           8         

            Special Olympics Boccia                                              8

            Divisions Of Play                                                          9

            Boccia World Rankings                                                10

 

SETTING UP A COMPETITION                                           11

            Ladder Draw                                                               

            Elimination Draw                                                         

 

DEFINITIONS                                                                        12

 

EQUIPMENT SUPPLIERS                                                     13

            On Line                                                                       

            Boccia Sets

            Locally

 

FACILITIES                                                                            14

            Official

            At School

            Getting Creative

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

BOCCE BALL

INTRODUCTION

 

Since the beginning of time people have enjoyed throwing things!  Evidently this urge has continued to thrive and is supported by the number of people playing Bocce Ball around the world.  Many people argue that Bocce Ball is one of the oldest sports in history and through its’ variations such as Lawn Bowling and Petanque it has become the 3rd most played sport in the world.  Called the great equalizer of sports, Bocce Ball is one of very few sports that can be played on a coed basis or by people with or without disabilities.  Whether in a recreational or competitive setting Bocce Ball has something for everyone.  So, stop fighting the urge to throw something and grab a ball, it is time to play Bocce!!

  

HISTORY

 

Bocce is the Italian version of lawn bowling. The earliest known form of the sport was a game played in the Italian Alps, early in the Christian Era, in which stones were tossed at a target stone--not necessarily to hit it, but to land as close as possible to it.  This was a major amusement for Roman soldiers, who spread it through the empire. Balls were eventually substituted for the stones and they were usually rolled rather than tossed.

 

Three distinct types of Lawn Bowling developed through the centuries. In France, the game was known as Boules, from the Classical Latin word for ball. A different form of the sport became known in England as "Lawn Bowls". Bocce, also known as Boccia, derived its name from the Vulgar Latin word for ball, bottia.

 

Italian immigrants brought Bocce to the United States. Its original centers of popularity were New York City and San Francisco because of their large Italian-American populations.

The U. S. Bocce Federation says there are about 1 million players in the United States.

 

HOW IT IS PLAYED

While lawn bowling is usually a semi-rural sport, requiring a pretty good-sized expanse of grass, Bocce became an urban sport in Italy, often played on city streets. As a result, the Bocce court has a rather hard surface of packed dirt or gravel and it's rectangular, 60 to 80 feet long and 12 feet wide. A wooden barrier, 4 1/2 inches high, surrounds the court.

 

There can be one, two, or four players per side. Each side has four balls. A player, chosen by lot, rolls a small ball, the pallina, which becomes the target. That player then rolls a second ball, attempting to get as close to the pallina as possible.  The second side bowls until one of its balls is closer to the pallina than the ball rolled by the first player, or until all four balls have been used. The first side then takes its turn.  When both sides have bowled all of their balls, the side with the ball closest to the pallina gets a point. A point is also awarded for any other ball from that side that is closer to the pallina than any ball rolled by the opponents. Thus, only one side can score in a frame, and that side can get up to 4 points. The first side to score 16 points wins.

 

 

THE COURTS

 

For lawn bowling, you don't really use a court. Just choose any space of lawn that's large and reasonably level. Then step off about 20 adult paces and use that as a good playing distance. For Bocce:

 

1.   Backstops are placed 60 to 80 feet apart.

2.   Backstops are 12 feet wide with sides 4 feet long.

3.   Backstops and sides must be at least 4 1/2 inches high.

4.   A foul line is marked out 10 feet from each backstop.

5.   Court surface between backstops can be stone-dust, dirt, clay, grass, or artificial surface.

 

    4 ft

   +----      |                                 |      ----+

   |          |                                 |          |

   |          |                                 |          |

12 |          |                                 |          |

   |          |                                 |          |

ft |          |                                 |          |

   |          |                                 |          |

   |          |                                 |          |

   +----      |                                 |      ----+

   <---------->

       10 ft

   <------------------------- 60 ft ----------------------->

 

 

RULES

1. Composition balls will be used. Sizes suggested are 107 to 114 millimeters in diameter, with weights between 920 and 1100 grams.
2. The toss of the coin will decide the starting team and the winner will also choose the color of the balls. {The winners of the coin toss get control of the pallino and their choice of the color of balls - some versions of open rules give the winner of the toss the choice of first toss of pallino or the color of balls.}
3. The starting team must toss the "pallino" to a valid position past the center or "in play" line, but not coming to rest on the backboard. It must settle at least 12 inches from the sideboard. If, after three attempts, the starting team fails to validly place it, the opposing team tosses the pallino. If the opposing team fails in the first attempt, the referee will place the pallino in a valid position. The first Bocce ball is rolled by the player who originally tossed the pallino.
4. The pallino remains in play unless it is knocked out of the court or in front of the center or "in play" line, then the frame is ended and play resumes from the opposite end. The same team tosses the pallino. {The team that tossed the pallino for the canceled frame tosses it again, restarting from the opposite end.}
5. If the first thrown ball of the starting team touches the backboard without first hitting the pallino, the ball is out of play and that team must roll again until the initial point is established.
6. A thrown ball that doesn't touch another ball and returns from the backboard into the field of play and strikes another ball and/or the pallino is out of play. The pallino and/or the other balls are returned to their approximate original positions. If a ball strikes the backboard causing a ball or balls resting on the backboard to move, the ball(s) are returned to their approximate original positions. {This is a common occurrence when previously played balls are in contact with the swing board.}
7. The players shall not step over the foul line before releasing the pallino or their ball.
8. The tournament host will decide on the number of points required to win a match.
9. All players must remain outside the court while the opposing team is rolling.
10. In a tournament game when substitutes are allowed, a team may make one substitution from their roster per game. This substitution may take place at any time in a game. Once a player has been removed from a game, the player cannot reenter that same game.
11. Volo shooting is lofting the ball in the air beyond the center or "in play" line of the court. Volo shooting is only allowed on courts where the in play line for first toss of pallino is at least 38 feet from the backboard. {WBA reasons that, with a longer play area, volo attempts are not easy targets as they are on the shorter courts. Note that to qualify as a volo, the attempt must first land past the center line.}
12. In the case of a tie between two balls, the prevailing (or first ball) has to be beaten, not tied. If the frame ends in a tie, no points are awarded and play resumes from the opposite end of the court with the same team tossing the pallino.
13. If a player rolls the wrong colored ball, simply replace it with the correct color when the ball comes to rest.
14. If a player rolls out of turn, the opposing team may leave everything, including the thrown ball, exactly as is or may return any moved balls to their approximate positions and remove the thrown ball. {This option of accepting the play, or returning displaced balls to their original positions and "killing" the illegally thrown ball, is Bocce's rule of advantage. The option goes to the opponents of the team that commits the infraction.}
15. If an individual delivers more than his allotted number of balls, the opposing team may accept the result of the illegal roll, or remove the illegal ball and return any scattered balls to their original positions. {Bocce's rule of advantage applies.}
16. Team captains may request measurement of any ball at any time.
17. Any and all disputes will be resolved by the tournament committee.
18. Winning Score - The number of points needed to win a game varies with the type of game being played. Final games go to 15 points and all preliminary rounds go to 12 points. A game is won when a side or team reaches: o 15 points in a four-player team where one ball is delivered per player o 12 points in a four-player team where two players stationed at each end of the court deliver two balls each o 12 points in a two-player game where each player delivers four balls o 12 points in a one-player game where one player delivers four balls

STATEGIES

 

Here are some strategies that can be employed by the advanced Bocce player:

 

1.   Spot your ball directly in front of the pallina. Although this often invites a bomb (see next), it makes it difficult for your opponent to get around your ball and be closer.

2.   "Spocking" or bombing. This involves intentionally knocking your opponent's ball away from the pallina. If this is done with skill, you can end up with your ball closest to the pallina while your opponent's ball rolls away.

3.   You can also spock the pallina if you wish to move it away from your opponent's ball and against the other three balls that you've carefully positioned in previous rolls.

4.   Sometimes you have to sacrifice. If an opponent's ball is in a solid position against the pallina, you can spock it out of contention, taking your ball with it. The starting team must now re-establish the point ball which (hopefully) will be in a better position for you to get inside.

5.   If you're playing on a Bocce court with backstops and sides, all kinds of bank shots are possible, making ball placement more critical. Ideally, you knock the pallina into a corner and surround it with your balls.

 



 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

BOCCE BALL FOR DISABLED ATHLETES

 

BOCCIA

 

Boccia (pronounced Botcha)is the term given to the variation of Bocce Ball developed for athletes with disabilities.  The sport was first introduced to North American athletes by The United States Cerebral Palsy Athletic Association and by 1991 the Special Olympics had introduced Boccia as an official event. 

 

The sport has gained an enormous amount of support from the Special Olympics and disabled athletes because of it’s many benefits.  The sport can be played individually or in teams, (3 vs. 3) it is one of the few sports that can offer coed competition, and disabled players can play with or without an assistive ramp or chute.  Over the years disabled athletes have been able to master this sport despite the high level of skill and accuracy involved.

 

THE GAME

 

Boccia can be played either indoors or outdoors and is very similar to the Italian game of Bocce Ball or Lawn Bowling.   A white target ball (Pallina) is thrown on the court by one of the players, and opponents take turns attempting to get their game balls as close to the target balls as possible.  Once all the game balls have been thrown, points are awarded by the referee according to the placement of game balls nearest the target.  A player or team gets one point for each ball that is closer than their opponents closest ball.  Individual Boccia is played with six balls per player for four rounds, while team Boccia is played using two balls per player for six rounds.  If a score is tied at the end of the game a tie breaker end is played.

 

THE COURT

 

A Boccia court for athletes with cerebral palsy consists of two areas, the players’ boxes and the playing area.  The playing area also includes two parts, the non valid target area and the valid target area.  The players’ boxes consist of six equal sized boxes.  Each player must stay completely within his or her box during play.

 

                                           10.0 m                                                                     3.0 m

 


                                                                                                Non

                                                                                                Valid

                                                                                                                       

                                                                                                                        Players’

            Valid Target Area                                                                                   Area

                                                                                                Target

                                                                                                 Area

THE BALLS

 

Balls are hand made of leather and are slightly smaller than a baseball.  The balls are soft enough to be grasped by individuals with extreme fine motor difficulty, but still hard enough to roll.

 

CHUTES AND RAMPS

 

As in many sports, adapted equipment allows many individuals to compete who might otherwise be unable to compete.  Assistive devices like chutes or ramps are quite common in the game of Boccia.  The type and variety of chutes is limited only by the imagination of the builder.  An individuals ability to effectively use a chute depends on several factors, including the type of ramp release mechanism used and the need for additional assistance.   The most popular chute is made of plastic or aluminum pipe and can be left whole or cut down the middle.  A more complicated device includes a swivel base, height adjustments that control speed and distance, and a release lever.

 

Several factors should be considered when deciding whether to use a chute, including the ability to grasp the ball, the ability to release the ball during the throw, and the ability to place the ball accurately on all areas of the playing court.  One should also not overlook use of the lower extremities.  Often those with little or no functional use of their upper extremities possess remarkable coordination in their feet.

 

PRECISION BOCCIA

 

A Canadian version of the game called Precision Boccia, changes the objective from getting balls close to the white target ball to getting balls within designated areas of the court.  These separate areas within the standard Boccia court are given different point values.  Players are required to make two attempts at each area, with the player scoring the most points being declared the winner.

 

SPECIAL OLYMPICS BOCCIA

 

Boccia was first played at the Special Olympics in Minneapolis in 1991 as a Demonstration Sport. In its’ first appearance at the Paralympic games in Barcelona, 42 athletes from 11 different delegations took part.

 

The objective is similar to Boccia, however the court and the balls are slightly different.  Competitors stand at opposite ends of long lanes and take turn throwing.  The balls used are made of wood rather than the leather balls used in most versions of Boccia.

 

 

 

 

 

 

DIVISIONS OF PLAY

 

There are six divisions of play. Each division is played by competitors of either sex. The divisions are :  Individual BC .1, Individual BC .2, Individual BC .3, Individual BC .4.

            Pairs - for players classified as BC.3.

            Team - for players classified as BC.1. and BC.2.

 

Individual BC.1 - is played by players classified within the CP-ISRA Classification system as CP.1. or CP.2.(L). Players may be assisted by one aide, who must remain seated at least 2 meters behind the playing box in a designated area. This aide may only come forward and assist if visibly requested by the player. These aides perform tasks such as :  adjust or stabilize the playing chair, pass a ball to the player…

 

Individual BC.2 - is played by players classified within the CP-ISRA Classification system as CP.2.(U). Players are not eligible for assistance by an aide.

 

Individual BC.3 (players using an assistive device) - is played by players with a very severe locomotor dysfunction in all four extremities of a cerebral or non-cerebral origin. Players will not functionally propel and will be dependent on assistance or an electric wheelchair. Players will have no sustained grasp or release action, but may have arm movement but have insufficient functional range of movement to consistently propel a Boccia ball into court. Each player is allowed to be assisted by an aide, who will remain in the players box, but who must keep his/her back to court, and eyes averted from play.

 

Individual BC.4 - is played by players with a severe locomotor dysfunction of all four extremities combined with and poor dynamic trunk control, with non-cerebral origin or degenerative cerebral origin. The player will be able to demonstrate sufficient dexterity to manipulate and throw a Boccia ball consistently into court. Poor grasp and release will be evident, combined with poor timing of release and follow through. Lack of control over smoothness and speed of movement and synchronization may also be observable. Players are not eligible for assistance by an aide.

 

Pairs - Competitors must be classified as eligible to play in the individual BC.3. division. Each player may be assisted by an aide as determined in rules relating to individual play. The rules for play in this section are the same as for team competition except that boxes 2-5 being used in appropriate sequence. The number of ends will be four (4).

 

Team - Competitors must be classified as eligible to play in the individual BC.1. or BC.2.  A team must include at least one BC.1. player, A player who uses an Assistive Device is not eligible as a member of a team.  Each team is allowed one (1) aide who must abide by the rules laid down under individual BC.1.

 

 

 

 

INTERNATIONAL BOCCIA COMMISSION WORLD RANKINGS 21-06-2001

  

RANK                        PLAYER                                 COUNTRY                 POINTS

     1                  TEAM SPAIN                        SPAIN                         47,50

     2                  TEAM PORTUGAL               PORTUGAL                39,50

     3                  TEAM KOREA                      KOREA                       35,50

     4                  TEAM IRELAND                   IRELAND                   25,50

     5                 TEAM ENGLAND                 ENGLAND                 20,50

     6                 TEAM NORWAY                  NORWAY                  20,50

     7                  TEAM AUSTRIA                   AUSTRIA                    20,50

     8                 TEAM NEW ZEALAND       NEW ZELAND           19,50

     9                 TEAM HONG-KONG           HONG-KONG           15,00

    10                 TEAM DENMARK                DENMARK                11,50

    11                 TEAM CANADA                 CANADA                   10,00

    12                 TEAM JAPAN                       JAPAN                        9,50

    13                TEAM BELGIUM                  BELGIUM                   9,50

    14                 TEAM SCOTLAND             SCOTLAND               8,50

    15                 TEAM ARGENTINA             ARGENTINA 8,00

    16                 TEAM USA                            USA                            8,00

    17                 TEAM SWEDEN                   SWEDEN                    6,50

    18                 TEAM CHINA                       CHINA                        6,00

    19                 TEAM GREAT BRITAIN      GREAT BRITAIN       6,00

    20                 TEAM AUSTRALIA AUSTRALIA               5,50

    21                 TEAM CZECH REPUBLIC   CZECH REPUBLIC    4,00

    22                TEAM MALAYSIA               MALAYSIA                3,00

    23                 TEAM HUNGARY                HUNGARY                 3,00

    24                 TEAM KUWAIT                    KUWAIT                    2,50

    25                 TEAM BRAZIL                      BRAZIL                       1,50

    26                 TEAM CHINESE TAIPEI      CHINESE TAIPEI       1,00

    27                 TEAM FINLAND                  FINLAND                   1,00

    28                 TEAM HOLLAND                 HOLLAND                 1,00

    29                 TEAM MEXICO                    MEXICO                     1,00

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SETTING UP A COMPETITION

 

Although Bocce is played mostly in a recreational setting is important to know how to set up a competition when necessary.

 

The two best methods are the “Ladder Draw” and the “Elimination Draw”

 

LADDER DRAW

 

The ladder draw is arranged by either seeding all of the competitors or randomly selecting their starting position.  After the draw has been seeded games are decided based on challenges.  A competitor may challenge another competitor higher in the ladder than him/her.  If the challenger is victorious than the two competitors switch places on the ladder.  The champion is the competitor who can reach the top rung of the ladder and defend their position.

 

Rank 1

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


Rank 5

 

 

ELIMINATION DRAW

 

In the elimination draw competitors are arranged by seeding or by random selection.  The winner of each match moves forward in the draw while the loser moves backwards through the draw.

 


                                                                        1

 

                                                5                                              6

                                                                        2

                                                                       

11                                                                                                                                      12 

                        9                                                                                              10

                                                                        3

 

                                                7                                              8

                                                                        4

 

DEFINITIONS

 

ASSISTIVE DEVICE: is the term used to describe an aid to playing the game used by disabled players, for example a ramp or chute. The term "assistive device" includes all parts of the device, whether permanently attached or not.

 

BALL: one of the red or blue balls.

 

BOCCIA: a variation of Bocce Ball developed for athletes with disabilities.

 

COURT: the playing area as enclosed by the boundary lines. This includes the playing boxes

 

DEAD BALL: is a ball which has gone out of court after it has been thrown, a ball which has been removed from the court by the referee following a violation, or a ball which has not been thrown after a side's time has expired.

 

DISRUPTED END: is when balls are moved outside the normal order of play, either accidentally or deliberately.

 

END: is one section of a match when the jack ball and all the balls have been played by two sides.

 

JACK BALL: the white target ball, pallina.

 

MATCH: a competition between two sides when a specified number of ends are played.

 

PALLINA: the white target ball, Jack Ball.

 

SIDE: in individual Bocce Ball, a side is defined as one (1) single competitor. In team and pairs Bocce Ball, a side is defined as three (3) and two (2) members, respectively, of the team as a single unit.

 

SPOCKING:  this is a strategy where you intentionally knock the opponents ball away from the pallina or the pallina away from the opponents ball.

 

THROW: is the term used for propelling a ball onto court. It includes throwing, kicking or releasing a ball when using an assistive device.

 

VIOLATION: is any action assumed by a player, side, substitute, aide or coach which is against the rules of the game.

 

VOLO SHOOTING:  is a shot in which the ball is lofted in the air with the intention of landing on or behind the opponents ball.

 

EQUIPMENT SUPPLIERS

 

SETS ON LINE

 

www.playaboule.com

This on-line store has family, competition and deluxe sets ranging from $60-$95 U.S. as well as a variety of Bocce Ball extras such as bags and custom engraving.

 

 

BOCCIA SETS (for athletes with cerebral palsy)

 

Cerebral Palsy Sports Association of British Columbia

Suite 300-8356 120th Street

Surrey, British Columbia

Canada, V3W3N4

 

United States Cerebral Palsy Athletic Association

Boccia Sport Technical Officer

3500 West 10th

Topeka, KS 6

United States, 6604     

 

LOCAL SUPPLIERS

 

Canadian Tire

8505 Tecumseh Rd E

Windsor, ON

-offer 3 sets of various quality priced at $99, $129and $169 Can.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

FACILITIES

 

OFFICIAL COURTS 

 

Most cities have both indoor and outdoor Bocce courts available it is just a matter of taking the time to find them.

 

Example 

Ciociaro Club

3745 North Talbot

Windsor, ON

 

AT SCHOOL

 

The game of Bocce can be played wherever there is a flat surface.  You could play using the open court concept of Lawn Bowling either in the gym or outdoors on the field or tarmac.  The game of Bocce could also be played on the gym floor or school field by using school benches (laid flat) as sidelines and lines on the floor or field as in-play and center lines.

 

GETTING CREATIVE

 

The game of Bocce Ball can even be played in areas where no flat ground can be found by just being creative.  An old camping favorite called “Obstacle Bocce” can be played nearly anywhere and the obstacles like, hills, roots, tree stumps, and rocks only add to the fun and skill of the game.