Bocce is considered one the world’s oldest sport, a sport known to revive the body and mind, and next to soccer, the most popular game in the world. In early times, Romans would use coconuts to play this legendary ball sport and later used olive wood to carve bocce balls.
Now days, bocce is a well known family or professional game that can be played in many different places. Play in your backyard, on the beach, or on professional courts with a Bocce league. No matter the area this game is fun for the whole family.
Rules of the Game
Bocce uses a “court,” “alley,” or “rink” approximately 18.3 meters long by 2.4 meters wide (60 feet by 8 feet). There are foul areas at each end of the court. The small target ball, the pallino, is then tossed from one end and must land at least 1 ¼ meters (5 feet) beyond center. Each player then aims to throw his bowl, which is heavier than the pallino, as close as possible to the target. This is usually done after a walk-up of several steps within the foul area. The throw is complicated by variations on the way the target is approached, according to regional practices. Competitors comprise two players with two shots each or teams of 3 to 6 people using 4 shots each. If a bowl displaces others already in place it is disqualified. The winner of a game is the first to score 9-15 points in pairs, or 9-18 in a team competition.
