THE GAME OF BOCCE

Bocce is played with eight large balls-and one smaller target or object ball called the pallino or jack. There are 4 balls to a side, or team, and they are made in two colors to distinguish the balls of one team from the 4 balls of the opposing team.

A coin toss will determine which team has the pallino and which color bails that team selects.

The pallino is thrown out by a member of the team having won the coin toss to start the game. The same player throwing the pallino must deliver the first bocce ball. The opposing team will then deliver their bocce balls until the point is taken or they have exhausted their 4 balls. This “nearest ball” rule governs the sequence of thrown balls. The side whose bocce is the closest to the pallino is called the “in” ball and the opposing side the “out” ball. Whenever a team gets “in” it steps aside and allows the “out” team to bowl.

A team has the option of rolling, throwing, bouncing, banking, etc. its ball down the court provided it does not go out-of-bounds or the player does not violate the foul markers. A player also has the option of “spocking” or hitting out any ball in play in trying to obtain a point, or decreasing the opposing team’s points.

At the end of each frame (when both teams have exhausted 4 balls each), a designated official under the scrutiny of the captain/or designee of each team, will determine the points scored. Scoring points are all those balls of one team closer to the pallino than the closest ball of the opposing team, which can be determined by viewing or by mechanical measurement.

In the event that the two balls closest to the pallino belong to opposing teams and are tied, no points will be awarded, and the pallino returns to the team which delivered it. Only balls which are distinguishably closer to the pallino than any opponent’s balls may be awarded points.

DEFINITIONS

Live Ball-Any ball in play or waiting to be thrown is considered a live ball.

Dead Ball-Any ball that has been disqualified. A ball may be disqualified if:
(a) it is the result of a penalty
(b) it has gone out of the court
(c) it has come in contact with a person, object or thing which is out of the court
(d) it hits the top of the court boards

Pallino-small object ball sometimes called cue ball, jack, etc.

Spock-A throw which is thrown with sufficient velocity that it would hit the back board if it missed the target. The spock line may be used to determine a foul.

Bank Shot-A ball which is played off either the side boards or back board.

Pointing-A ball thrown or rolled to obtain a point close to pallino. The roll line must be used to determine a foul.

Frame-The period in the game in which balls are played from one side of the court to the other and points awarded.

Thank you to: http://www.centralconnector.com/GAMES/bocce.html, who retrieved this information directly from:

Sportcraft’s Official Rule book for 23 games copyright 1985,

General Sportcraft Co., Ltd. Bergenfield, NJ 07621