How to Play Bocce Ball
Virtually anyone can play Bocce ball, regardless of age or athletic ability.
Bocce ball is one of the most-played sports worldwide, competing with soccer and golf. The sport’s versatility accounts for its popularity. Virtually anyone can play Bocce ball, regardless of age or athletic ability.
The sport’s simple rules are another major contributing factor to its popularity. Here’s how to play Bocce ball and join the millions of Americans enjoying this activity:
Bocce ball requirements
To play Bocce ball, sports enthusiasts will need the following elements:
Eight 3.54-inch Bocce balls in red, green, blue, and yellow (two of each color)
One 2-inch white Pallino ball, also known as Jack
A Bocce ball court with distance markers
Bocce ball objective
Bocce ball has a simple objective. Players must throw their Bocce balls closer to the Pallino ball than their opponents. The winner is the first team to score 12 points, provided they’ve secured a two-point difference. A Bocce ball match typically consists of three rounds.
Bocce ball rules
Bocce ball rules differ slightly depending on whether one plays the game on a court. While people can play Bocce ball wherever they find a suitable surface, playing on a dedicated court elevates the game to a new level.
Here’s how to play Bocce ball on a court:
Players establish two teams and assign four balls to each. The teams can consist of one, two, or four players so that there is an equal distribution of the balls.
Players toss a coin to determine which team throws the Pallino ball first. One throws this ball underhand from behind the foul line. Placing the ball in the correct spot means it must land across the center line without touching the backboard. If the first thrower fails to accomplish this, the second team gets to throw.
Once the Pallino ball is in play, the players can knock it anywhere on the court except back over the center line. They also shouldn’t knock it out of the court.
The initial Pallino thrower throws the first Bocce ball, again underhand and from behind the foul line. Players can throw the Bocce balls beyond the pointing foul line. However, they won’t receive any points in this case. Such a throw serves only to hit the opponent’s balls to get them away from the Pallino ball.
After the players throw all eight balls, they calculate the points. Each Bocce ball that lands closer to the Pallino ball than the opponent’s ball receives one point. A Bocce ball touching the Pallino receives two points. This occurrence is known as a “baci,” meaning kiss in Italian.
Install a Bocce ball court
A Bocce ball game can offer endless entertainment for all household members. To maximize the fun, homeowners can consider installing a Bocce court in their backyard. A reputable court construction company will oversee this process from start to finish, including the court design, installation, and service. Furthermore, homeowners can work with professionals to modify the court’s dimensions and ensure it fits their budget.
CourtMaster Sports specializes in construction, renovation, resurfacing and repair of tennis courts, pickleball courts, basketball courts, and more.
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