Bocce, also known as Italian Lawn Bowling, is a seven-thousand-year-old game that has its origins in ancient Egypt, Greece and Rome. It is as much fun to play today as it was then!
"Bocce" is a derivation of the Italian "boccia," which means "bowl." The objective of the game is to throw the bocce balls closer to the Pallino (or Jack), than your opponent. The first team to reach 12 points wins the game (must win by 2 points). A match typically consists of 3 rounds, and from two to eight players.
Bocce is reputed to be the world's third most popular sport!
The bocce court is located outside of the clubhouse. Come and get your bocce on!
Rules are enforced in accordance with the Bocce Ball National Standards.
Equipment: A set of eight large bocce balls (half of which are of a different color or pattern), and a smaller "object ball" called a pallino.
Playing Surface: The Bocce court is a flat, level playing surface.
Players: Two teams, with each team having one, two or four players.
One player team - each player throws four balls.
Two player team - each player throws two balls.
Four player team - each player throws one ball.
Objective:
For one team to land its bocce balls as close as possible to the pallino. Bocce Ball consists of a predetermined number of frames. Each frame is complete once all balls have been thrown and all points have been awarded. Bocce Ball can be played by two, four, or eight players on two teams (one, two, or four players per team). Each team throws four balls per frame.
How to Play
Choose a player to throw the pallino. After the pallino is thrown, the same player will throw the first bocce ball. After the first player has thrown the first bocce ball, that player is considered "inside" because his or her ball is closer to the pallino than any of the competitor's balls. All other players are considered "outside." Whenever a player is considered "inside," he or she will forfeit the next turn throwing bocce balls. All "outside" players will take turns throwing their bocce balls until one of their balls lands closer to the pallino than the "inside" player.
Scoring
After all players have thrown their bocce balls, the player who is "inside" will be awarded points. One point will be awarded to this player for every ball that is closer to the pallino than his or her closest competitor's ball. After the points are awarded, a frame is completed. A new frame begins by electing a new player to throw the pallino and to throw the first bocce ball. A game is won when a player reaches a set number of points. Teams play as many frames as necessary until a player reaches this point level.