Bocce Court Pro Rules

The game of Bocce is played with eight (8) large bocce balls and one small ball called the 'Pallino'. The object of the game is to roll the bocce ball closest to the pallino.

There are four players per team, with two balls per person. Two players from each team play at each end of the court, alternating between frames.

The Capos (team captains) from both teams will flip a coin to start the match. The winner of the coin flip may choose to either:

• Throw the pallino first, OR
• Choose the color of the balls

Pallino Placement Rules

A player may toss the pallino any distance so long as:

• The pallino passes the centerline of the court
• The pallino does not hit the back wall

The team that originally tossed the pallino throws the first bocce ball. After the first ball is in play, the opposing team will roll until one of their balls is closest to the pallino or they have thrown all of their balls.

The team whose bocce ball is closest to the pallino is called 'Holding' or 'In'. Play continues until both teams have used all of their bocce balls (8 total).

Important Play Rules

Should any bocce ball make contact with the back wall, the bocce ball is considered a dead ball on impact and is removed from play until the end of the frame.

Specific Situations

• Ball resting on pallino/ball touching back wall: If the thrown ball comes to rest on the pallino or another ball that is touching the back wall, that thrown ball remains in play. The ball touching the back wall is removed from play. If the pallino is touching the back wall, it remains in play.
• Dead ball strikes stationary ball: If a bocce ball, after hitting the back wall, strikes a stationary bocce ball, that stationary ball shall be replaced in its original position. The thrown ball is removed from play.
• Dead ball strikes moving ball: If a bocce ball hitting the back wall strikes a moving bocce ball that likely would have hit the back wall, allowing the moving ball to remain in play, that moving ball remains in play when it comes to rest.

Pallino Special Rules

Once the pallino has been put into play, it remains in play even if it hits the back wall. However, if the pallino is knocked out of the court entirely:

• The frame will end immediately
• No points are awarded to either team
• The game will resume from the opposite end of the court
• The same team that tossed the pallino in the previous frame will toss again

Only one team scores in a frame. One point is given for each ball that is closer to the pallino than any ball of the opposing team.

Tie Situations

• If during the game opposing balls are at equal distance from the pallino, the last team to throw will throw again
• If at the end of any frame the closest ball of each team is equal distance from the pallino, the frame ends in a tie and no points are awarded to either team
• The game will resume from the opposite end of the court with the same team tossing the pallino

Measurement Protocol

All measurements will be made from the inside dimension of the bocce ball to the inside dimension of the pallino.

• Only scorekeepers and one representative from each opposing team may be present on the court during measurements
• Both Capos must agree on which team has the point(s) if scorekeepers cannot agree
• If both teams have balls remaining, the team that does not have the closest ball rolls again
• If all balls have been played, points are awarded based on the balls that are actually closest to the pallino

Roster Requirements

• Roster size: No more than 12 people and no less than 6 on a roster
• One team only: A person can only play on ONE league team
• Eligibility: Must play 30% of scheduled league weeks to be eligible for finals and championships
• Minimum team: Two players constitute a team (2 or 3 member team may play throwing only 2 balls per player)
• Age requirement: No minimum age, but no more than half the team may be under 18, and at least one person in every game must be 18 or over

Roster Changes

Additions to team rosters may be made until the designated deadline. Official team rosters become final on their third week of play.

• After the third week, a roster player having played one game is obligated to stay on that team
• If a player chooses to quit, they cannot play for another team that season
• A team may replace player vacancies during the season, except for the last 3 weeks of play
• Any changes must be submitted by the team Capo, in writing, to be valid

Substitutions

Team Captain Responsibilities

Team Capos are responsible for the actions of their players and fans (spectators). If there is any problem with a spectator not involved with any team, both Capos will suspend play and attempt to resolve the problem in a timely fashion.

Court Etiquette

• If a player is standing in the playing half of the court while the opposing team is rolling, and the opposing team requests that the player step aside, that request will be honored
• Only participating players will be on the court while the game is in progress
• Spectators are not allowed on the courts anytime during regulation play

Facility Rules

• Not playgrounds: Courts are not to be used as playgrounds. Bicycles, skateboards, scooters and/or non-bocce related activities are prohibited on or around the courts
• Cleanliness: All trash and litter is to be discarded in the appropriate containers
• No smoking: Per Ordinance No. 3786
• Pet policy: All animals must be on a leash at all times (Ordinance No. 3796)
• Beverages: All beverages must be in non-glass containers, per Park rules

Game Start Time

Official game start time is 5:30 PM

If a team playing in league forfeits six (6) games, they will be dropped from league play and the team Capo will be notified by mail. If a team is dropped from league play because of forfeits and wishes to play in the future, they must return as a 'new' team the following year.

Rescheduling & Rainouts

Any game that is cancelled or halted due to weather or darkness should be rescheduled by agreement and noted on the score sheet by both team Capos.

• A rescheduled match will continue from the point at which it was stopped
• The game must be made up within 4 weeks of the initial game night

Disputes & Protests

The teams will referee their own game. One member agreed to by both Capos will decide any dispute which cannot be resolved by the team capos.