Bocce Ball, commonly called bocci or boccie, is a relaxing strategy game with a long history. Although it may have only been popular in Ancient Egypt, bocce has started to be played in Roman times and the Augustan Empire. The game became popular with many Italian immigrants in the 20th century. Now Bocce is a relaxing, competitive way to spend time outside with friends.
Step
Part 1 of 3: Getting Started
Step 1. Prepare a set of bocce balls
A standard bocce ball set consists of 8 colored balls – 4 balls of each color, usually green and red – and one smaller ball, commonly called a jack or pallino.
- Different skills are often associated with different ball sizes. Small balls are more commonly used by beginners and children, and large ones for professionals. Standard bocce balls generally have a diameter of about 100 mm and weigh about 1 kg.
- A standard set of bocce balls sells for around IDR 300,000. However, if you want to buy a professional level bocce ball, the price can exceed IDR 1,000,000.
Step 2. Choose your team
The bocce ball can be played by 2 opposing single players, or two teams of two, three, or four players. Teams of 5 players are not recommended, because the ball is less than the number of people so not all players have many chances.
Step 3. Form your playground, which is called the “arena”
If you don't have a bocce arena, you can always play on a large court, although an arena is preferable. The standard arena size for playing bocce is 4 m wide and a maximum length of 27.5 m, although any rectangular arena can be used as long as it is 4 x 27.5 m.
- The standardized bocce arena has a fence next to the arena. Usually the fence is made a maximum of 20 cm in height.
- Form a foul line, if not already awarded, in which the player must not set foot when throwing the ball.
- Some players choose to hit the ball on a peg in the center of the arena. This is the point where the jack or pallino must be crossed when it is thrown to start play. This is a variation on how to play bocce, although it's not standard.
Part 2 of 3: Play
Step 1. Toss a coin or randomly choose the team that rolls the jack first
There is no influence who plays first, because the teams will take turns throwing jacks at the beginning of each round.
Step 2. Throw the jack into the designated area
The team that loses the coin toss or is randomly selected chooses two opportunities to throw the jack into the 5 m zone, up to 2.5 m from the end of the rink. If the team that threw the first fails, then the second team may throw the jack.
- An alternative rule says that the jack only needs to pass the regulation pin in the center of the arena.
- If you're not playing bocce in the arena, you can throw the jack anywhere, as long as it's far enough from the player so that the game doesn't get too easy.
Step 3. After the jack is successfully thrown, throw the first bocce ball
The team that threw the jack is also responsible for throwing the bocce ball. The goal is to get the bocce ball as close to the jack as possible. The player who rolls the bocce ball must stand behind the designated line, usually 10 feet or 3 m above the starting line.
There are several ways to throw a bocce ball. The most common is to throw from the bottom, with your hands holding the bottom of the ball, and either toss up or toss the ball towards the ground. Some, choose to throw the ball with the hand up, and throw the same way with the hand down
Step 4. Let the second team throw their ball
Teams that haven't played have a chance now. One player from their team must throw the ball as close to the jack as possible.
Step 5. Decide which team goes to throw the rest of the ball
The team farthest from the jack gets the ball and must throw the closer to the jack. (Note: International rules always give the team the furthest distance from the jack than the rules here.)
- It's normal if when throwing bocce hit by a jack. The effect is to have to reset the jack so that it can be used again
- If the ball hits the jack it is usually called a “ciuma” or “baci”. This throw gets 2 points if the bocce still touches the jack until the end of the half.
Step 6. Give a chance to the team that has not finished throwing the ball
At the end of the round, 8 bocce balls must be around the jack.
Part 3 of 3: Counting Points and Continuing the Game
Step 1. Measure the distance of each team's ball from the jack
When all is done, the team that scores points is the one closest to the jack. This team will get one or more points, depending on the position of each ball, and the other team gets no points.
Step 2. Score one point from each ball of the winning team that is closer to the opponent's ball
Depending on the rules you use, the ball that hits or "kisses" the jack until the end of the game gets two points instead of one.
If the distance between the balls of the two teams is the same, neither team gets a point, and starts a new round
Step 3. Switch ends of the bocce arena and play a new round
At the end of the round, count the points. Start a new chapter in the opposite direction.
Step 4. Continue playing until the team points reach 12
Or play to 15 or 21 points.
