Bocce Ball Rules

TEAMS:

  1. A team on the court has 4 players maximum (2 stationed at each end of the court) with each player throwing 2 balls. Players are not allowed to switch ends during a game. A team may have one or more substitute (alternate) players on the team. (For mixed teams a team on the court consists of 2 women maximum and 2 men maximum at all times.)
  2. A team may play a match if only 2 or 3 players are present, however, no player is permitted to throw more than 2 balls (a penalty of 2 balls per missing player). A team without at least two players present at the scheduled game start time forfeits the game with zero points and the opponent is awarded 12 points.
  3. A team must have one player designated as the team captain. The team captain participates in the coin toss and assigns players to their position on the court for the match. The team captain may designate a player as an "end captain" for the end opposite that of the captain. Only the team captain or an end captain may go on the court for measurements.

COIN TOSS:

  1. Begin the match with the flip of a coin between the captains of each team. The winner of the coin flip has the first toss of the pallino and chooses the color of the team's balls.
  2. If playing the same team in the next game, players must switch ends between games and the winning team throws the pallino to start next game (players may be replaced by substitutes, however, a player never plays 2 consecutive games from the same end of the court).   If playing a different team, play starts over with the coin toss and players may be reassigned as desired by the captain.

PALLINO THROW:

  1. The pallino is the first ball put into play and is thrown underhand from behind the pointing foul line. The pallino may be bounced off the sideboards.
  2. The pallino must end up across the center line and at least 12 inches away from the sideboards or backboard without hitting the backboard. If a thrower fails to do this, the throw goes to other team.  If the second throw fails to place the pallino into play, the pallino is placed approximately in the center of the hitting foul line at the opposite end of the court in order to speed up play.
  3. If a player throws pallino and/or first ball when other team should throw the pallino, the balls are returned and the frame starts over.
  4. Once pallino is in play, the pallino can be knocked anywhere on the court except back over the center line or out of the court (frame ends, play resumes at opposite end, and same team throws the pallino).

BOCCE BALL THROWS:

  1. The initial pallino thrower always throws the first bocce ball. All balls are thrown underhand. If the first ball hits the backboard without hitting the pallino first, the ball is removed and the team throws again until they have a ball in play.
  2. Except for hitting, all bocce balls are thrown from behind the pointing foul line. Any ball released behind the pointing foul line is considered a throw for points. Any ball released beyond the pointing foul line and before the hitting foul line is considered a throw to hit or spock other balls. Foul Line rules apply.
  3. Each succeeding ball is thrown by the team that does NOT have the ball closest to the pallino. A team whose ball ties the opponent's closest ball must throw again. The “IN” team only throws if opponents have thrown all 4 balls. Team members can throw in any order.
  4. Hitting or spocking is permitted. A player must first inform the official referee (or their opponent if there is no official referee) that they intend to go past the pointing foul line to deliver a "hit" or "spock" (a hard underhand throw directly at the balls on the court and released before crossing the hitting foul line for the purpose of moving the opponent’s balls or the pallino).  The thrown ball is removed from play if the pallino or another ball is not hit, even if the ball does not hit the backboard.
  5. Balls may be bounced off or played against sideboards.
  6. A ball hitting the backboard without first touching the pallino or another bocce ball is a dead ball and is removed from play. Standard Penalties apply.
  7. If a player throws wrong color ball, it is replaced with a correct color ball after the ball comes to rest.
  8. If a player throws when the other team should throw or throws more than 2 balls, that ball is removed from play. Standard Penalties apply.
  9. If a player throws when other team should throw because of a miscall by the Referee, the ball is returned and the correct player throws. Standard Penalty #2 applies.
  10. If a team's legally thrown ball is interfered with while moving by someone or something not on the playing surface before the throw, the ball is returned to be thrown again. If possible, any balls moved by the throw are reset to their approximate original position. If balls are sufficiently moved that the approximate original positions can not be determined, the frame is replayed. However, if the interference is caused by a team member, the ball is removed from play and the Standard Penalties apply.
  11. If a team's legally thrown ball is moved (accidentally or intentionally) from its resting position by an opposing player or referee before the points are determined and the end of the frame is declared, it is reset to its approximate original position. If the ball is sufficiently moved that the approximate original position can not be determined, the offended team has the option to leave the balls as they lay or replay the frame.
  12. If a team's legally thrown ball is moved from its resting position (accidentally or intentionally) by a team member, the ball is removed from play. Standard Penalties apply.
  13. The person(s) doing the measuring must press and rotate balls and the pallino before measuring to mark their original position on the court surface. If a ball or pallino is accidentally moved while measuring, it is replaced to its original marked position.
  14. A bocce ball , for whatever reason, that goes out of the court is a dead ball and is removed from play for that frame.
  15. Volo shooting (lofting the ball in the air beyond the center line of the court) is not permitted.

FOUL LINES:

    1. Pointing and Hitting foul lines must be clearly marked across the playing surface for foul line violations to be officially called and penalties applied.
    2. Players may step on but not over the proper foul line before releasing the pallino or a bocce ball. (Toe of foot can not exceed the width of the foul line mark.)
    3. If a player's toe exceeds the width of the proper foul line before releasing a ball (bocce or pallino), they will receive one warning. Subsequent fouls will result in nullifying the pallino throw or removal of the thrown bocce ball from play.  Standard Penalties apply.

STANDARD PENALTIES:

  1. For the violation of any rule that requires the removal of a bocce ball from play, that ball is immediately removed from play until that frame has been completed. The violation must be called and the ball removed before the next ball is thrown. If the ball is not removed before the next ball is played, the ball remains in play for the rest of the frame.
  2. If possible, any balls moved because of the action of the violation ball are reset to their approximate original position. If balls are sufficiently moved that the approximate original positions can not be determined, the opposing team has the option to leave the balls as they lay or replay the frame.

SCORING:

  1. The official score for frame is determined after all 8 balls have been played and measured to the captains' satisfaction. One point is awarded for each ball of a team that is closer to the pallino than the opponent’s closest ball (1 to 4 points).
  2. The team that scores in the last frame throws the pallino in the next frame and play continues as above.
  3. If each team’s closest balls are tied, no score is made and play continues at the opposite end with the team scoring the point(s) in the previous frame delivering the pallino.
  4. The team that first scores 12 points, wins the game.
  5. Matches are determined by the league or tournament and may be by games won, 2 out of 3 games, 3 out of 5 games, etc. A typical match is 3 games.