Rules of the Game

LOW Bocce Club

Rules of the Game

Revised 11/1/2022

Equipment:

Bocce Balls shall be between 107mm and 114mm in diameter and weigh between 920 and 1100 grams. The Pallino or target ball shall be between 53mm and 63mm in diameter.

Teams:

1. Each team will be composed of 1, 2 or 4 players depending upon the format chosen.  

2. For teams with 2 players, players will be stationed on opposite ends of the court.  

3. Players will throw all 4 balls in a frame.  

4. On the next frame the players on the other end will each throw 4 balls in the other direction.  

5. A frame is over when all 8 balls have been thrown and points have been counted.  

6. There is no limit to the number of frames in a game as the game  isn't over until the points total on the final frame gets one of the teams to 15 points, or higher with a lead of at least two points.

7. For teams of 4 players, 2 players from each team are stationed at opposite ends of the court with each team player alternately throwing 2 balls each when it is their turn.

Games:

1. A coin toss will determine which team starts the game and tosses out the first Pallino.  The pallino is tossed from behind the foul line and must come to rest in the area of the court defined by the center line and the opposite foul line and be at least 12 inches from the sideboards. 

   1. If a coin is not available then one player from each team shall roll one ball each with the ball coming to rest closest to the center line determining the starting team. 

2. If the pallino does not cross the centerline, crosses the opposite foul line, or goes out of the court on either side, it is considered a bad toss and the pallino is surrendered to the other team who will then start the frame.  

3. If the pallino comes to rest in play but closer to either sideboard than 12 inches, the pallino is moved out perpendicular from the side wall to place it  at the 12 inches minimum. 

   1. If during the game the pallino is struck by another ball and goes beyond the foul line or leaves the court, that frame ends and the teams restart the frame at the other end, with the same team tossing out the pallino.

4. The player who tosses the pallino always throws the first bocce ball.  All balls must be tossed/rolled underhand from behind the foul line.  A player may step on but not over the foul line.  

5. For a ball to be in play it must be between the centerline and the opposite foul line.  The IN team is the team with a bocce ball closest to the pallino.  The OUT team is the team that is not closest to the pallino.  After the IN team puts a ball in play the OUT team then rolls until it gets a ball closer to the pallino.  

6. If the OUT team rolls a ball that ties the  IN team's closest ball the OUT team must roll another ball until it gets closer than the IN team.  Put another way, ties go to the IN team.  If after each team has thrown all their balls, and the closest balls from each team are the same distance from the pallino, then the frame scores no points and a new frame is started from the opposite end with the same starting team. Once all 8 balls are thrown the frame ends and points are determined.  

7. One point is scored for each of the IN team's balls that are closer than the nearest OUT team ball.  Any of the IN team's balls that come to rest touching the pallino score two points.  The team that scores in the last frame always tosses the pallino out to start the next frame.  As stated in #6 above, if the team's closest balls are tied at the end of a frame, then no points are awarded and play continues at the  opposite end with the team scoring points in the previous frame tossing out the  Pallino.  During a game, balls may be thrown to get closer to the pallino, hit or move an opponent's ball out of the way, or move the pallino into a more favorable position.  Any bocce ball that goes beyond the opposite foul line is considered a dead ball.  Any bocce ball that fails to cross the center line is considered ineligible to score but left on the court.  Should that ball be struck and cross the center line on a subsequent throw it will be considered eligible and count as a point if appropriate.

Measuring:

1. One member from each team should work together to measure for the closest Bocce ball. Any method, acceptable to both teams, can be used to measure.  Tape, string, extendable rod, measuring app, etc.