Bocce, sometimes called bocci or bocce ball, is a simple, accessible game belonging to the boules family that has been enjoyed for centuries. It combines elements of precision and strategy, making it easy for nearly anyone to pick up and play regardless of athletic ability. The game’s objective is to roll your team’s balls closer to a small target ball than your opponent’s balls. Whether played competitively on a specialized court or casually in a backyard, setting up the playing area is the first step.
Preparing the Playing Area
The equipment needed to play bocce consists of a set of eight larger bocce balls (typically four in one color and four in another) and one smaller target ball known as the pallino or jack. While official competition courts are precisely 91 feet long and 13 feet wide, most casual players adapt the game to their available space. A common backyard size is about 60 feet by 12 feet, but the game is playable on any relatively flat area.
When setting up a casual playing space, define clear boundaries and a throwing line. You can use natural features like fences or garden edges for boundaries, or mark them with rope, cones, or chalk. The surface can be grass, compacted dirt, crushed stone, or sand, with the type of surface affecting how the balls roll and bounce during play.
Establishing a foul line regulates where players stand while throwing the balls. This line dictates the maximum forward movement a player can make during a throw. For the pallino toss, a center line or halfway marker is also necessary, as the target ball must cross this point to be considered in play.
Starting the First Frame
Before the first frame begins, teams must be established, and a starting team determined. This is usually accomplished with a coin toss, with the winner choosing either to throw the pallino first or to select the color of their bocce balls. The goal is to successfully toss the pallino from one end of the court to the other.
The pallino thrower must ensure the target ball travels far enough to be a valid target. A toss is considered legal only if the pallino travels past the court’s center line and does not hit the back wall of the opposing end. If the pallino hits the back wall or fails to reach the halfway point, the toss is illegal.
If the first player fails to make a valid toss, the opposing team gets an opportunity to throw the pallino. If the opposing team also fails to place the pallino legally, the toss reverts back to the original team until the pallino is successfully set. Once the pallino is properly positioned, the player who tossed it always throws the first bocce ball of the frame.
The initial bocce ball throw aims to place the ball as close as possible to the pallino. All players must stand behind the designated foul line when throwing. After the first bocce ball is in play, the opposing team takes its turn. The rule is that the team whose ball is not closest to the pallino always throws next.