Bocce Ball Rules

Composition balls will be used. Sizes suggested are 107 to 114 millimeters in diameter, with weights between 920 and 1100 grams.

The toss of the coin will decide the starting team and the winner will also choose the color of the balls. {The winners of the coin toss get control of the pallino and their choice of the color of balls - some versions of open rules give the winner of the toss the choice of first toss of pallino or the color of balls.}

The starting team must toss the "pallino" to a valid position past the center or "in play" line, but not coming to rest on the backboard. It must settle at least 12 inches from the sideboard. If, after three attempts, the starting team fails to validly place it, the opposing team tosses the pallino. If the opposing team fails in the first attempt, the referee will place the pallino in a valid position. The first bocce ball is rolled by the player who originally tossed the pallino.

The pallino remains in play unless it is knocked out of the court or in front of the center or "in play" line, then the frame is ended and play resumes from the opposite end. The same team tosses the pallino. {The team that tossed the pallino for the canceled frame tosses it again, restarting from the opposite end.}

A ball touching the backboard is dead unless it first strikes another ball, in which case all balls are valid. {Any shot, whether punto, raffa, or volo that goes to the backboard without first striking another ball is dead and removed from the court - different groups playing open rules seem to be moving in this direction.}

If the first thrown ball of the starting team touches the backboard without first hitting the pallino, the ball is out of play and that team must roll again until the initial point is established.

A thrown ball that doesn't touch another ball and returns from the backboard into the field of play and strikes another ball and/or the pallino is out of play. The pallino and/or the other balls are returned to their approximate original positions. If a ball strikes the backboard causing a ball or balls resting on the backboard to move, the ball(s) are returned to their approximate original positions. {This is a common occurrence when previously played balls are in contact with the swing board.}

The players shall not step over the foul line before releasing the pallino or their ball.

Players may use the sideboard at any time.

The tournament host will decide on the number of points required to win a match.

All players must remain outside the court while the opposing team is rolling.

In a tournament game when substitutes are allowed, a team may make one substitution from their roster per game. This substitution may take place at any time in a game. Once a player has been removed from a game, the player cannot reenter that same game.

Volo shooting is lofting the ball in the air beyond the center or "in play" line of the court. Volo shooting is only allowed on courts where the in play line for first toss of pallino is at least 38 feet from the backboard. {WBA reasons that, with a longer play area, volo attempts are not easy targets as they are on the shorter courts. Note that to qualify as a volo, the attempt must first land past the center line.}

In the case of a tie between two balls, the prevailing (or first ball) has to be beaten, not tied. If the frame ends in a tie, no points are awarded and play resumes from the opposite end of the court with the same team tossing the pallino.

If a player rolls the wrong colored ball, simply replace it with the correct color when the ball comes to rest.

If a player rolls out of turn, the opposing team may leave everything, including the thrown ball, exactly as is or may return any moved balls to their approximate positions and remove the thrown ball. {This option of accepting the play, or returning displaced balls to their original positions and "killing" the illegally thrown ball, is the bocce rule of advantage. The option goes to the opponents of the team that commits the infraction.}

If an individual delivers more than his allotted number of balls, the opposing team may accept the result of the illegal roll, or remove the illegal ball and return any scattered balls to their original positions. {The bocce rule of advantage applies.}

Team captains may request measurement of any ball at any time.

Any and all disputes will be resolved by the tournament committee.

When hitting, mark the positions of all balls that are three feet or less from the backboard. {If the ball hits a ball on its way to the backboard, it is live and the play stands. If it contacts no ball and then hits the backboard, it is dead and removed from the court. This rule #20 is necessary because of a third possible scenario. The ball may hit no ball, strike the backboard, and then carom into a ball or balls near the end boards. These displaced balls have to be returned to their original locations and therefore those positions must be marked previous to the shot.}

Winning Score - The number of points needed to win a game varies with the type of game being played. Final games go to 15 points and all preliminary rounds go to 12 points. A game is won when a side or team reaches: o 15 points in a four-player team where one ball is delivered per player o 12 points in a four-player team where two players stationed at each end of the court deliver two balls each o 12 points in a two-player game where each player delivers four balls o 12 points in a one-player game where one player delivers four balls