Teams

• There are two or four players to a team

• Players from each team are stationed at opposite ends of the court

• Each team member throws an equal number of balls per frame

• At the end of each frame, the game resumes at the other end of the court

 

Throwing the Pallino

• Players alternate throwing the pallino to begin a frame, but once thrown, either teammate may throw the first ball of a frame.

 

The thrown pallino must:

• Completely pass the court center line

• Do not cross or touch the far service line

• Do not strike the far backboard

• Come to rest at least a full 12 inches from the side walls

• If the thrown pallino fails to rest as noted, the opposing team takes the pallino and throws it

• Throwing of the pallino continues until one team properly seats the pallino

 

Throwing the Team’s Balls

• The first ball is always thrown by the team that throws the pallino

• Once thrown, that player steps aside. Only the person throwing the ball is allowed on the court

• The opponent rolls until one of the balls stops closer to the pallino than the first ball thrown

• This team continues to throw until it beats (not ties) the opposing ball thrown

• On a team of four players, two balls are thrown by each player. The order is at the discretion of the players

• A bocce ball that hits the far backboard without first touching another bocce ball, or the pallino, is disqualified and taken off the court

• That team would continue throwing until seating a bocce ball closer to the pallino

• Balls, bocce, or pallino, may be thrown against the side walls at any time

• In between frames, balls should be racked to avoid accidents

 

Scoring the Game

• Only one team can score points in a frame

• The team is awarded one point for each ball that is closer to the pallino than the closest ball of the opposing team. The team earning points gets to throw the pallino to start the next frame.

• The game repeats, beginning at the other end of the court

• If, at the end of a frame, the closest ball of each team is equidistant from the pallino, no points are awarded; and the same team tosses the pallino again from the opposite end of the court

• No balls, bocce, or pallino should be moved until the score has been determined

• Ball distances may be measured at any time. Measurements are from the inside center edge of the bocce ball to the closest side edge of the pallino.

 

Determining a Game Winner

• Frames are played until one team reaches ten (10) points and has won by at least two points. e.g. 11-9, 10-8, 12-10.

 

General Rules

• No lofting of the bocce or the pallino into the air beyond mid-court is allowed

• The team members who did not throw the ball determine the score for that frame

• Only the player tossing the bocce ball, or the pallino, should be on the court when throwing

 

Stepping on the service line is permitted. Foot faults occur when any part of the foot extends beyond the service line when throwing the ball. Repeated foot faults will result in invalidation of that throw.

 

Court 1 has two handicap entrances, one at each end of the court. These entrances can be used by pulling up on the handles on the top of the side wall.

 

After play, the courts should be swept.