INTERNATIONAL BOCCE ASSOCIATION, INC.
Official Rules and Requlations for
Competitive Bocce
';
, Third Edition. 1992
Rule 1 - Definitions of Playing
Terms.
Section I - Ball: Live and Dead
Article 1 - Live Ball- Any ball in play,
i.e., having been delivered.
Article 2 - Dead Ball - Any ball that
has been disqualified or forfeited. A ball may be disqualified if:
a .. it is the result of a penalty
b.
it has gone out of the court
c. has come in contact with a person or
object which is out of the court
d.
it hits the top of the court
boards
e.
it hits the covering over the
courts or any supports thereof.
(See also Rule 5 - Penalties.)
Section II - Bocce Ball and Pallina
Article 1 - Pallina - small object ball
sometimes called cue ball, jack, etc.
Article 2 - Bocce Ball - larger playing
ball.
Section III - Other terms
Article 1 - Hitting - sometimes known as
spocking, shooting, bombing, etc. A delivery which is thrown with
sufficient velocity that it would hit the back board if it missed the
target. The shooting line will be used to determine a foul.
Article 2 - Bank or Rebound Shot - a
ball which is played off either the side boards or back board.
Article 3 - Pointing - a ball delivered
to obtain a point close to the pallina. The pointing line will be used
to determine a foul.
Article 4 - Frame - the period in the
game in which balls are played from one side of the court to the other
and points awarded.
Section IV - Foul. A rule infraction
for which a penaltv is prescribed.
Rule 2 - The Court, Equipment, Game
and Players.
Section I - The Court and Markinqs
Article 1 - The Court - An area 12' wide
by 60' long (refer to accompanying diagram).
Article 2 - Court Surface - The court
surface may be composed of stone-dust, dirt, clay, grass or artificial
surface providing there are no permanent or temporary obstructions in
the court that would interfere with the straight line delivery of a
ball from
any direction. These obstructions do not
include variations in grade or consistency of terrain.
Article 3 '. Court Walls - The side and
end walls of the court may be composed of any rigid material. The walls
must be at least as high as the bocce balls at all points. The side or
end walls may be utilized during play for bank shots or rebound shots.
Article 4 - Markings - All courts should
be clearly marked for the following: (see
Court Diagram)
a.
l'
from side boards - in-bounds for
first
toss of pallina
b.
4' from back boards -
in-bounds for first
toss of pallina
c.
4' from back boards -
foul line for pointing
d.10'
from back boards - foul line for
hitting
or spocking e. half court marker - minimum
distance pallina may be
played on first toss of pallina. During
the course of play, the position of the pallina may change as a result
of normal play; however, the pallina may never come to rest closer than
the half point marker or frame is considered dead.
Section II - Equipment
Article 1 - Balls - Balls may be of
composition, wood, or metal and of equal size.
Official league and tournament ball size
may be from 107 mm (4 1/4") to 113 mm (4 1/2"). The color of the balls
is immaterial provided that the four balls of one team are clearly and
visibly distinct from the four balls of the opposing team.
Article 2 - Pallina - The pallina must not
be larger than 2 1/2" (63 mm) or smaller than 1 7/8" (48 mm) and should
be of a color visibly distinct from the bocce ball colors.
Article 3 - Measuring Device - The
measuring device may be any device that has the capacity of accurately
measuring the distance between two objects, and acceptable to tournament
officials.
Section III - The Game
Article 1 - Equipment - Bocce is played
with eight large balls and one smaller target or object ball called the
pallina Uack, cue, beebee). There are four balls to a side or team, and
they are generally made in two colors to distinguish the balls of one
team from those of the opposing team. The large balls are also inscribed
with distinctive lines to identify the balls of the players on the same
team.
Article 2 - Pallina and Color - A coin
toss by the referee will determine which team has the pallina and choice
of ball color. In the absence of a referee, the two team captains will
execute the coin toss.
Article 3 - Sequence of Play - The pallina
is rolled or tossed by a member of the team having won the coin toss to
start the game. The player tossing the pallina must deliver the first
ball. The opposing team will then deliver their bocce balls until the
point is taken or they have exhausted their four balls. This "nearest
ball" rule governs the sequence of played balls. The side whose ball is
the closest to the pallina is called the "in" ball and the opposing side
the "out" ball. Whenever a team gets "in", it steps aside and allows the
"out" team to deliver.
Article 3a - Three Attempt Rule - The team
possessing the pallina will have three attempts at placing the pallina
within the acceptable playing area described above. If they are
unsuccessful within these three attempts, the opposing team will have
one opportunity to place the pallina. If this attempt is unsuccessful,
the referee will place the pallina in the center of the court width at
the 50' mark (opposite end hitting line). However, at no time does a
team lose its earned pallina advantage of being able to deliver the
first ball.
Article 3b - Initial Point - It is always
incumbent upon the team with the pallina advantage to establish the
initial point. EXAMPLE: Team A tosses the pallina and delivers their
first ball. Team B elects to hit Team A's ball out of position. In doing
so, both balls, team A's and Team B's fly out of court, leaving only the
pallina in the court. It is incumbent upon Team A to re-establish the
initial point.
Article 4 - Ball Delivery - A team has the
option of rolling, tossing, bouncing banking etc. its ball down the
court provided it does not go out-of bounds or the player does not
violate the foul markers. A player also has the option of "spocking" or
hitting out any ball in play in trying to obtain a point, or decreasing
the opposing team's points. All ball delivery must be of an underhand
style.
Article 5 - Scoring - At the end of each
frame (when both teams have exhausted all balls), points will be
determined as follows: Scoring points are all those balls of one team
closer to the pallina than the closest ball of the opposing team, which
can be determined by viewing or by mechanical measurement. The scoring
team for each frame will also win the pallina advantage for the
subsequent frame. Referee will be responsible for validity of scoreboard
and scorecard. It is incumbent upon the team captain to verify the
accuracy of the posted score at all times.
Article 6 - Ties During Frame - In the
event that two opposing balls are equidistant from the pallina (tied),
the team that rolled last will continue to roll until the tie is broken.
EXAMPLE: If Team A rolls a ball for the pallina, then Team B rolls its
ball for the pallina and the referee determines that they are both
exactly 13" away from the pallina, Team B must roll until it has a point
closer than 13" from the pallina. If Team B does roll up to the point
and Team A hits that ball out re-establishing a tie, Team A must
continue to roll until the tie is broken.
Article 7 - Ties at the End of Frame - In
the event that the two balls closest to the pallina belong to opposing
teams and are tied, no points will be awarded, and the pallina returns
to the team which delivered it.
Article 8 - Winning Score.
It./,
4 player team - 1 ball/player
=
1% points
4 player team - 2 players at each end of
court 2 balls/player =
1,.6 points
IL(
2 player team - 2 balls/player
=
12 points 11
player team - 4 balls/player
=
12 points
The above scoring procedure is most common
in major tournaments and league play; however, variations may be
acceptable.
Article 9 - Scorecard - It is the
responsibility of each team captain to sign
the
scorecard after a match and the signatures
will indicate the indisputability of the final score. Games in'Which
protests will be filed should not be signed by any captain disagreeing
with the score or its validity.
Section IV - Player Desiqnation
Article 1 - Captain - On any team, the
captain must be designated and made known to the officials before play
begins. The captain may not be changed during the course of the game,
but may be changed during the course of a tournament or league. The
tournament or league officials must be notified of this change prior to
any subsequent games.
Article 2 - Rotation of Players - The
players of any given team may elect to play their ball in any rotation
provided the player who tosses the pallina delivers the first bocce
ball. The rotation may vary from frame to frame; however, no player may
deliver more than his allotted number of balls per frame (Refer to Rule
2, Section III, Article 8).
RULE 3 - Substitutions
Section I - Official Notification.
Officials must be notified of substitutions prior to scheduled game time
or it will result in forfeiture of match.
Section II - Substitution of Players.
Article 1 - Substitution of Players - Only
one substitute may be allowed per team per game. That substitute may
take the place of any player on the team and may substitute for
different players on the same team during different games.
Article 2 - Limitations - Once a player
has registered to substitute for one team during a tournament, he may
not substitute for any other team during that tournament.
Section III - Substitution Durinq Game.
Article 1 - Emergencies - Only in the
event of medical or other verified emergencies may a player be
substituted during the process of a game. Emergency substitutions will
only be made at the end of a frame. If this is not possible, the frame
will be considered dead. However, once the substitution has been made,
the substitute must complete the game.
Article 2 - Forfeiture - Teams with less
than the prescribed number of players will forfeit the match.
RULE 4 - Time-Outs, Delays-ot-Game and
Checking Position
ot
Points.
Section I - Circumstances.
Article 1 - Time-out - The official may
grant a time-out whenever the circumstances explained appear to be of
sufficient validity to do so. This time-out will be limited to ten (10)
minutes.
Article 2 - Intentional Delay of
Game - If, in the opinion of the official, the game is intentionally
delayed without sufficient or valid reason, the official must give a
warning. If play is not resumed immediately, the delaying team will
forfeit the match.
Article 3 - Delays Caused by Weather, Acts
of God, Civil Disorder or Other Unforeseen Reasons - In such delays, the
ruling of the League or Tournament Director will be decisive and final.
Article 4 - Checking Position of Points -
Players may only proceed to the half
court mark before delivering their ball(s).
Exceptions: 1 player teams - player may
proceed down court at any time to observe conditions.
2 player teams - one player may
proceed down court to observe conditions before delivery.
When only one team has exhausted all of
its balls, the referee shall not be permitted to declare. by measurement
or viewing, which team is "in".
RULE 5 - Penalties.
Section I - Enforcement of
Penalties.
Article 1 - Determination -
Immediately upon determination by the official that a foul has been
committed, he will notify the captains of both teams and inform them of
the penalty imposed. The ruling of the official is final, except as
otherwise provided for hereafter.
Article 2 - Conditions Not Covered -
For conditions not specifically covered in the
official International
Bocce Association rules, the League or
Tournament Director's ruling shall be decisive and final.
Article 3 - Protests - Any protest to
a decision of the officials or Tournament Directors must be made by a
team before that team plays its next ball or the decision will be
considered as accepted.
Article 4 - Protest to Forfeiture - If
a team must forfeit a match as a result of not being present for a
scheduled match; or as a result of
violations hereunder prescribed;··no official protest will be
acknowledged. Protests will be acknowledged and judged on the basis of
merit in circumstances not specifically provided for hereunder.
Section II - Specific Fouls.
Article 1 - Foul-Line Fouls - In both
pointing and hitting, the foremost part of the specific foul-line will
not be surpassed by any part of the foot before the ball leaves the
player's hand. All fouls must be called by a referee as a result of
witnessing the foul. One official warning may be granted each team after
which penalties will be prescribed. The penalty for a team committing a
second foul-line infraction will consist of one of the following
options:
a.
The team fouled against will be
awarded points as they were immediately preceding the foul, and the
frame will end. The referee will make the final judgment as to how many
points were actually "in" at the time. The team committing the foul will
be awarded no points for the frame or
b. the fouled against team may have the
option of declining the penalty and completing the frame.
Article 2 - Illegal Movement* of a Ball
Belonging to Your Own T
earn - If a player moves one or more of
his/her team's balls "in contention",
it
or they are removed from the court and considered dead and play
continues. Balls not immediately "in
contention" may be replaced as close as possible to their original
position. "In contention" is herein defined as a ball(s) close enough to
the pallina to require measurement to determine whether a point may be
awarded.
Article 3 - Illegal Movement* of an
Opponent's Ball - If a player moves one or more of his/her opponent's
balls "in contention", those balls will be awarded one .point each and
play continues. Only the team fouled against can be awarded points for
that frame unless the penalty is declined.
Article 4 - Illegal Movement* of the
Pallina by a Player - If the pallina is moved by a player, the team
fouled against may be awarded as many points as the number of live balls
that were "in contention"
Q.l1ill
the number of balls yet unplayed
by that team during the frame in which the foul occurred.
Article 5 - Declination of Penalties -
The team fouled against shall retain the privilege of declining any of
the prescribed penalties and completing the frame.
Section III - Accidental or Premature
Movement of Balls or Pallina by Referee.
Article 1 - Accidental Movement of a Ball
or Pallina During Play (when more balls are yet to be played) - If a
referee, either in the course of
measuring or otherwise moves a ball "in contention" or pallina, the
frame is considered dead and started over at the same end.
Article 2 - Accidental or Premature
Movement of a Ball or Pallina by a Referee After All Balls Are Played
If the point or points were obvious to the referee, they will be
awarded. All uncertain points will not be awarded.
Section IV - Interference with a Ball
in Motion.
Article 1 - By One's Own Team - If a
player interferes with his/her team's ball in motion, team automatically
forfeits the ball and play continues. If balls in play are disrupted as
a result, refer: RULE 5, Section 2, Articles 2, 3, & 4.
Article 2 - By Opponent's Team - If a
player interferes with an opponent's ball in motion, the team fouled
against has the option of
a. playing the ball over
b declaring the frame dead or
c. declining the penalty, accept the lie
of the touched ball and continue play.
Article 3 - With No Disruption of
Position - If a spectator, animal or object interferes with a ball in
motion and it does not touch another ball already in play, it must be
played over by the same player.
Article 4 - With Disruption of Position -
If a spectator,'·~animal or object* interferes with a ball in motion and
that ball touched another ball already in play, and "in contention" the
frame is dead.
Article 5 - Other Disruption of Play -
Any action which interferes with the position of the pallina or the ball
of each team closest to the pallina, renders the frame dead. In the
event balls other than the pallina or the two opposing balls closest to
it are moved, they may be replaced as close as possible to their
original position by the two captains or referee. Such disruptive action
may be the result of e.g., a dead ball from other court, foreign
objects, spectators or animals entering the court and changing the
position of a ball(s) in play
Section V - Wrong Color Delivery.
Article 1 - Replaceable - If a player
delivers a wrong color ball, the ball may not be stopped by another
player or the referee. The ball must be allowed to come to rest and
replaced with the proper ball by the referee.
Article 2 - Not Replaceable - If a player
delivers a wrong color ball which cannot be replaced without disturbing
another ball already in play, the points of the play will be recorded at
that time, wrong color ball counting for team which rolled or delivered
it, and play will continue. It will be the responsibility of the two
team captains and the referee to maintain identity of the "wrong color"
ball(s).
Article 3 - Unidentifiable - If a player
delivers a wrong colof.,ball which cannot be identified by the referee
as a result of hitting or scattering of balls, the frame will be
considered dead and no points awarded.
Section VI - Wrong Rotation of Play
Article 1 - Initial Roll - If a team
wrongly delivers the pallina and its first ball, the referee will return
both pallina and ball and begin frame over from same end.
Article 2 - Subsequent Rolls of Proper
Color in Improper Sequence - If a player delivers his/her ball when his
team is "in" and the other team still has balls left, the ball in
question remains where it comes to rest, is considered "live", and play
continues. This ruling holds true regardless of who indicated which ball
was "in" since it is the responsibility of each team to request a
measurement when an "in" point is questionable.
RULE 6 - OFFICIALS
Section I - Obiections
Article 1 - Objections to Officials - Each
team has the right to object to a designated official for any reason
prior to the start of a game. This objection will be considered and
decided upon by tournament directors.
Article 2 - Participant Officials - No
member of a team or registered substitute of a team will be allowed to
assist in officiating a game in which that team is also playing.
Section II - Substitute Officials
Article 1 - During a Game - Substitutions
of officials may occur during a game only with the permission of
tournament directors and both team captains.
Article 2 - Additional Officials -
Additional officials may be assigned to any games during the course of
play provided permission is granted by tournament directors.
Article 3 - Team Requests - Officials may
be changed during the course of a game if either team presents
sufficient cause to Tournament Directors.
Article 4 - Official's Uniform - Referees
should be clearly distinguishable from players Recommended vests or hats
should be worn.
Section III - Ethics
Article 1 - Officials' Code of Ethics - A
referee will:
a.
study the rules of the game;
b.
be fair and unbiased in his
decisions, rendering them
without regard to score;
c. be firm but not overbearing; courteous
but not ingratiating; positive, but never rude; dignified but not
arrogant; friendly, but companionable; calm, but always alert;
d.
be prepared, both physically
and mentally, to administer the game;
e.
not give information which
would benefit or give advantage to one team over another.
RULE 7 - Other Circumstances
Section I - Broken Ball
Article 1 - During Play - If during the
course of a frame, a ball or pallina should break, the frame will be
considered dead. Replacement of ball or pallina will be the
responsibility of Tournament Directors.
Section
II
-
Court Groominq
Article 1 - Prior to Play - All courts
must be groomed to the satisfaction of Tournament Directors before the
start of each game.
Article 2 - Court Grooming During Play -
Courts may not be re-groomed during the course of the game. Obstacles or
objects such as stones, cups, etc. may be removed during the course of a
game.
Article 3 - Unusual Court Conditions - If
in the opinion of the Tournament Directors, the court conditions are
such that play is impractical, the game can be stopped and resumed on
another court or at another designated time.
Section III - Movinq Obiects
Article 1 - Moving Ball or Pallina - No
player may play his ball until a pallina or another ball has come to a
complete rest. Penalties refer to RULE 5, SECTION 4, ARTICLES 1 &2.
RULE 8 - Player Behavior
Section 1 - Unsportsmanlike Conduct
Article 1 - Disqualification - Players
shall act in a sportsmanlike manner at all times. Any act which is
deemed as
poor sportsmanship; e.g., insulting
language or gestures or actions or wQrds which engender ill-will, if
flagrant, may result in disqualification.
Section II - Attire
Article 1 - Proper Attire - Players will
dress in a manner which will serve to bring credit to them and the sport
of bocce.
Article 2 - Footwear - Players will not
be permitted to wear shoes which may damage or disrupt the court
surface. Also, players will not be permitted to play without
shoes.Articie 3 - Objectionable Attire - Players wearing objectionable
or offensive clothing or improperly attired, may not be allowed to
participate in a tournament.
COURT DIAGRAM
&
MARKINGS
A. One (1) foot from each side board
=
inbounds for object ball at start
of frame
B. Four (4) feet from back board
=
inbounds for object ball at start of frame; and foul-line for pointing.
C. Ten (10) feet from back board
=
foul-line for hitting (shooting, spocking).
D. Thirty (30) feet from back board
=
center court line. Object ball must pass
this point at start of frame.
60'
12'
.
"-
E. Same as "C" above .
F. Same as "8" above.
Dotted lines represent imaginary lines drawn
between court markers at prescribed distance
