IslesBocce.com
What is Bocce Ball
Bocce ball is a popular outdoor game that originated in Italy. It is also known as Italian lawn bowling and is played on a flat, level surface. Bocce is the third largest sport played globally next to soccer and golf.
The game is played with eight large, colored balls, and a smaller white ball called the pallino. The objective of the game is to get your team's bocce balls as close to the pallino as possible.
To start the game, the pallino is thrown onto the playing surface, and then each team takes turns throwing their bocce balls towards the pallino. The team that has a ball closest to the pallino is considered to be "in" and the other team must try to get their bocce balls closer to the pallino than the first team. The game continues until all the balls have been thrown, and the team with the closest bocce ball to the pallino earns a point.
Bocce ball is a game that can be played by people of all ages and skill levels, making it a popular choice for family gatherings, bringing friends together, and other outdoor events. It is a fun and social game that encourages teamwork, strategy, and friendly competition. Many people enjoy the challenge and competitiveness the game of bocce brings, while others enjoy the social aspect of the game and the opportunity to spend time with friends and family.
Overall, bocce ball is a timeless classic that has been enjoyed for centuries, and continues to be a popular outdoor game today. Whether you are a seasoned bocce ball player or a beginner, this game is sure to provide hours of fun and entertainment for all who participate.
How to Play Bocce
Playing bocce ball is easy and can be enjoyed by people of all ages and skill levels. Here is a step-by-step guide on the "basics" of how to play the game:
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Divide players into two teams of one to four players each. Each team gets four bocce balls, which are usually two different colors to distinguish between teams.
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If you don't have access to bocce courts, choose a flat and level playing surface, like a lawn or a sand court, and you can mark the boundaries if you want with chalk or string, or use 4 orange cones to mark the corners of your playing area.
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Choose a team to toss the pallino (the small white ball) onto the playing surface. That team then throws their first bocce ball as close to the pallino as possible.
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The second team then throws their first bocce ball, trying to get it closer to the pallino than the first team's ball.
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The team that has a ball closest to the pallino is considered to be "in" and the other team must try to get their bocce ball closer to the pallino than the first team, and must continue to throw until they get a ball closer or they've thrown all 4 balls. If they do get a ball closer to the pallino, then they are considered to be "in" and the other team must throw.
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The game continues until all 8 balls have been thrown.
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Points are then awarded to the team with the closest ball or balls to the pallino. For example, if one team has two balls closer to the pallino than their opponent's closest ball, then they earn two points.
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The game continues until one team reaches a predetermined number of points, usually 10, 11, or 15 points.
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Bocce ball can also be played in a tournament style format where multiple teams compete against each other until a final winner is determined. This style of play is becoming very popular and is now a common offering in most clubs, residential communities, municipalities, and restaurants. A bocce playing movement is indeed a creeping across America!
Overall, bocce ball is a fun and easy game to play, and is a great way to spend time outdoors with friends and family. With a little bit of practice, you can become a skilled bocce player and enjoy this classic game for years to come.
How to Reserve Isles Bocce Courts
To reserve Isles Bocce courts you have to be a resident and you have to have a resident account on IslesOfCollierPreserve.org.
Go to www.islesofcollierpreserve.org, sign in using your account credentials, click on PLAY, then click on COURT RESERVE and follow the instructions. If you encounter problems logging on or making court reservations contact the ICP HOA office.
Isles HOA Bocce Balls & League Balls
If you've reserved a court to play bocce and do not have your own set of bocce balls, the ICP HOA office has a few sets that are available for Isles residents to borrow and use to play bocce. Just visit the HOA office to reserve and checkout a set of bocce balls. When you are finished playing you must return the borrowed set to the HOA office.
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The Isles Bocce league has their own dedicated league balls that are not available to borrow, and are only used for league play. The brand and type of league bocce balls used are Baden Champion Bocce Balls (red and green balls). Bocce ball weight, 2lbs; Bocce ball size, 107MM/4.25"; the pallino size is 2.36" diameter.