Rules for Playing Bocce Ball

Bocce ball is an easy-to-learn and exciting lawn game that can be played virtually anywhere. Unlike other lawn recreations, like badminton and croquet, bocce ball requires almost no setup. Long popular in Europe, bocce ball is gaining in popularity throughout North America. Official sets are now available in most major retailers. The rules for the game are accessible enough to be enjoyed by children and adults alike. For a family outing or an outdoor party activity, bocce ball may be perfect to kick off an afternoon of fun.

  1. Gameplay

    • Because bocce ball consists of eight playing balls and a neutral object ball, you can play with anywhere from two to eight players. Most common, however, is a division of four players into two opposing teams. The game begins when one player throws a small ball, called the pallino, into the area of play. This ball becomes the object each player tries to reach with their playing balls. Think of it as a game of horseshoes where the stake moves at the beginning of each new round. The teams alternate tossing the playing balls at the pallino until all the balls are in play.

    Strategy

    • Like croquet, the balls in play become a large part of bocce ball strategy. A player can toss her playing ball onto the court with the deliberate aim of striking another ball already in play. This can result in either knocking an opponent's ball farther away from the pallino or, conversely, moving a teammate's ball closer to it. This aspect of the game can become quite cutthroat as players develop a working strategy to either play a conservative or aggressive brand of the game. Also, the method of the toss becomes an issue to consider. Some players prefer a long, high arc to their toss in order to jump over balls already in play. Others roll the balls like miniature bowling balls in an effort to dislodge balls already in play on the court.

    Scoring

    • Scoring is awarded based on the number of balls that are closest to the pallino at the end of each round. A team is awarded one point for each ball nearest to the pallino with a maximum award of four points per round. Scores are limited, however, if the opposing team lands one of its balls nearer to the pallino than the scoring team's more distant balls. Matches are normally ended at the scoring of 10 points, though some players elect to play to 15 or more.