How to Start a Bocce Ball League

Sports leagues abound, organized along community, county, state, national and even international lines. But for some sports like bocce ball, organizing a league is more difficult. Bocce ball is relatively little-known in most places around the world. So while starting a bocce ball league is difficult, it can be done.

Instructions

  1. Starting a Bocce Ball League

    • 1

      Do your research. Is it feasible, after all, to start a bocce ball league in your area? Are there enough people around that understand the game and who might consider joining a league? If you know of a local Italian immigrant community, you may want to start there.

    • 2

      Find a place to play. Bocce ball courts are unique, and if there are none around, you'll have to make one yourself. Courts can be up to 27 meters long and 4 meters wide (plus you want enough room that spectators can gather and watch) and are generally laid with soil or oyster shell, then bounded with stones or wooden boards.

    • 3

      Decide what kind of bocce ball league your will have. After all, the game can be played one-on-one, two-on-two, three-on-three or four-on-four. Perhaps your league will consist of several divisions, including two or more of the above-mentioned categories.

    • 4

      Find a referee who is qualified and knowledgeable of the rules of bocce ball. This is a must if you want your league to be considered legitimate.

    • 5

      Publicize sign-ups. This can be done in local newspapers, using flyers, word of mouth or other means. Make signing up easy. Try using a website or simple sign-up sheets, making sure you gather contact information for the prospective players. You may want to consider a minimal sign-up charge in order to cover the costs of the league (for example uniforms, publicity and awards).

    • 6

      Organize teams (if your league will have teams) and create a schedule. The schedule should be sent to each member of the league. The schedule should include game dates, times and who plays whom.

    • 7

      Organize a league opening event an hour before the league's first scheduled game. This gets everyone in the league together at the outset, starting things off with a bang.