Play Bocce!

Teams are composed of four players. Two players from each team are stationed at each end of the court, throwing two bocce balls each.

At the end of each frame, play resumes at the opposite end of the court.

Begin the match with the flip of a coin between the captains. The winner may toss the pallino first or choose the color of the bocce balls.

The pallino is legal if it passes the center line, is at least 3 feet off the back board, and at least 1 foot from the side wall.

If a player fails to toss the pallino properly, the opposing team tosses it. If that team also fails, the pallino reverts back to the original team.

Any time a player is rolling, opposing players must remain outside the court.

The first ball is thrown by the team that originally tossed the pallino. If that bocce ball hits the back board, the ball is removed and the team must roll again until it has a ball in play.

The other team throws until it beats, not ties, the opposing ball. This continues until both teams have used all their balls.

Whenever a team gets a ball closer, it steps aside and lets the other team roll.

A ball hitting the back board without hitting another ball first is dead and must be removed from play.

If the thrown ball hits another ball and then the back board, all bocce balls are valid.

If a thrown ball hits the back board and then strikes a stationary ball without first touching another ball, the stationary ball is replaced and the thrown ball is removed.

If a bocce ball leaves the court, hits the fencing, and falls back into the court, it is dead and should be removed from play.

If the pallino leaves the court, hits the fencing, or rolls back past half-court, the frame is restarted.

Players may step on, but not over, the foul line before releasing the pallino or their bocce ball.

Only one team scores in a frame. One point is given for each ball that is closer to the pallino than the closest bocce ball of the opposing team.

If the closest balls are equal distance from the pallino, the ball that was thrown first gets the point.

Games are normally played to 12 or 15 points. The tournament host may change this number.

Once the pallino is in play, it remains in play even if it hits the back board during the game.

If the pallino is knocked out of the court or knocked in front of the center line, the frame ends and play resumes from the opposite end of the court.

Team captains may measure bocce balls at any time. All disputes are resolved by the tournament host.

A team not showing within ten minutes of the scheduled start time loses two points, plus two additional points for each five-minute increment thereafter.

A team not showing within thirty minutes forfeits the game.

A team missing players at the start may play, but each player may only roll two bocce balls. A player arriving late may enter only after completion of the game.

A team may make one substitution per game, and substitutions may only be made between frames.