BOCce ball
Rules
The United States Bocce Federation is a nonprofit, charitable corporation organized to promote
the sport of Bocce through education and amateur competition and any funds received are used
strictly for this objective. The USBF is the only internationally sanctioned governing body for
Bocce in the United States.
Who can play Bocce?
Everyone can play! There is no race, sex, or age discrimination in the sport of Bocce. It is played
all over the world and is part of the International Special Olympics and the Senior Olympic
What do you need to play?
You need a set of 8 balls, four for each team, with different colors and a target ball called a
“jack” or “pallino”. It is also helpful to have some type of measuring device.
How many people on a Team?
Games can be played one-on-one (singles), pairs (doubles), triples, or foursomes. In USBF
format, singles are played with each person throwing 4 balls and alternating use of each end of
the court. In doubles (pairs), each team member throws 2 balls and again alternate use of each
end of the court. Triples have become the newest format and 12 balls are used instead of 8. Play
is the same as Doubles with each team member throwing 2 balls and alternating use of each end
of the court. Foursomes should be played with 2 members of a team stationed at opposite ends of
the court and playing 2 balls each. Variations to the foursome style are used in some regions of
the USA and certainly are permissible and at the discretion of Tournament directors or
organizers.
Start the game!
Begin the game with a flip of a coin between the Captains of each team. The winner of the coin
flip will determine the end from which play will start and also has control of the pallino. The
losing team chooses the color of balls it wants to use.Coin toss winner throws the pallino.
• Toss is valid if the pallino passes center line and does not touch the back wall on opposite
end.
• If the player fails to place the pallino in valid area, the opposing team will put the pallino
in play.
• If both players fail, the pallino returns to the original team for an additional attempt.
Alternating process continues until pallino is in valid position.
• The Team that originally tossed the pallino will play the first ball.
The Game!
• The first ball may be rolled by ANY member of the Team that originally threw the
pallino. Winners of coin toss or previous frame
• Should the rolled ball hit the backboard without touching the pallino, it is a dead ball and
removed from the court.
• The same Team must throw again and continue rolling until a valid point is established.
• Once the point is established, the opposing Team must point or shoot until they make a
new (closer) point.
• Players may use side boards at any time.
• Balls can be measured at any time and, in case of doubt, an official referee or
Tournament official should be called. In the event a tie is determined, the last Team to
roll a ball must roll again until the tie is broken.
• If after all balls are played there is still a tie, no points are awarded and play resumes with
the Team last scoring tossing the pallino from the opposite end of the court.
• In the event a ball/balls are moved during a measurement by an official, the balls are
returned to approximate positions and official will still make the call. If however, a
member of a Team currently playing measures and moves a ball, the point is awarded to
the opposing team. In any case, the decision of a referee or official is final.
• One Team Member can cross the centerline to measure balls. Other players need to
remain at their respective end of the court.
Backboard:
• If a ball hits the backboard without first touching another ball or pallino, it is a dead ball
and removed from the court.
• If a ball is shot, hits the backboard illegally and then strikes a stationary ball/s, the shot
ball is removed from the court and the stationary ball/s are placed in their approximate
original position/s
• The pallino is always a valid target and remains in play even if it strikes the back wall
after being struck by any valid ball during a frame. If however, the pallino is knocked out
of the court or bounces back in front of the center line, the frame is considered void and
the Team that started the frame will begin again at the opposite end of the court.
• In the event ball/s resting against a backboard are moved as a result of a valid shot, they
remain in their new position. If however they move as a result of an invalid shot, they are
returned to their approximate original positions.
Scoring:
• Only one team scores in a frame (unless there is a tie)
• Games are usually played to 12 points
• Final games are usually played to 15 points (USBF recommended)
• Tournament Directors can decide any variation to game points but should do so prior to
the start of the event.
Illegal movement of balls or the pallino:
• Players should never touch or move any ball or the pallino until frame has ended. If a
player moves a ball prior to the end of a frame (thinking play is over) and the balls cannot
be accurately relocated to their positions, all remaining non-thrown balls of the nonoffending
team are counted as points. If the offense is committed by the playing team, all
non-thrown balls of that team are voided and the frame is over.
• ALL players should be out of the court if possible. If not possible, they should be
positioned in front of play area when a player at the opposite end is shooting.
• If a player is in the court standing BEHIND the point balls and pallino (In harm’s way or
“downstream”) and is struck by a ball or pallino as a result of a raffa or volo shot, the
opposing team receives the Rule of Advantage! The options are
o Leave all balls and pallino in the new configuration. or
o Remove the ball or pallino that struck their opponent from the court. If the
pallino is removed from the court, the frame is over and play begins from the
opposite end. or
o They can place the ball or pallino that struck their opponent anywhere on the
court.
If however, the player is standing in front of the point balls or pallino (Out of Harms way
or “upstream”), and is struck by a ball that moves backwards toward a player as the result
of a raffa or volo shot, the ball remains in play because the player was in a valid position.
In the event the pallino moves backward and touches a player the frame is over and play
begins from the opposite end.
If a player is struck by a ball or pallino in a point attempt or lag, the Rule of Advantage
applies no matter where the player was standing.
Shooting and Pointing:
• There are basically two (2) types of shooting.
• Volo: the act of lofting the ball in the air attempting to hit the target. Tournament
Directors may for safety concerns determine that Volo shooting may not be allowed. If it
is allowed the USBF uses the same foul line for both raffa and volo shooting.
• Raffa: the act of shooting at a target either by releasing the ball at ground level, slightly
lofting the ball or rolling the ball in a forceful manner.
• Pointing is done with either foot or both feet before or on the pointing line. A throw is
valid as long as any part of the foot/feet is on the line.
• When shooting (either style) the player is allowed to step on the line prior to releasing the
ball. As long as even the heel is on the line, it is a valid shot.
• Once a player has released the ball, he/she is allowed to continue steps up to the center
line. This is considered valid.
The United States Bocce Federation is a nonprofit, charitable corporation organized to promote
the sport of Bocce through education and amateur competition and any funds received are used
strictly for this objective. The USBF is the only internationally sanctioned governing body for
Bocce in the United States.
Who can play Bocce?
Everyone can play! There is no race, sex, or age discrimination in the sport of Bocce. It is played
all over the world and is part of the International Special Olympics and the Senior Olympic
What do you need to play?
You need a set of 8 balls, four for each team, with different colors and a target ball called a
“jack” or “pallino”. It is also helpful to have some type of measuring device.
How many people on a Team?
Games can be played one-on-one (singles), pairs (doubles), triples, or foursomes. In USBF
format, singles are played with each person throwing 4 balls and alternating use of each end of
the court. In doubles (pairs), each team member throws 2 balls and again alternate use of each
end of the court. Triples have become the newest format and 12 balls are used instead of 8. Play
is the same as Doubles with each team member throwing 2 balls and alternating use of each end
of the court. Foursomes should be played with 2 members of a team stationed at opposite ends of
the court and playing 2 balls each. Variations to the foursome style are used in some regions of
the USA and certainly are permissible and at the discretion of Tournament directors or
organizers.
Start the game!
Begin the game with a flip of a coin between the Captains of each team. The winner of the coin
flip will determine the end from which play will start and also has control of the pallino. The
losing team chooses the color of balls it wants to use.Coin toss winner throws the pallino.
• Toss is valid if the pallino passes center line and does not touch the back wall on opposite
end.
• If the player fails to place the pallino in valid area, the opposing team will put the pallino
in play.
• If both players fail, the pallino returns to the original team for an additional attempt.
Alternating process continues until pallino is in valid position.
• The Team that originally tossed the pallino will play the first ball.
The Game!
• The first ball may be rolled by ANY member of the Team that originally threw the
pallino. Winners of coin toss or previous frame
• Should the rolled ball hit the backboard without touching the pallino, it is a dead ball and
removed from the court.
• The same Team must throw again and continue rolling until a valid point is established.
• Once the point is established, the opposing Team must point or shoot until they make a
new (closer) point.
• Players may use side boards at any time.
• Balls can be measured at any time and, in case of doubt, an official referee or
Tournament official should be called. In the event a tie is determined, the last Team to
roll a ball must roll again until the tie is broken.
• If after all balls are played there is still a tie, no points are awarded and play resumes with
the Team last scoring tossing the pallino from the opposite end of the court.
• In the event a ball/balls are moved during a measurement by an official, the balls are
returned to approximate positions and official will still make the call. If however, a
member of a Team currently playing measures and moves a ball, the point is awarded to
the opposing team. In any case, the decision of a referee or official is final.
• One Team Member can cross the centerline to measure balls. Other players need to
remain at their respective end of the court.
Backboard:
• If a ball hits the backboard without first touching another ball or pallino, it is a dead ball
and removed from the court.
• If a ball is shot, hits the backboard illegally and then strikes a stationary ball/s, the shot
ball is removed from the court and the stationary ball/s are placed in their approximate
original position/s
• The pallino is always a valid target and remains in play even if it strikes the back wall
after being struck by any valid ball during a frame. If however, the pallino is knocked out
of the court or bounces back in front of the center line, the frame is considered void and
the Team that started the frame will begin again at the opposite end of the court.
• In the event ball/s resting against a backboard are moved as a result of a valid shot, they
remain in their new position. If however they move as a result of an invalid shot, they are
returned to their approximate original positions.
Scoring:
• Only one team scores in a frame (unless there is a tie)
• Games are usually played to 12 points
• Final games are usually played to 15 points (USBF recommended)
• Tournament Directors can decide any variation to game points but should do so prior to
the start of the event.
Illegal movement of balls or the pallino:
• Players should never touch or move any ball or the pallino until frame has ended. If a
player moves a ball prior to the end of a frame (thinking play is over) and the balls cannot
be accurately relocated to their positions, all remaining non-thrown balls of the nonoffending
team are counted as points. If the offense is committed by the playing team, all
non-thrown balls of that team are voided and the frame is over.
• ALL players should be out of the court if possible. If not possible, they should be
positioned in front of play area when a player at the opposite end is shooting.
• If a player is in the court standing BEHIND the point balls and pallino (In harm’s way or
“downstream”) and is struck by a ball or pallino as a result of a raffa or volo shot, the
opposing team receives the Rule of Advantage! The options are
o Leave all balls and pallino in the new configuration. or
o Remove the ball or pallino that struck their opponent from the court. If the
pallino is removed from the court, the frame is over and play begins from the
opposite end. or
o They can place the ball or pallino that struck their opponent anywhere on the
court.
If however, the player is standing in front of the point balls or pallino (Out of Harms way
or “upstream”), and is struck by a ball that moves backwards toward a player as the result
of a raffa or volo shot, the ball remains in play because the player was in a valid position.
In the event the pallino moves backward and touches a player the frame is over and play
begins from the opposite end.
If a player is struck by a ball or pallino in a point attempt or lag, the Rule of Advantage
applies no matter where the player was standing.
Shooting and Pointing:
• There are basically two (2) types of shooting.
• Volo: the act of lofting the ball in the air attempting to hit the target. Tournament
Directors may for safety concerns determine that Volo shooting may not be allowed. If it
is allowed the USBF uses the same foul line for both raffa and volo shooting.
• Raffa: the act of shooting at a target either by releasing the ball at ground level, slightly
lofting the ball or rolling the ball in a forceful manner.
• Pointing is done with either foot or both feet before or on the pointing line. A throw is
valid as long as any part of the foot/feet is on the line.
• When shooting (either style) the player is allowed to step on the line prior to releasing the
ball. As long as even the heel is on the line, it is a valid shot.
• Once a player has released the ball, he/she is allowed to continue steps up to the center
line. This is considered valid.