Bocce Ball Rules

Bocce Ball Rules

1. Teams & Rosters - Each team consists of 4 players. A minimum of 2 players must be present to play a match. Teams rotate players between games/frames; 2 players per side at a time. - Substitutes allowed during regular season games, substitutes must be approved during playoff matches. 

2. Equipment - League provides 8 bocce balls (4 per team) and 1 pallino. Personal bocce sets are not allowed unless approved. 

3. Court & Setup - Games are played on outdoor courts on artificial turf. Rock Paper Scissors decides pallino thrower and ball color. 

4. Game Play - Games to 12 points or 30-minute time cap. Only one team scores per frame (closest to pallino). Teams alternate pallino throws. Non-scoring team throws first in the next round. 

5. Throwing Rules - Pallino must cross the center line and stay inbounds. Two invalid pallino throws = opponent places it. Bocce balls must be underhanded. Each Team must alternate throws until all the balls have been thrown. The same player/players must throw for the entirety of the frame. There should not be any switching of throwers mid-frame.  A ball is considered dead if it hits the back wall without first touching the pallino or another bocce ball, and must be removed from the court and cannot be rethrown. 

 

6. Scoring- 1 point for each ball closer to pallino than opponent's closest. First to 12 points or highest score at time cap wins. 

7. Time Limit - 30-minute match cap. Complete frame if time expires; no new frames with <5 minutes left.

 8. Conduct & Sportsmanship - Be respectful and courteous. No profanity or unsportsmanlike conduct. Violators may be removed from the match or league. 

9. Standings & Playoffs - Playoff seedings will be determined by the best overall records. In the event of ties, head-to-head matchups will determine higher seedings whenever possible. When head-to-head matchups cannot clearly determine a higher seed, tiebreakers will be determined in the following order:

  1. Head-to-head matchups
  2. Highest team point differentials for the season
  3. Highest team total points for the season
  4. Lowest team total points allowed for the season
  5. Coin Flip
     

10. Disputes - Captains resolve rulings when no ref is present. Unresolved issues should be reported to the on-site League Coordinator.