Ed Treglia
Bocce ball has arrived in SunBird as announced in the last issue of the SunBird News. This very entertaining game is enjoyed worldwide and requires very little effort. To those who do not know the nature of the game, read the following and keep this information.
Bocce ball is played with eight large balls and one smaller (white) or object ball called the pallino.
There are four balls to a side, or team, and they are made in two colors (usually red and green) to distinguish the balls of one team from the four balls of the opposing team.
A coin toss will determine which team has the pallino first and which color balls that team selects.
The pallino is thrown out by a member of the team having won the coin toss to start the game.
The same player throwing the pallino must deliver the first bocce ball.
The opposing team will then deliver their bocce balls until the closest ball is beaten. They must keep throwing until they have exhausted their four balls. At this point, the team with the closest ball can roll their remaining balls and try to get an extra point for each ball that beats the closest opponent’s ball. Max points is four. This nearest ball rule governs the sequence of thrown balls. The side whose ball is the closest to the pallino is called the “in” ball and the opposing side the “out ball.” Whenever a team gets in it steps aside and allows the out team to bowl. A team has the option of rolling or banking, etc. its ball down the court provided it does not hit the back board (dead ball) or the player does not violate the foul markers. A player also has the option of “spocking” or hitting out any ball in play in trying to obtain a point, or decreasing the opposing team’s points. At the end of each frame (when both teams have exhausted four balls each), a designated official under the scrutiny of the captain or designee of each team, will determine the points scored. Scoring points are all those balls of one team closer to the pallino than the closest ball of the opposing team, which can be determined by viewing or by mechanical measurement. In the event that the two balls closest to the pallino belong to opposing teams and exactly the same distance from the pallino no points will be awarded and the pallino returns to the team which delivered it. Only balls which are distinguishably closer to the pallino than any opponent’s balls may be awarded points.
The current trial course is temporary but will expand according to interest and participation.