OPEN RULES

1. Composition balls will be used. Sizes suggested are 107 to 114 millimeters
   in diameter, with weights between 920 and 1100 grams.
   
   
   
   


2. The toss of the coin will decide the starting team and the winner will also
   choose the color of the balls. {The winners of the coin toss get control of
   the pallino and their choice of the color of balls - some versions of open
   rules give the winner of the toss the choice of first toss of pallino or the
   color of balls.}
   
   
   
   


3. The starting team must toss the "pallino" to a valid position past the center
   or "in play" line, but not coming to rest on the backboard. It must settle
   at least 12 inches from the sideboard. If, after three attempts, the starting
   team fails to validly place it, the opposing team tosses the pallino. If the
   opposing team fails in the first attempt, the referee will place the pallino
   in a valid position. The first bocce ball is rolled by the player who originally
   tossed the pallino.
   
   
   
   


4. The pallino remains in play unless it is knocked out of the court or in
   front of the center or "in play" line, then the frame is ended and play resumes
   from the opposite end. The same team tosses the pallino. {The team that tossed
   the pallino for the canceled frame tosses it again, restarting from the opposite
   end.}
   
   
   
   


5. A ball touching the backboard is dead unless it first strikes another ball,
   in which case all balls are valid. {Any shot, whether punto, raffa, or volo
   that goes to the backboard without first striking another ball is dead and
   removed from the court - different groups playing open rules seem to be moving
   in this direction.}
   
   
   
   


6. If the first thrown ball of the starting team touches the backboard without
   first hitting the pallino, the ball is out of play and that team must roll
   again until the initial point is established.
   
   
   
   


7. A thrown ball that doesn't touch another ball and returns from the backboard
   into the field of play and strikes another ball and/or the pallino is out
   of play. The pallino and/or the other balls are returned to their approximate
   original positions. If a ball strikes the backboard causing a ball or balls
   resting on the backboard to move, the ball(s) are returned to their approximate
   original positions. {This is a common occurrence when previously played balls
   are in contact with the swing board.}
   
   
   
   


8. The players shall not step over the foul line before releasing the pallino
   or their ball.
   
   
   
   


9. Players may use the sideboard at any time.
   
   
   
   


10. The tournament host will decide on the number of points required to win
    a match.
    
    
    
    


11. All players must remain outside the court while the opposing team is rolling.
    
    
    
    


12. In a tournament game when substitutes are allowed, a team may make one substitution
    from their roster per game. This substitution may take place at any time in
    a game. Once a player has been removed from a game, the player cannot reenter
    that same game.
    
    
    
    


13. Volo shooting is lofting the ball in the air beyond the center or "in play"
    line of the court. Volo shooting is only allowed on courts where the in play
    line for first toss of pallino is at least 38 feet from the backboard. {WBA
    reasons that, with a longer play area, volo attempts are not easy targets
    as they are on the shorter courts. Note that to qualify as a volo, the attempt
    must first land past the center line.}
    
    
    
    


14. In the case of a tie between two balls, the prevailing (or first ball) has
    to be beaten, not tied. If the frame ends in a tie, no points are awarded
    and play resumes from the opposite end of the court with the same team tossing
    the pallino.
    
    
    
    


15. If a player rolls the wrong colored ball, simply replace it with the correct
    color when the ball comes to rest.
    
    
    
    


16. If a player rolls out of turn, the opposing team may leave everything, including
    the thrown ball, exactly as is or may return any moved balls to their approximate
    positions and remove the thrown ball. {This option of accepting the play,
    or returning displaced balls to their original positions and "killing" the
    illegally thrown ball, is bocce's rule of advantage. The option goes to the
    opponents of the team that commits the infraction.}
    
    
    
    


17. If an individual delivers more than his allotted number of balls, the opposing
    team may accept the result of the illegal roll, or remove the illegal ball
    and return any scattered balls to their original positions. {Bocce's rule
    of advantage applies.}
    
    
    
    


18. Team captains may request measurement of any ball at any time.
    
    
    
    


19. Any and all disputes will be resolved by the tournament committee.
    
    
    
    


20. When hitting, mark the positions of all balls that are three feet or less
    from the backboard. {If the ball hits a ball on its way to the backboard,
    it is live and the play stands. If it contacts no ball and then hits the backboard,
    it is dead and removed from the court. This rule #20 is necessary because
    of a third possible scenario. The ball may hit no ball, strike the backboard,
    and then carom into a ball or balls near the end boards. These displaced balls
    have to be returned to their original locations and therefore those positions
    must be marked previous to the shot.}
    
    
    
    


21. Winning Score - The number of points needed to win a game varies with the
    type of game being played. Final games go to 15 points and all preliminary
    rounds go to 12 points. A game is won when a side or team reaches:
    
    
    
    • 15 points in a four-player team where one ball is delivered per player
      
    
    
    • 12 points in a four-player team where two players stationed at each
      end of the court deliver two balls each
    
    
    • 12 points in a two-player game where each player delivers four balls
      
    
    
    • 12 points in a one-player game where one player delivers four balls
    
    
    
    

BOCCE: FOR BEACH OR BACKYARD

PLAYING

The object is to score the most points by ending each frame with your color
balls closest to the Pallino (point ball). Toss of a coin determines who will
play first. To start the game one Team / Person throws the Pallino at least
halfway down the designated playing area. The same person who tossed the Pallino
then throws one ball trying to get it as close to the Pallino as possible. Team
Two then throws trying to get a ball closer to the Pallino than Team One. If
Team Two gets closer, then it is Team One's turn. If Team Two's ball does not
come closer then they continue to throw until they get a ball closer to the
Pallino than Team One or until they run out of balls. Then Team One throws their
balls. You can knock your opponent's balls away from the Pallino to increase
your score.

SCORING

At the end of each frame the Team closest to the Pallino will get a point
for each ball that is closer than the closest opponents ball. The game is usually
played to 12 points.