top of page

Eagle Ridge Bocce Rules

GENERAL INFORMATION

The Eagle Ridge Bocce League is intended to be a social event where neighbors can gather to enjoy each other’s company. Food and drink are the mainstay of social events and I highly encourage each of you to bring an appetizer to share. The rules of play are provided below but please be reminded that this is supposed to be fun. Those who have an intense desire to be competitive should consider an alternate league. This league is for Eagle Ridge residents only and you must 18 years of age.

​

RULES OF PLAY:

Teams will consist of 4 players, 2 stationed at each end of the court. Players are not allowed to switch sides after the game has started.

The pallino is the first ball put into play and is thrown underhand from behind the foul line (indicated by white mark 10’ from end of court). The pallino must cross the center line but remain short of the 4’ foot line to stay in play. If the pallino does not land in this zone the other team then throws the pallino.

Once the pallino is set the same player will roll a bocce ball trying to get it as close to the pallino as possible. If the first ball played hits the backboard without first hitting the pallino the ball is removed and the same team rolls again until they have a valid ball in play.

Players must have both feet behind the foul line when they roll a ball. If a player steps on or over the designated foul line that is considered a foot fault. Bocce is a friendly game and a polite warning to the player before they roll should suffice. If you find a player is repeatedly ignoring such warnings it should be brought to the attention of both team capos for resolution. Capos may decide that the penalty for a ball thrown with a foot fault is to remove that ball from play during that frame only. We shouldn’t get to this point. Let’s try to work it out.

Next, a player from the opposing team will throw one of their bocce balls with the intent of getting closer to the pallino than their opponent. If they succeed, the ball will be considered “inside”. If they do not, they will continue throwing all of their balls, rotating turns between teammates, until one is inside.

The team that does not have the ball closest to the pallino will always be the one to throw. Frames will end once all the balls have been thrown.

Balls may be played against the sideboards however a ball hitting the backboard without first touching the pallino or another bocce ball is a dead ball and removed from play.

 

If a player inadvertently throws the wrong color ball simply replace it with the correct color ball when it comes to rest and let play continue.

If a player rolls a ball out of turn the opposing team has two options:

  1. Leave the ball as it rests and play resumes with the opposing team OR

  2. Remove the illegally thrown ball from play and return all other balls to their previous positions as best you can and the opposing team resumes play.

 

If the ‘inside’ ball cannot be determined visually, ONE player from each team may enter the court to take a measurement.If the balls are considered to be equidistant to the pallino during the frame the last team to roll continues to do so until the tie is broken. If the balls are equidistant at the end of the frame neither team scores a point and the team who rolled first in the previous frame will begin the next frame. PLEASE KEEP MEASUREMENTS DURING EACH FRAME TO A MINIMUM AS IT REALLY SLOWS DOWN THE GAME. Measuring after all balls are thrown is obviously okay to determine who has scored points.

​

SCORING

After all balls have been thrown the winner is the team with the closest ball to the pallino. The winning team scores one point for each bocce ball that is closer to the pallino than the opposing team’s closest bocce ball. The score is immediately recorded on the scoreboard. The first team to reach 14 points or the team with highest point total at the end of the allotted time wins the game.

​

TIMING

Games will be begin promptly at the scheduled time and a timer will be set for 55 minutes. If a winner has not already been determined when that timer goes off, play ends immediately and points are counted up for the actual balls that had been put into play. If only the pallino and one ball have been thrown the frame ends with no added points for either team. The game is concluded even if a score of 14 has not yet been reached and ties will be counted as ties. Scoring will be determined and the results recorded. Please only send out one person per team to finalize the score. And that person should roll the balls back for the new frame to start. We try to minimize the amount of people walking on the courts.

​

CAPOS

Each team has a designated capo. It is the capo’s responsibility to make sure that players are ready to begin play promptly on the hour. The schedule (online and in print at the courts) will specify which team begins and which color balls are assigned. Capos are also expected to resolve any conflicts or concerns that arise during game play. And capos need to record the final game score on the master scoresheet (located on a clipboard). Please don’t forget!

​

SUBSTITUTES

First and foremost we all come to the courts ready to enjoy a game. If for any reason any of the team members cannot make a scheduled game it is your responsibility to find a sub from a league other than your own so that the game may be played. You are allowed to select the sub of your choice provided they are an Eagle Ridge resident and over 18. An updated sub list can always be found on the website to help you find someone, but your sub is not required to be from this list. In the unfortunate case that you do not have a full team the following rules apply.

1 Player Missing

If a team is missing 1 player, the single player will only be allowed to roll 3 balls while the two player side will be allowed to roll all four balls.

2 Players Missing

If a team has only 2 players, one will play at each end of the court and they can only throw 3 balls apiece.

bottom of page