Bocce
Invented in Italy, played around the world. Sophisticated, but never complicated. You’re closest to the jack, right up to the moment you’re not.
Equipment
- 8 Bocce balls (4 green, 4 white)
- 1 Pallino ball
Setup
- Teams of 1, 2, or 4 players each
- Each team gets 4 bocce balls
- Both teams play from the same area
Objective
- Get your balls closer to the Pallino to score points
- First to 11 wins; must win by 2
House Rules
Start
- Coin toss winner throws Pallino
- If Pallino doesn’t reach halfway, other team throws
- The same team that throws the Pallino throws the first bocce ball
Play
- Throw from behind the fault line, underhand
- Balls must travel halfway down the court or are removed
- Hitting the opponent’s balls is allowed
- Team closest to Pallino is “In” – the other is “Out”
- “Out” team throws until they’re “In” or run out of balls
- All balls must be thrown by both teams
Scoring
- Award points after all balls are thrown
- If balls are equally close, the next closest breaks tie
- First to 11 wins; must win by 2
Points
- Only the team closest to Pallino scores
- 1pt – For each ball closer than the opponent’s nearest ball
- 2pt – “Kiss”: Ball is touching the Pallino