Rules for Bocce Tournament and Club Play

General Play

1. A coin is flipped to determine which team begins play. The player who rolls out the pallino initially must deliver the first bocce ball. The pallino must roll past the midfield line and stay in bounds. If on the first throw it does not, the opposing team will throw the pallino. If the opposing team also fails to serve correctly, the pallino is placed in the middle of the back court foul line and the first team begins play. The team, who originally tossed the pallino, whether successfully or not, throws the first bocce ball. 

2. If the pallino or bocce ball comes to rest on the foul line or against the side of the court, it is considered in bounds.  

3. Balls (either the pallino or bocce balls) may be banked from the sides of the court.

4. Once the pallino is in play, it remains in play even if it hits the backboard. The pallino may be knocked anywhere on the court except back behind the center line. If that should happen, the frame ends, play resumes at the opposite end, and the team that originally began the frame throws out the pallino.

5. If a bocce ball goes out of bounds it is removed from the game. However, if the pallino is knocked out of bounds, play continues and points are scored in the usual manner.

6. If a bocce ball bounces out of the court, it is considered out of bounds and is removed from the game. However, if the pallino is knocked out of the court, it will be returned to the center of the foul line and play continues. If the pallino is thrown out of the court on the initial serve, it will be ruled as out of bounds and the opposing team will throw the Pallino.

7. The team with a ball nearest the pallino lets the opposing team deliver balls until they have a ball closer. If the opposing team runs out of balls, the other team continues play until all of their balls have been played.

8. The sequence of delivery by members of a team in unimportant Our process has been to throw 2 in a row, also alternate going first, if using this process due we require alternate pallino?; however, each member of the team must have an opportunity to play in the game. No player shall deliver more than two balls per frame in tournament play.

9. The only player allowed in the court is the one delivering the ball, except during measurements or emergency situations. All players should remain behind the backboards, except the thrower.

10. Players must deliver all balls from behind the foul line. A player’s foot may not touch or go beyond the foul line when delivering a ball. When this occurs, the ball is considered out of bounds and is removed from the game. For this tournament no penalty will be assessed for foot foul or lobbing only a warning.

11. If a judge or any other person accidently moves a pallino or bocce ball, and there are more bocce balls to be thrown, then any balls moved should be returned to their approximate original position. The team captains have the option to discuss and replace the balls if they can reasonably agree to the ball position and continue the frame. However, if either captain disagrees, then that frame shall be considered null and void and replayed with no penalty to either team.

12. All unthrown bocce balls must remain on the court until played.

13. If a bocce ball is delivered out of turn, the offending team’s ball will be considered dead. Any and all disturbed balls are to be replaced to their approximate original position.

14. If a team delivers the wrong colored ball, the delivered ball will be replaced by a ball with the correct color. No penalty will be charged.

15. A substitution will be allowed if an injury or emergency situation arises. The substitute cannot be a person already in the tournament with another team. 

Scoring and measuring

1. Score is kept according by the number of the points scored by the team with the closet ball. A frame is completed when both teams have delivered all four of their balls and the winner of the frame is declared with either 1, 2, 3 or 4 points

2. The match winner is determined by who first reaches the predetermined number of points n. the predetermined number of points.

3. The team that scores in one frame starts the next frame by throwing out the pallino and playing the first bocce ball.

4. Two captains from teams that are NOT playing will act as judges in a match played by other teams. The designated judges shall determine which colored bocce balls are the closest to the pallino.

5. All measurements will be made using the club measuring devise. A point is scored for each bocce ball a team has closer to the pallino than the opponents’ closest ball. If each team’s closest balls result in a tied measurement, no score is made and play continues at the opposite end with the team that initially began the frame delivering the pallino first.

6. Only the judges shall conduct measurements before any balls are removed. However, if necessary, judges may request assistance from others or consult with team captains regarding measurements or rules. All decisions by the judges will be considered final.

Bocce Tournament Etiquette

1. Unsportsmanlike conduct such as use of profanity, refusal to accept judges’ decisions, excessive or extreme noises and yelling or harassing other players or walking into restricted areas is forbidden.

2. To preserve the condition of the court, players shall not wear ripple or spiked sole shoes.

3. Player shall not talk to or distract a thrower on the court prior to the release of the ball.

4. No player is permitted to walk up and down the sides of the court or to go up to the balls in play on the court and/or instruct a team player on how or where to throw the ball.

5. A thrower may request a measurement at any time.

6. A thrower may walk up to the balls on the court to evaluate the situation.

7. No judge can give advice to a team throwing the ball.

8. No smoking is permitted within 50 feet of the bocce court.