Bocce ball traces as far back as early Egyptian times, according to Home Furnish. It is now a simple game that people can play in their own backyard. The game involves players trying to roll a ball closer than their opponents' to a set ball.
Setup
Split the players evenly into two teams. Place a smaller ball, called the pallina, anywhere in the yard. Both teams aim for this ball as their target. Each team receives four larger balls to throw at the pallina. Pick a line for both teams to roll from. A larger distance provides a bigger challenge. In official play, distance should be 76 feet from the set ball, but if your backyard is smaller you can adjust to the space.
Gameplay
One team tries to roll a larger ball as close as possible to the pallina. The opposing team then rolls a ball either trying to move closer to the pallina or knock the opponents' ball further away. The turns alternate until each team has thrown all four of their balls.
Scoring
Only one team can earn points per round. The team with the closest ball to the pallina wins the round. Balls touching the pallina do not count. The winning team earns a point for each ball closer than the closest opposing ball. In case of a tie, neither team earns points. The first roll in the next round goes to the winning team from the previous round.
Winning
Traditionally, bocce ball continues until a team reaches a total of 12 points. Players can adjust this target to any number they would like based on how long they would like to play.
Member Comments