Best known in Italy and in the Italian communities of the United States, Bocce has been gaining popularity all over the country. Bocce is a simple game and can be played by people of all ages and skill levels. Bocce’s origins date back to 5000 BC, where evidence of Egyptian cave paintings depict Nile Delta boys playing something that resembles bocce. In addition, the game caught on with the Romans and Greeks. The game is very easy to learn and beginners can do as well as the ones that have played for years. Because of this, Bocce has really caught on in the resort in the last few years and it has been growing significantly each year. It is our hope that you will find bocce to be a very fun, if not addicting, game.
The resort has 2 bocce courts and they are being used a significant amount of time during the resort season. In league play, 2 games are played each week between different teams. Each team consists of 4 people and can be men, women, or any mix of men/women. Each game is played to 10 points.
It is our hope that you utilize our bocce courts. If you are new to the game and are a little tentative about getting a team together and playing in the league then get on the substitute list. Especially, if you are unsure about playing every week. Being a sub lets you play as much or as little as you would like. We will warn you, playing as a sub will lead you to getting into the league as a full-time player the next season!
Where
Bocce Ball Courts
When
Saturday
Time
8am - 1pm
Dates
Mid-January through mid-March. See resort calendar for specific dates.
Other Related Events
In early January, a new player instructional meeting will be held at the bocce courts to show people how to play the game.
A tournament will be held following the end of season play.
There is an informal group that plays Tuesday afternoons during the resort season.
Equipment Required
A bocce set consists of 4 balls of one color, 4 balls of a different color, and a small Pallino ball. Many of the resort owners have their own balls, however, there are sets of balls in the cabinets next to the 2 bocce courts. In addition, we have 2 sets of balls that are only used for league play.
How To Join
An email blast will be sent in December with details on how and when to register.
Team sign-ups for league play will begin in the first two weeks of January.
Contact For More Information
Evelyn Marbury
364 NW Chipshot Lane
Email: evelyn.marbury@gmail.com
BOCCE BALL LEAGUE RULES
As Played in the Motorcoach RV Resort
Basic Rules
* Each team will consist of 4 players.
* Each team will have a Captain – The team Captain may designate a player as an “End Captain”.
* Team Captains participate in the coin toss to determine serving team (If no coin, use rock-paper- scissors).
* The serving team throws the pallino (small ball) from behind the foul line (blue tape on sideboards).
- The pallino MUST pass the centerline of the court and come to rest at least 12 inches away from the sideboards and backboard without hitting the backboard.
- If the player fails 2 times to place the pallino into legal play, the opposing team throws the pallino.
* The team that throws the pallino also throws the first ball from behind the foul line (blue tape on sideboards).
- The opposing team then throws their first ball, if that ball is equal distance with the team throwing first to the pallino, the next throw goes to the team that initially threw the pallino and they continue to throw if they have a ball closer to the pallino or runs out of balls.
- 60 minutes after play starts, the match is complete. The team with the highest number of points will be awarded the win. If both teams are tied, one more round will be played.
* For each court, split a team of 4 people so that 2 from the same team are on each end of the court. That prevents 8 people from being all on one
end of a court at any point during the matches. Only 2 people from each team throw per match, rather than all 4 (each person throws 2 balls and team members alternate throwing). The people on the side with the scoreboard always keeps score. Only the team Captain or end Captain may go on to the court to determine which color is closer to the pallino and measure the distance if needed. When the round is over the other end throws. That will eliminate teams having to go back and forth from one end of the court to the other (and thereby crossing paths with other players).
In addition, it will shorten the time needed to play because you don’t have to switch sides.
Scoring
* The first team to reach 10 points is the winner.
* If the ball touches the pallino, you don’t get an extra point.
* You can get 1, 2, 3, or 4 point(s) in a round; only 1 team can score points each round.
* Points are based on who is closer to the pallino.
- If you are closest, you get 1 point.
- If both balls are equal, you go to the next closest ball, which determines who gets the point.
- If you have the next 1, 2, or 3 balls that are closer than the opponent’s first closest ball, you receive the points.
- If you throw a regular ball (not the pallino) short of halfway, it stays on the court and can score a point.
- If you throw a regular ball and it hits the backboard, without first touching the pallino or another ball, it is a dead ball and removed from play. If a
ball hits the sideboard then the back wall without hitting the pallino or another ball it also is a dead ball.
* The team that won the last round throws the ball first in the next round.
League Policies
* Each team is responsible for getting a substitute if a team member is not able to play. A substitute may be a member of another team that isn’t playing at that time (except during playoffs).
* If a substitute isn’t available, a team may play a match if only 2 or 3 players (out of 4) are present, however, no player is permitted to throw more than 2 balls, resulting in a penalty of 2 balls per missing player. If only 2 players from a team are present, they would throw from the opposite ends of the court.
* A team without at least 2 of the 4 players present at the scheduled game start time forfeits the game with zero points and the opponent is awarded 10 points.
* If a team is not able to play on a scheduled league date (whether or not substitutes are available) then pre-play (prior to league play for that week) is an option if both teams are fully present (no substitutes for pre-play). They can contact the opposing team and schedule a time to play during the
week prior to their scheduled date. Their scores should be text to Evelyn Marbury at
479-435-1415 so they can be recorded. If teams cannot agree
on a time to play, the team that could not play will score “0” wins and the other team will score “2” wins.
* Forfeit Rule: All teams will make the playoffs at the end of the season unless a team forfeits twice during the regular season.
Tournament Policies
* Substitutes for the tournament may not be a member of another team on the league.