Definitions:
• Bocce Balls: coloured game balls that players throw or roll as close as they can to the Boch.
• Boch: referred to as the Pallino in regular Bocce Ball, it is the golf ball that is used to represent the target for the bocce balls during game play. It is thrown or rolled into play by the team who has been awarded Boch Control. Hitting the Boch with a Bocce Ball or hitting the Boch into another Bocce Ball results in an instant point for whichever team’s bocce ball touches the Boch.
• Boch Control: the team that throws the boch into play is said to have boch control. The team is allowed to throw or role the boch into the court to set up the target, as well as determine the Throwing Line from which the players will throw their bocce balls. Boch control is decided in the first end of the game by a game of Paper Scissors Rock and thereafter will be awarded to whichever team scores in the end.
• Dead Boch: a dead boch happens when neither team gets a bocce ball Within a Din (6’2”) of the Boch. This results in a transfer of Boch Control from the team who threw the unplayable Boch to their opponent.
• Perfect Boch: When one teams Bocce balls are closer to the Boch than all of the opponents bocce balls.
• Double Touch: When the Boch is struck multiple times by the same Bocce Ball with a single shot. A maximum of two points are awarded for a double touch regardless of how many times the Boch is struck.
• Gentleman’s Boch: a term used when the boch is thrown a short distance into the court making for a seemingly easy target for his opponent.
• Out of bounds: The out of bounds area is anything man made like sidewalks, fences, flower beds, beverages, etc. If a player’s throw results in their, or any other bocce ball in play going out of bounds, that ball must be removed from the court by player who’s ball it is.
• Page Playoff (Four Team): The playoff system used in all BHLISA Bocce Round Robin tournaments. The format progresses as follows:
1. In Game 1, the third- and fourth-placed teams play against each other. The loser is eliminated.
2. In Game 2, the first- and second-placed teams play against each other. Winner goes straight to finals.
3. In Game 3, the winner of Game 1 plays against the loser of Game 2. The loser is eliminated. 4. Game 4 (the final) is then played between the winners of Games 2 and 3
• Round Robin: A standard round-robin tournament is used, in which all teams play each other once. Top four teams advance to the playoffs.
• Touch: A point is awarded whenever a player strikes the Boch with a Bocce ball or whenever a Bocce Ball is touched by the Boch.
• Walk of Shame: Having to retrieve a Bocce Ball or the Boch if it goes out of bounds.
• Within a Din: in order for a bocce ball to count, it must be within 6’2” of the Boch, which is the height of Din, our tallest friend.
BHLISA Bocce Rules:
Game Objective: The object is to throw your bocce balls closer to the Boch, than your opponent. The first team to reach 11 points wins the game (must win by 2. Start of the Game: Each game begins with opponents playing a game of Paper, Scissors, Rock to determine who gets Boch Control. After the team who wins Boch control throws the Boch into play, the opponent throws the first Bocce Ball. Teams then alternate turns until all the Bocce Balls have been thrown. After the first end, Boch control is awarded to whichever team is closest to the Boch after all balls have been thrown in the end.
Scoring:
• Round Robin games are played to 11.
• Playoff games are to 15.
• The final to 21.
• All games must be won by 2 points, no exceptions. Points are awarded in two ways.
1st: Hitting the Boch with a Bocce Ball or hitting the Boch into another Bocce Ball during gameplay results in an instant point for whichever teams bocce ball touches the Boch. When the Boch is struck multiple times by the same Bocce Ball with a single shot, a maximum of two points are awarded regardless of how many times the Boch is struck.
2nd: All other scoring is done after all Bocce Balls have been thrown into play. Teams are awarded 1 point for every bocce ball within a Din that is closer to the Boch than their opponent. Any disputes about scoring will be settled by measurement using the approved tape measures provided. Any measurement disputes will be settled by a third-party player or fan. All third-party measurement decisions are final.
Out of Bounds:
The out of bounds area is anything man made like sidewalks, fences, flower beds, beverages, etc. If a player’s throw results in their, or any other bocce ball in play going out of bounds, that ball must be removed from the court by the team it belongs to. If the Boch is knocked out of bounds, the player throwing still receives a single point for hitting the Boch, but his or her opponent is allowed to throw the bocce from the original throwing area back into play, wherever he or she desires.
Rules of Etiquette
• Absolutely no overhand throws are permitted.
• No spitting on the court.
• No taunting while a player is in the act of throwing. Taunting and psychological games are allowed at all other times. In fact, they are encouraged.
• Every attempt should be made to not interfere with other games that are happening simultaneously on other courts.