About the USBF: USBF Bocce Open Rules

Open Bocce Regulations Of the United States Bocce Federation

Teams

Teams will be comprised of four players. Two players from each team will be permanently stationed at each end of the court. Throwing two balls each. At the end of each frame, the game resumes at the opposite end of the court. Begin the match with the flip of a coin between the captains of each team. The winner of the coin flip may have the first toss of the pallino (small target ball), or choose the color of the balls.

Tossing the Pallino

A player may toss the pallino any distance, so long as the pallino passes the center line of the court, and does not hit the back wall. If a player fails to toss the pallino properly, the the opposing team will toss the pallino and put it into play. If the opposing team fails to properly toss the pallino, the pallino reverts to the original team. Any time a player is rolling, opposing players must remain outside the court.

Starting the Game

The first ball will be thrown by the team who originally tossed the pallino. If that bocce ball hits the back board, the team must roll again, Otherwise, you step aside and that team does not roll again, until the opposing team has either rolled one if its bocce balls closer to the pallino, or has thrown all of its balls. Whenever a team gets a ball closer, it steps aside and lets the other team roll. The other team throws until it beats (not ties) the opposing ball. This continues until both teams have used all their bocce balls. The team who scored last throws the pallino to begin the next frame. Consecutive or alternating throws by teammates shall be at the option of the players. Players may use the side walls at any time. If a player rolls the wrong color ball, simply replace it with the correct color when it comes to rest. If a player rolls out of turn or plays more than two balls, the other team may leave all balls as is or remove the illegal ball from play and return all balls to their approximate position.

Foul Lines

Players may step on but not over the foul line before releasing the pallino or their ball.

Scoring

Only one team scores in a frame. One point is given for each ball that is closer to the pallino than the closest ball of the opposing team. If at the end of any frame the closest ball of each team is equidistant from the pallino, no points are awarded to either team and the game resumes from the opposite end of the court, with the same team tossing the pallino. Games are normally played to 13 points. The tournament host may change this number.

Balls Hitting the back wall

A ball hitting the back board is dead & must be removed from play unless it first hits another ball in which case all balls are valid. If a thrown ball does not first touch another ball and hits the back board and then strikes a stationary ball, that stationary ball shall be replaced to its approximate position. The thrown ball is removed from play.

Pallino hitting the back wall

Once the pallino is in play, it remains in play even if it hits the back board during the game. However, if the pallino is knocked out of the court, or is knocked in front of the center line, the frame will end and play will resume from the opposite end of the court, with the same team tossing the pallino.

Shooting Volo

Volo shooting is lofting the ball in the air beyond the center of the court. The tournament host may disallow volo shooting for safety considerations.

Measuring and Disputes

Team captains may measure any balls at any time. All disputes will be resolved by the tournament host.

Late Arrivals and Substitutions

A team not showing within 10 minutes of the scheduled starting time, looses two points, and an additional two points for each five minutes increment thereafter. A team not showing up within 30 minutes of the scheduled starting time forfeits the game.

A team missing players at the start of the game may play, however, each player may only roll two balls. A player arriving late may enter a game, but only after the completion of the frame.

A team may make one substitution per game. Substitutions may only be made between frames.

Back to the USBF Homepage