Eataly Pizzeria • 13700 FM 973 N. Building D • 512-549-4222 • eatalypizzeria.com
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BASIC BOCCE RULES by Robert Battaile ©2022 The object of the game is to get your balls closer to the pallino (small ball) than your opponent's closest ball. You get one point for each ball of yours that's closer. 1) Flip a coin. Winner chooses either to throw the pallino first; or select the color of balls. 2) Pallino must go past the half-way mark; and can not hit the back wall. If it does, the other team rolls the pallino, but the first ball is still thrown by the original thrower. If the 2nd pallino roll is no good, place the pallino in the middle of the other side at the appropriately colored "reset" marker. 3) Whenever any large ball hits the back wall, it becomes a dead ball and is removed from the court and put into the ball holder. 4) Once the pallino (sometimes called the target ball, or jack) is in play, that same person rolls their first ball (boulle) trying to get as close to it as possible. The same team will keep rolling until they get a ball in play in order to "set" the point. 5) Now, the other team rolls a ball. You can roll from anywhere in the end zone. You may step on, but not over the line. ROLL is the best word. Nice and smooth. Try to avoid throwing or lobbing the balls. Balls can bounce off the sidewalls and hit other balls. 6) The other team will roll until they get one of their balls closer to the pallino. (i.e. NOT simply alternating rolls) Often times, it's literally impossible to tell with out taking a measurement. Measure from inside edge to inside edge (See page 4) 7) Play continues until all the balls are rolled. Generally, each team is 2 people that each roll 2 balls. They can roll two in a row, or alternate with their partner. If there's a third person, someone sits out every third frame. The "traditional" bocce league style is having at least four players on your team; and half of them are at each end. You play to 12 points. Sometimes teams are 6-12 players and substituting players mid-frame is allowed. Choose a capo (captain) to steer the ship. (Of course, you can play to whatever number of points you want to; and you don't have to keep score.) We have two courts - so there are many ways to play. If you are four players, you walk back and forth after each frame and play to 12 points. If you are 3 players, one of you rolls all four balls. If you are having a family picnic with 8 players; or team-building with 16 employees (more or less) you may want to play "Manority Rules!" Bocce in which each end of the court is playing its own game on the entire court to 6 points. The teams rotate after each game so it's a good mixer. (see page 7) The 4-colored set of balls might be considered a junior set (but still fun to play for adults) If you are playing as a 2-person team with four balls - think of the teams as "warm" colors (Red and Yellow) vs. "cool" colors (Blue and Green). If you're playing as 4 individual players (or even 3 individual players) with two balls each; the scoreboard shows the order of play. Once the pallino-thrower is determined, the order is Y-R-G-B. Use the scoreboard pegs to leap-frog the previous score. It helps, believe me. --- You can start play now - or go to Level 2 ---
Mano r i t y R u l e s !
The Back Walls are easily moved. It’s the silver bolt that needs to go in the wall a few turns. Use the black knob to take up a little slack if needed. Loose is good. It deadens the ball’s ricochet when struck.
Thanks to Austin Bocce League Robert Battaile, Director (robert@austinbocceleague.org) Manuel Dasilva, Manor Chapter Director (manuel@austinbocceleague.org) along with Eataly Restaurant - (512) 549-4222 eatalypizzeria.com Austin Bocce League is a 501(c)(3) tax deductible charitable organization.
Manor Country Club = bit.ly/ManorParks
This is what Manor’s Bocce scene could look like!