SP O RT4ALL - SUMMER 2022
A L L YO U NEED TO KNOW ABOUT
Bo cBc i a Have you ever heard of boccia? Do you know how to pronounce it? For lots of people the answer to both these questions is “no”. Boccia England is on a mission to change that and explains why boccia is a uniquely accessible sport.
occia is the most inclusive sport you’ll find and it provides fun for all the family. It can be played by anyone regardless of age, gender, ability or disability. The game was originally designed for people with cerebral palsy and for many regular players it is the only sport they can participate in because of the severity of their disability. But it’s also enjoyed by people with a range of other physical and learning disabilities and many non-disabled people, too. Louis Saunders, who recently represented Paralympics GB in Tokyo, said: “I wasn’t strong enough for wheelchair basketball, not fast enough for wheelchair racing and not agile enough for wheelchair tennis. I love sport, I want to be the best and sadly I didn’t really have that chance, that opportunity, because of the nature of my disability. But that was before boccia; now I’ve been given a chance and I’ve made the most of it.”
How to play
Boccia is a target ball sport, a bit like bowls. From a seated position (and therefore ideal for wheelchair users) players propel balls to land close to a white marker ball – the jack. If you’re unable to grasp and propel a ball, you can use a ramp. There’s also a specially adapted version of the game available for people with visual impairments.
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