Bocce

Officially Bocce (Boccia / Bowls Family)

Ancient Italian outdoor precision ball game — teams roll/toss weighted resin balls toward a smaller target ball (pallino) on a long narrow court; closest team scores; first team to 12 or 13 wins.

👥4 per team📐long narrow court (grass, dirt, sport court)⏱~30 min🌤outdoor

Photo · Wikipedia

What is Bocce?

Bocce is an outdoor precision ball sport with roots in ancient Egypt + Roman Empire (2000 BCE). Modern rules established in 19th-century Italy; brought worldwide by Italian immigrants. Two teams (1-4 players each) roll or toss weighted balls (bocce, ~107mm diameter, 920g) toward a smaller target ball (pallino, ~48-60mm) on a long narrow court (13-27m × 2.4-4m). Traditional casual play on grass, dirt, or crushed oyster shells; competitive on manufactured 'sport bocce' courts with hardwood or synthetic surface. Scoring: only closest team scores each round; 1 point per ball closer to pallino than opponent's nearest. First team to 12 or 13 points wins (varies by federation). Different variants: (1) Volo — from throwing line, aerial approach permitted; (2) Punto Raffa Volo — mixed rolling + tossing; (3) American bocce — pallino thrown to opposite end; (4) Bocce Volo — specifically thrown aerially. Governed by CBI (Confederazione Bocce Internazionale) + FIB (Federazione Italiana Bocce). Popular in Italy, USA, France, Argentina, Uruguay. Featured at Paralympics (as 'boccia' — separate ISF discipline for athletes with severe disabilities). Casual + social sport at BBQs, picnics, family gatherings. Special Olympics + Paralympic disciplines add competitive dimension.

Quick facts

How it works

Objective

Score 12 or 13 points before opponent by placing bocce balls closer to pallino than opponent's nearest ball.

Match structure

One team tosses pallino to opposite end of court. That team then rolls/throws first bocce. Opposing team rolls/throws (attempting to get closer). Team NOT closest keeps throwing until they get closer OR run out of balls. After all balls thrown, count points: 1 per ball closer than opponent's best. First to 12 or 13 wins.

Rules

Basic rules

Throw from behind foul line
Feet cannot cross foul line during throw.
Pallino must land past halfway
Target ball must land past court midway (typically 12ft in US 60ft court).
First team throws first bocce
Team that threw pallino gets first bocce attempt.
Not closest throws again
Team without ball closest to pallino keeps throwing until they get closer.
One point per ball closer than opponent's best
After all balls thrown, count winning team's balls closer than opponent's nearest ball.
First team to 12 or 13 wins
Varies by federation — US Bocce Federation (12), Italian FIB (13).
Team not scoring throws pallino next round
Losing team of round gets first throw of pallino next round.

Advanced rules

Rolling vs tossing (punto vs raffa/volo)
Punto = rolling ball toward pallino. Raffa = high toss aiming to land past opponent. Volo = aerial shot to displace.
Foul balls removed
If ball is thrown out of court boundary or fails to reach 4ft mark, removed + point-free.
Measure close balls
If unclear which is closer, use tape measure; ties = no point that round.
Displaced pallino strategy
Deliberately hit pallino to move toward your balls or into wall.
Volo shot (perfect aerial)
Aerial shot lands exactly where you want; requires precision + power.
Time limit per throw
60 seconds per throw at tournament level; casual = untimed.
Paralympic Boccia (BC1-BC4 classifications)
Athletes with severe disabilities; leather balls; ramp-assisted throws for some classifications.
Court size variations
US Bocce Federation: 60ft × 12ft. International FIB: 27.5m × 2.5-4m. Backyard casual: any flat space.

Scoring

1 point per team's ball closer to pallino than opponent's nearest. First to 12 or 13 points wins.

Action	Points
Ball closer than opponent's nearest	1 (per ball)
All 4 balls of one team closer (max)	4
Draw (both teams equidistant)	0 for both; round replays
Foul ball (out of bounds or fails to reach line)	Removed; team keeps throwing without that ball

Win condition · First team to reach 12 or 13 points wins.

Playing area

Called

long narrow court (grass, dirt, sport court)

Dimensions

US: 60ft × 12ft (18m × 3.7m). International: 27.5m × 2.5-4m. Boundary lines mandatory.

Long narrow rectangular court with side boards + end walls; surface varies (grass/dirt/hardwood/synthetic).

Equipment

Bocce balls (4 per team)
107mm diameter, 920g weight. Resin/plastic/metal composite. Team colors (red/green/blue standard). Each team has 4 balls.
Pallino (jack)
48-60mm target ball (about 1/2 diameter of bocce); usually white or yellow.
Court markings
Foul line 4-6ft from throwing area; pallino must land past this line.
Measuring device
Tape measure or calipers for close ball measurements.

Officiating

Self-officiated in casual + backyard play; tournament judges resolve close calls + measurements.

Judge (tournament)
Self-officiated (casual)

Strategies

Pointer + Shooter team roles
One team member specializes in placement shots (pointer); another in destructive shots (shooter/volo player).
First bocce = anchor
Precise first bocce close to pallino forces opponent to try displacement OR ambitious pointing.
Displaced pallino
Hit pallino toward your team's balls or into corner where opponent can't reach.
Reading court surface
Grass = slower + more roll; hardwood sport court = faster + straighter.
Roll vs toss decisions
Roll (punto) = precision. Toss (raffa/volo) = displacement or landing past obstacles.
End-game caution
At 11-11 or 12-12, one round decides game — extreme care in strategy.

Terminology

Bocce (Balls): The 107mm weighted balls; 4 per team.
Pallino / Jack / Palline: Small target ball (~50mm).
Punto: Rolling/pointing shot to place near pallino.
Raffa: Aerial toss aimed to land past opponent's ball.
Volo: Aerial destruction shot (thrown, not rolled).
Punto raffa volo: Italian competitive format allowing all shot types.
Foul line: Line 4-6ft from throwing area; ball must clear it to count.
Displaced pallino: Deliberately hit pallino to move it (tactical).
Corte: Bocce court (Italian).
Boccia (Paralympic): Related Paralympic sport for athletes with severe disabilities.
Cin cin: Italian toast — often accompanies casual bocce games.
Pallino toss: First throw of round to set target position.

Major competitions

World Bocce Championships
biennial · worldwide · since 1951
European Bocce Championships
annual · Europe · since 1974
USA Bocce Federation National Championships
annual · USA · since 1988
Paralympic Games (Boccia)
quadrennial · worldwide · since 1984
Special Olympics (Bocce)
quadrennial · worldwide · since 1975

Where it is played

Governing bodies

Confederazione Bocce Internazionale (CBI)
Founded 1946 · Rome, Italy
Official site ↗
Federazione Italiana Bocce (FIB)
Founded 1946 · Rome, Italy
USA Bocce Federation (USBF)
Founded 1988 · USA
Boccia International Sports Federation (BISFed)
Founded 2014 · Manchester, UK — Paralympic Boccia

Famous names & records

Famous athletes

Various Italian FIB champions — Enzo Amoruso, Marco Feltri (multiple World titles)
Roger Sabin (USA) — Multi-time American Bocce Champion; brought bocce to mainstream US
Elisabeth Anderson (USA) — Multiple National + International medals
Argentine Bocce team — regional dominance in South America
Various Paralympic Boccia champions — Nigel Murray (GB, multiple gold), David Smith (GB)
Italian legends in FIB tournament circuit — bocce is national sport at recreational + competitive levels

Records

Most World Championships (Italy)
Italian national team — 10+ team gold medals across various World Championships (2020)
Special Olympics bocce
Special Olympics athletes — One of most popular Special Olympics sports globally (2024)
Paralympic Boccia gold medalists
Various — Great Britain + Portugal + Slovakia strong nations (2024)
Bocce clubs worldwide
Community estimates — 10,000+ registered clubs; 100+ million recreational players (2024)

Learn this sport

beginner

1
Get set for backyard
$40-150 for 8-ball set + pallino. Common brands: Baden, EPCO Duck Pin, ClassicSports.
2
Play on flat grass
Any relatively flat outdoor space works. Casual bocce = highly social + accessible.
3
Learn basic scoring
Round-by-round accumulation; understand 'closest team wins' + 'run of throws' logic.

intermediate

1
Join club
USBF has 100+ affiliated clubs in USA; UK, Australia have thriving bocce leagues.
2
Learn volo (aerial) shot
Precision aerial displacement — hardest bocce technique.
3
Compete in local tournaments
Weekly leagues + regional championships.

advanced

1
National championships
USA Bocce Federation, FIB Italian national events.
2
World Championships
CBI/FIB biennial international competition.
3
Paralympic Boccia (BC1-BC4)
Alternate path — Paralympic bocce for athletes with severe disabilities.

Frequently asked

What is bocce?+

Ancient Italian outdoor precision ball game (roots to Rome + Egypt ~2000 BCE). Two teams roll or toss weighted balls (bocce, 107mm 920g) toward a smaller target ball (pallino, ~50mm) on a long narrow court. Closest team's ball(s) score 1 point each. First team to 12 or 13 wins. Popular casual + social sport worldwide; especially strong in Italy, USA (Italian immigrant tradition), France, Argentina.

How is bocce different from petanque + lawn bowls?+

All three are precision ball target games from Europe. BOCCE (Italy): 4 solid resin balls (107mm) per team; rolling + tossing allowed; long narrow court. PÉTANQUE (France): hollow steel boules (~75mm); STATIONARY circle throw (feet planted); shorter matches. LAWN BOWLS (Britain): larger biased wooden balls (~130mm); precisely-manicured grass rink; oldest formal precision sport. All emphasize placement + tactical displacement.

How do you win bocce?+

First team to reach 12 or 13 points wins (varies by federation — US Bocce Federation uses 12; Italian FIB uses 13). Points are scored by having your balls closer to pallino than opponent's nearest ball. Only ONE team scores per round — count how many of their balls are closer than opponent's best. Round continues with team not closest throwing next until they get closer OR run out of balls.

What is Paralympic Boccia?+

Boccia is a Paralympic sport (since 1984) similar to bocce but adapted for athletes with severe motor disabilities (cerebral palsy, muscular dystrophy). Uses soft leather balls (not hard bocce). 4 classification groups: BC1 (throw with hand/foot), BC2 (throw with hand), BC3 (use assistive ramp; helper permitted), BC4 (severe locomotor disability). Governed separately by BISFed (Boccia International Sports Federation). Great Britain, Portugal, Slovakia dominant nations.

How big is the bocce court?+

US Bocce Federation regulation: 60ft × 12ft (18m × 3.7m). International FIB: 27.5m × 2.5-4m. Backyard casual: any flat outdoor space 30-60ft × 8-15ft works. Sport courts (competitive): hardwood or synthetic surface; enclosed with side boards + end walls. Casual: grass, dirt, crushed oyster shells all work. Rectangular narrow shape ensures rolling toward pallino, not around it.

Can bocce be played indoors?+

Yes — increasingly popular. Indoor bocce facilities (sport courts) common in USA + Italy; some cities have dedicated bocce clubs with 20+ courts (indoor + outdoor). Winter leagues thriving. Bocce Ball Bar concept (bocce court + drinks) growing in urban areas. Rules identical to outdoor; some prefer hardwood surface for consistent ball roll. Recreational + competitive both viable indoor.

Sources & provenance

Wikipedia — Bocce— Wikipedia
USA Bocce Federation— USBF
CBI (Confederazione Bocce Internazionale)— CBI

Last verified 2026-08-24.community