The object of the game of bocce is for one team to get as many of their bocce balls closer to the pallino than the opposing team’s closest ball.
Bocce Balls: Large, colored, patterned balls
Pallino: Small, white, “object ball”
1. Determine which team will start. Teams may consist of one, two, or four players. The starting team chooses which color of bocce ball they will play with.
2. The first team member throws the pallino (small, white ball) and then rolls his/her first ball as close to the pallino as possible.
3. The opposing team then tries to roll their ball closer to the pallino than the first team.
4. If the opposing team succeeds in placing one of their balls closer to the pallino, the starting team must roll again to attempt to get closer – to “better the point.” Each team continues to roll until it beats the point of the opposite team.
5. If the opposing team uses all four balls and fails to get closer to the pallino than the starting ball, the starting team rolls each of their remaining balls, trying to place them closer than the opponent’s closest ball.
6. While the object is to get close to the pallino, a player may choose to roll his/her ball to knock an opponent’s ball away from the pallino. Likewise, a player may knock the pallino toward his/her own team’s balls. The pallino is playable anywhere on the playing surface.
7. If a bocce ball comes into contact with the back board, it is considered a dead ball and is removed from play.
8. When all balls have been played, this concludes the frame. One team is awarded one point for each of its balls which are closer to the pallino than the closest opposing team’s ball. If the closest ball of each team is equal in distance from the pallino, no points are awarded. The team that scores starts the next frame by rolling out the pallino and playing their first ball.
9. A team wins when they reach 16 points.
Download bocce rules.