GAMETYPE:
BocceBallRulesandRegulationsofPlay
Ø Gamesareplayedto16pointsoramaximumof1hour.
EQUIPMENT:
Ø PlayersshouldweartheNoIdeaSportsBocceBallT-Shirtswhenplaying.
Ø Theofficialballswillbearegulation110mm-113mmbocceball,consistingof4redballs,4green
ballsand1pallina.ThesewillbeprovidedbyNoIdeaSports.
Ø Playingfields,60feetlongby12feetwide,willbemarkedwithlines.
TEAMSANDPLAYERS:
Ø Eachteammustdesignateacaptainandco-captainwhoareresponsiblefortheteam.
Ø Each team consists of a minimum of 4 players and will have 4 balls to play in each frame. Playersare
notallowedtoswitchendsduringagame.Ateammayhaveoneormoresubstitute(alternate)
playersontheteam.(Formixedteamsateamonthecourtconsistsof2womenmaximumand2
menmaximumatalltimes.)
Ø Aminimumof2playersperteammustbepresenttoplayagame.Iftheminimum2playersare
present,eachteammemberwilltosstwobocceballsperframe.If3playersarepresent,thenall
teammembersmusttossatleastonceperframeandalternatewhotossestheadditionalbocce
ball.Iffourplayersarepresent,eachteammemberwilltossonebocceballperframe.Teamsplits
(ex.ateamof6plays3peopleinthefirstframeandtheother3peopleinthesecondframe)are
onlyallowedwhenagreeduponbybothteams.Consecutiveoralternatingthrowsbyteammates,
whenpermissible,shallbeattheoptionoftheplayers.
Ø Ateammusthaveoneplayerdesignatedastheteamcaptain.Theteamcaptainparticipatesinthe
cointossandassignsplayerstotheirpositiononthecourtforthematch.Theteamcaptainmay
designateaplayerasan"endcaptain"fortheendoppositethatofthecaptain.Onlytheteam
captainoranendcaptainmaygoonthecourtformeasurements.
SUBSTITUTIONS:
Ø Playerscanbesubstitutedonlybetweenframes,unlessthereisinjuryorillness.Ifateamhas
morethan4players,theteammaysubstituteanyadditionalplayersaftereachframe.
Ø Ifateamhasfewersthan4players,theteamwillstillplaywith4balls,andoneormoreplayers
willthrowtwice.Ifaplayerarrivesduringplay,heorshemayjointheirteamonlyafteraframe.
Ø Amatchwillbeforfeitedifateamfailstohave2playerspresentwithin15minutespastthe
designatedstartofthematch.
ROSTER REQUIREMENTS
Ø CaptainswillsubmitanofficialteamrostertoNISpriortothefirstnightofthesession.Roster
changesareallowedupuntiltheendofthethirdweekofplay.Afterthethirdweek,nonew
namesmaybeaddedtoateam’sroster.Onlyplayersontherosterwillbeeligibletoplay.
Ø Allteamsmusthaveaminimumof4fullyregisteredplayersfortheseason.
Ø Ifateamisshorttheminimumnumberoffullyregisteredplayersbythestartoftheirgamefor
week4theywillautomaticallyforfeitthatgame.Thisruleappliesforweek5aswell.
Ø Ifateamisstillshorttheminimumnumberoffullyregisteredplayersattheendoftheirweek5
game(endoftheregularseason)theteamsseasonwillendandwillberemovedfromthefinal3
weeksoftheleagueschedule.
GAMENIGHTS
Ø Atleast2peoplemustbepresentforateamtocompete.Thegamewillresultina15-0forfeitif
fewerthan2peoplearepresent.
Ø A team has 15 minutes past the designated start time to show up. If they do show up late, but
within the allotted 15 minutes, the team will not receive extra time to play, and they must
completetheirgameintheremainingtime.Iftheydonotshowup,theresultisaforfeit.Theteam
thatshowsupwillwinwithascoreof16-0.
STARTOFGAME
Ø Thegamebeginswithacoinfliporplayrock,paper,scissorsbetweenthetwocaptains.The
winnermaychoosetheendfromwhichplaywillstartorthefirsttossofthepallino,andtheloser
choosesthecoloroftheirteam’sbocceballs.Intheplayoffs,thehigher-seededteamhasthose
privileges.
Ø Thestartingplayerofeachframemaytossthepallinoanydistanceaslongasthepallinopasses
thecenterlineandisatleast12inchesfromtheendlineontheoppositeside.
Ø TheteamwhothrowsthePalinafirstwillalsothrowthefirstBocceBall.
GAMES
Ø Aregulationgamelasts1hourfromthedesignatedstarttimeandisplayedto16.Thefirstteamto
reach16isthewinner.
Ø Ifnoteamhasreachedthatscorewithintheallottedtime,1additionalframemaybeallowed
(League’sdecision),andtheteamwiththehighestscoreafteritscompletionwins.Tiesare
possible.
Ø Agameisofficialonceoneteamreaches7points.
Ø Matchesareplayedstraight-upto16andarenever"winbytwo".
Ø Ifnoteamhasreached15withintheallottedtime,theteamwiththehigherscorewins.Ifthetwo
teamsaretiedafterregulation,additionalframesareplayedonasudden-deathbasis,thefirst
teamtoscorewins.
Ø One frame consists of all 8 balls and the pallina being thrown.
COURTRULES
Ø Forthefirstthrow,thepallinamustcrossthecenterline,beonefootinfromthesideboards,and
notpassthefurthestline(pointline)oftheoppositeside.
Ø Whengoingforthepoint,theplayercannotcrossthefirstline(pointline).
Ø Whenknockingoutanopponentball,theplayercannotcrossthesecondline(shootingline)
Ø Ifduringplay,thepallinaishitpasttheopposingpointline,againstthebackboard,orwithinafoot
ofthesideboards,playcontinues.However,ifthepallinaishitinfrontofthehalfwayline,playis
re-started.
Ø Ifanyballisknockedoutofthecourts,itisconsidereddead.
Ø Therearenoin-courtrestrictionsonwhereaballmayland(pasttheopposingpointlineorbefore
thehalfwaylineisinplay).
Ø Aplayercanstepuptothe1stline(pointline)iftryingtogetclosertothepallinaanduptothe
2ndline(shootingline)iftryingtoknockanotherball.
Ø ANYballthatleavesthecourtisconsidereddeadandoutofplay.
PALLINOTHROW:
Ø Thepallinoisthefirstballputintoplayandisthrownunderhandfrombehindthepointingfoul
line.Thepallinomaybebouncedoffthesideboardsbutmaynottouchthebackwallonthe
oppositeside.
Ø Thepallinomustendupacrossthecenterlineandatleast12inchesawayfromthesideboardsor
backboardwithouthittingthebackboard.Ifathrowerfailstodothis,thethrowgoestoother
team.Ifthesecondthrowfailstoplacethepallinointoplay,thepallinoisplacedapproximatelyin
thecenterofthehittingfoullineattheoppositeendofthecourtinordertospeedupplay.
Ø Ifaplayerthrowspallinoand/orfirstballwhentheotherteamshouldthrowthepallino,theballs
arereturnedandtheframestartsover.
Ø Oncepallinoisinplay,thepallinocanbeknockedanywhereonthecourtexceptbackoverthe
centerlineoroutofthecourt(frameends,playresumesatoppositeend,andsameteamthrows
thepallino).
Ø Thepallinamustbebetweenthemidwaylineandtheopposingbackline(pointline),andbe1
footinfromthesideboards.
Ø Thepallinomustcrossthecenterline,nottouchthebackwallontheoppositeside,andcometo
restatleastonefootinfromthesideboards,althoughitmaybebouncedoffthesideboards.
Ø Oncethepallinohasbeenvalidlyputintoplay,itremainsinplayevenifithitsthebackboard.
Ø Ifthecaptainsdecidetheclosestballofeachteamisequalindistancefromthepallino,nopoints
areawardedandthegamecontinuesfromtheoppositeend,withthesameteamthrowingthe
pallinoasthepreviousframe.
Ø Therearenoin-courtrestrictionsre:whereaballmayland(pasttheopposingpointlineorbefore
thehalfwaylineisinplay).
BOCCEBALLTHROWS:
Ø Theinitialpallinothroweralwaysthrowsthefirstbocceball.Allballsarethrownunderhand.If
thefirstballhitsthebackboardwithouthittingthepallinofirst,theballisremovedandtheteam
throwsagainuntiltheyhaveaballinplay.
Ø Exceptforhitting,allbocceballsarethrownfrombehindthepointingfoulline.Anyballreleased
behindthepointingfoullineisconsideredathrowforpoints.Anyballreleasedbeyondthe
pointingfoullineandbeforethehittingfoullineisconsideredathrowtohitorspockotherballs.
FoulLinerulesapply.
Ø EachsucceedingballisthrownbytheteamthatdoesNOThavetheballclosesttothepallino.A
teamwhoseballtiestheopponent'sclosestballmustthrowagain.The“IN”teamonlythrowsif
opponentshavethrownall4balls.Teammemberscanthrowinanyorder.
Ø Hittingorspockingispermitted.Aplayermustfirstinformtheofficialreferee(ortheiropponent
ifthereisnoofficialreferee)thattheyintendtogopastthepointingfoullinetodelivera"hit"or
"spock"(ahardunderhandthrowdirectlyattheballsonthecourtandreleasedbeforecrossing
thehittingfoullineforthepurposeofmovingtheopponent’sballsorthepallino).Thethrown
ballisremovedfromplayifthepallinooranotherballisnothit,eveniftheballdoesnothitthe
backboard.
Ø Ballsmaybebouncedofforplayedagainstsideboards.
Ø Aballhittingthebackboardwithoutfirsttouchingthepallinooranotherbocceballisadeadball
andisremovedfromplay.StandardPenaltiesapply.
Ø Ifaplayerthrowswrongcolorball,itisreplacedwithacorrectcolorballaftertheballcomesto
rest.
Ø Ifaplayerthrowswhentheotherteamshouldthroworthrowsmorethan2balls,thatballis
removedfromplay.StandardPenaltiesapply.
Ø IfaplayerthrowswhentheotherteamshouldthrowbecauseofamiscallbytheReferee,theball
isreturnedandthecorrectplayerthrows.StandardPenaltiesapply.
Ø Ifateam'slegallythrownballisinterferedwithwhilemovingbysomeoneorsomethingnotonthe
playingsurfacebeforethethrow,theballisreturnedtobethrownagain.Ifpossible,anyballs
movedbythethrowareresettotheirapproximateoriginalposition.Ifballsaresufficientlymoved
andtheapproximateoriginalpositionscannotbedetermined,theframeisreplayed.However,if
theinterferenceiscausedbyateammember,theballisremovedfromplayandtheStandard
Penaltiesapply.
Ø Ifateam'slegallythrownballismoved(accidentallyorintentionally)fromitsrestingpositionby
anopposingplayerorrefereebeforethepointsaredeterminedandtheendoftheframeis
declared,itisresettoitsapproximateoriginalposition.Iftheballissufficientlymovedthatthe
approximateoriginalpositioncannotbedetermined,theoffendedteamhastheoptiontoleavethe
ballsastheylayorreplaytheframe.
Ø Ifateam'slegallythrownballismovedfromitsrestingposition(accidentallyorintentionally)by
ateammember,theballisremovedfromplay.StandardPenaltiesapply.
Ø Theperson(s)doingthemeasuringmustpressandrotateballsandthepallinobeforemeasuring
tomarktheiroriginalpositiononthecourtsurface.Ifaballorpallinoisaccidentallymovedwhile
measuring,itisreplacedtoitsoriginalmarkedposition.
Ø Abocceball,forwhateverreason,thatgoesoutofthecourtisadeadballandisremovedfrom
playforthatframe.
Ø Voloshooting(loftingtheballintheairbeyondthecenterlineofthecourt)isnotpermitted.
SCORING:
Ø Theofficialscoreforframeisdeterminedafterall8ballshavebeenplayedandmeasuredtothe
captains'satisfaction.Onepointisawardedforeachballofateamthatisclosertothepallinothan
theopponent’sclosestball(1to4points).
Ø Theteamthatscoresinthelastframethrowsthepallinointhenextframeandplaycontinuesas
above.
Ø Ifeachteam’sclosestballsaretied,noscoreismadeandplaycontinuesattheoppositeendwith
theteamscoringthepoint(s)inthepreviousframedeliveringthepallino.
Ø Theteamwhosebocceballsareclosesttothepallinoiscalled"inside"andtheopposingteam
"outside."Wheneverateamgetsinside,itstepsasideandletstheoutsideteamroll.Theteam
outsidethrowsuntilitbeats(notties)theopposingball.Thiscontinuesuntilbothteamshave
usedalltheirbocceballs(atotalof8,4fromeachteam).Theteamthatscoreslastthrowsthe
pallinotobeginthenextframe.
Ø Whenallballshavebeenplayed,thisconcludestheframeandoneteamisawardedasinglepoint
foreachofitsballswhichisclosertothepallinothantheclosestopposingteam'sball.Thus,a
teammayscoreuptofourpointsperframe.
Ø Forexample,ifattheendofaframethereare2greenballsclosertothepallinothanthenext
closestredball,thegreenteamreceives2points.Theteamthatscoresinaframestartsthenext
framebythrowingoutthepallinoandplayingtheirfirstball.Playcontinuesuntilateamwinsby
reachingascoreof15points.
Ø Only one team scores per frame.
Ø Theteamthatfirstscores16pointswinsthegame.
Ø Noteamcanscoremorethan16pointsinamatch.Matchesarenever“winbytwo”.
Ø Aforfeitedmatchresultsinascoreof16-0.Ifbothteamsfailtoshowupbythedesignatedtime,
theresultwillbeatiescoreof0-0.
MEASURINGANDDISPUTES
Ø Onlyteamcaptainsmaymeasureanydisputedballs,orrequestassistancefromanNISSite
Manager.
Ø AnydisputewhichcannotberesolvedbytheteamcaptainsshallbedecidedbyaNoIdeaSports
SiteManager.Uponhis/herdecision,thegameshallcontinue.Allmeasurementsshouldbemade
fromtheinsidedimensionsofthebocceballtotheinsidedimensionofthepallino.
Ø Ifbothteamsagreeonwhichteamhasthepointanditislaterdeterminedthatamistakehasbeen
made,allballsplayedarevalid.Ifbothteamshaveballsremaining,theteamthatdoesnothave
theclosestballtothepallinorollsagain.Ifallballshavebeenplayed,pointsareawardedbasedon
theballsthatareactuallyclosesttothepallinoinaccordwiththe"Scoring"rule.
FOULSANDDEADBALLS
Ø Ifthestartingteamfailstothrowthepallinobetweenthehalfwaypointandtwopacesfromthe
endlinein2consecutiveattemptsperframe,theotherteamgetstothrowthepallina.
Ø Ifaballisknockedoutofboundsbyanotherball,theballoutofboundsisconsidereddeadandis
takenoutofthefieldofplay.
Ø Ifthepallinoisknockedoutofthefieldofplay,theframeisreplayedbeginningattheopposite
end,withthesameteamthrowingthepallinoasthepreviousframe.
Ø Whenplayingoncourts,aplayermaynotcrossthefirstline(pointline)whengoingforthepoint
andaplayermaynotcrossthesecondline(shootingline)whenknockingoutanopponent’sball.
Ø Nodeadballcancountinscoring.
Ø Ifaplayerrollsthewrongcoloredball,simplyreplaceitwiththecorrectcolorwhentheball
comestorest.
Ø Ifaplayerrollsoutofturntheopposingteammayleaveeverything,includingthethrownball,
exactlywhereitisormayreturnanymovedballstotheirapproximateoriginalpositionsand
removethethrownballfromplay.
Ø Ifaballismovedbeforeall8ballsareplayed,theopposingteamreplacestheballtothe
approximateoriginalposition.
Ø Ifthepallinoisknockedoutofthefieldofplay,theframeisreplayedfromtheoppositeend,with
thesameteamthrowingthepallinoasthepreviousframe.
Ø Ifaplayer'sbocceballmakescontactwiththebackboardwithoutfirsttouchinganotherballor
thepallino,thebocceballisconsideredadeadballonimpactandisremovedfromplayuntilthe
endoftheframe.(Courtplayonly)
Ø Ifthethrownballcomestorestonthepallinooranotherballthatistouchingthebackwall,that
thrownballremainsinplay.Theballtouchingthebackwallisremovedfromplay.Ifthepallinois
touchingthebackwallitremainsinplay.(Courtplayonly)
Ø Ifabocceafterhittingthebackboardstrikesastationarybocce,thatstationarybocceshallbe
replacedinitsoriginalposition.Thethrownballisremovedfromplay.(Courtplayonly)
Ø Nooneplayercanthrowaballmorethantwiceinagivenset.
PLAYOFFS
Ø Seasonsconsistofupto8weeks,6weeksofregularseasonand1-2weeksofplayoffs.Aplayoff
schedulewillbedeterminedafterthefinalweekofregulationplayandsenttoeachteam’scaptain
(viaemail)andpostedonthewebsite.
Ø AllteamsintheLeaguewillmaketheplayoffs.Firsttiebreakerwillbetheteamwiththehighest
overallgamedifferential,thentheteamwiththehighestoverallgamepoints.
Ø InthePlayoffs,ifyourteamlosesbutthewinningteamfailstoshowupfortheirnextroundgame,
yourteamisallowedtotaketheirplaceasifyouneverlost.Thismeasuretoinplacetoreduce
playoffforfeits.
WINNINGTHEGAME
Ø Thefirstteamto16pointswillbedeemedthewinner.
PLAYOFFS
Ø Allrosterplayersareallowedtoparticipateintheplayoffs.
Ø Substitutesmayparticipateintheplayoffsiftheyhaveparticipatedinatleast3regularseason
games.
FORFEITING
Forfeit is strongly discouraged. Your teammates and opponents count on you to have a full team and
competitive game. Each team must have at least 5 players, including 1 female to start a game.
FORFEITINGINADVANCE:
Ø Ifateamknowsinadvancethatitisgoingtoforfeitandnotshowup,ateammembermustcontact
NISby12:00pmthedayofthegame.IfNISisnotifiedontime,theteamwillbegivenlossesforall
scheduledmatchesbutnofurtherpenalty.
Ø Ifavoicemailmessageisleftorane-mailsent,itisnotconsiderednotificationunlessareplytothe
teamisreceived.Failuretodosowillresultinforfeitingallmatches,andtheteamwillbe
ineligibleforleagueplayoffsand/orremovedfromtheremainderoftheschedule.
Ø AnyteamthatdoesnotnotifyNISinadvanceoftheirscheduledgameoratallwillneedtoprovide
onefull-rateindividualdepositforthenextseason/sporttheyregisterfor.
FORFEITINGATGAMETIME/AFTER12:00PM:
Ø Anyteamthatforfeitsafter12:00pmthedayofthegamewillbeassesseda$50.feethatwillbe
givendirectlytotheiropponent.Thismoneywillgodirectlytotheteamwhichdidnotreceive
noticethattheywouldnothaveanopponentthatgivennight.Allparticipantsareexpectedtobe
abletomakearrangementsforsubsortonotifyNISpriorto12:00pmabouttheirplansto
participateinthatweek’sgames.
Ø Captainswillforfeithis/herfreeseason/creditifthisoccurs.
Ø Ifateamshowsupshortplayers,theremainingmemberswhoarepresentshouldmixwiththe
opponentandplayascrimmage.
REFUNDS
Refunds are not provided once the season begins or day the season is scheduled to start. If you need a refund
because you are unable to play prior to the season we are very happy to reimburse you for your registration as
follows:
Ø Up to 1 Week Prior to League Start: FULL REFUND (MINUS $5 PROCESSING FEE)
Ø Less than a week until Midnight the Day Before League Start: REGISTRATION MINUS $20
Ø League Start Date through the Season: Refunds Not Available. Credit available for a future season if no
longer to play due to injury.
SportsmanshipandFUN!!
Aboveall,thisleagueisforFUNandtheenjoymentofallthoseinvolved.NISanditsofficialswill
eject/expelplayersforinappropriatebehavior.Inaddition,NISwillremoveanyplayersand/orteams
whocannotadheretoitspoliciesandstandardswithoutrefund.