BOCCE LEAGUE RULES
Following is a set of rules Truckee River Winery has compiled from many tips and suggestions from
our bocce leaguers. These are provided to help everyone have fun on our bocce league and to
ensure a great tournament. During the playing of the games, it is ultimately the responsibility of
the teams to determine a ruling, and if both teams discuss and are in accordance, the ruling
stands, whether or not it is in the printed league rules. If teams are in discordance of a rule, please
come and talk with a Truckee River Winery employee immediately and we would be happy to help
determine a ruling.
SUMMARY OF GAME
The sport is played with one Pallino ball and eight Bocce balls - four for each team. The Pallino is
thrown first and becomes the target. Then the team that threw the Pallino throws the first Bocce
ball. The next throw is by the opposing team, it is their objective to get closer to the Pallino. The team
that is not closer to the Pallino continues throwing until they are closer. When all balls have been
thrown a point is scored for each Bocce ball that is closer to the Pallino than the other team’s closest
Bocce ball.
A Truckee River Winery League Match is two rounds (or games) of 12 points and if necessary
one 6 point tie breaker where you must win by two points.
ADMINSTRATIVE RULES:
Players on the Court: The only players permitted on the court are those actively participating in the
Round in progress.
Measurements: Measurements for all “points” are taken from the front edge of the Bocce being
measured to the center of the pallino.
Substitution of Players: Once the competing teams are constituted, substitution of players is not permitted
during the season. Replacement of a player is permitted for illness, injury or movement away from town
and must be certified by TRW Bocce Regulatory committee.
Outside alcohol: Teams and individuals are NOT permitted to bring in alcohol from their home. All alcohol
must be purchased onsite through Truckee River Winery, and consumed by 21+ aged players only.
Failure to comply may result in forfeiture of game, or banning from league.
TERMS
Pallino: smallest ball on the court, traditionally yellow or white.
Bocce/Bocci: the larger balls on the court, used to score points, eight total, four of each color.
Round or Game: 12 points wins a round.
Giro/Giri or Frame: the round is spilt into a series of scoring periods called, Giri. Only one team can score in
each Giro.
Punto or Lag: point throw, has the goal of directly making a point. This throw is intended to be aimed directly
at the pallino and seat the Bocce as close to pallino as possible.
Baci: a kiss. This is the ultimate throw and occurs when the bocce is touching the pallino. It is worth 2
points if it remains touching at the end of the Giro.
Raffa or Strike: a throw aimed at another Bocce in order to move that Bocce out of the way.
BOCCE LEAGUE RULES
TEAMS:
At the beginning of each round, two players from each team are positioned at opposite ends of the court
(with a total of 4 players from each team playing). They must play the entire round from the end of the
court where they started. Substitutions or additions of players may not be allowed until the end of a round.
Minimums: Teams must have 4 players at the start of their game to play.
Throws: Only underhand bocce throws are allowed, either palm up or palm down, and throws must not go
near or over the lights above the court.
BEGINNING THE GAME OR ROUND:
Equal Round Records: At the beginning of the match or when two teams with equal Round records
are to compete, the team captains flip a coin or row-sham-bow to decide control of the Pallino. The
winner has the choice of either control of the Pallino or color for the first Giro.
Unequal Round Records: When two teams of unequal Round records meet, the team with the weaker
record has control of the Pallino. (Note: This rule is intended to display the compassionate side of Bocce in
which the underdog is given opportunities for advantage. Of course, any of these rights may be graciously
transferred to the opposing team.)
SCORING AND WINNING:
The Round or Game. Consists of a series of Giri or Frames that continue until a team accumulates a
total of 12 points. The first team that completes a Giro with 12 or more points wins the Round.
The Giro or Frame. In each Giro, one point is counted for each team Bocce closer to the Pallino than any
Bocce of the opposing team after all balls have been thrown. Any Bocce leaning/kissing on the Pallino
(a Baci) is scored as 2 points. Two Bocci of opposing teams equidistant from the Pallino cancel each
other out, and no additional points are scored for those Bocci and any Bocci beyond them.
The Match: Consists of 2-twelve point rounds, with a 6 point tie-breaker if necessary. A ninety (90) minute
time limit is set in place for the game, and will be enforced on a case-by-case basis.
Tie-breaker: A tie breaker occurs when each team wins a round. The tie breaker will occur immediately
after the second round and only goes to 6 points, where a team must win by 2, only in the tie breaker.
BOCCE PLAY PARAMATERS:
Line Requirements for Throwers. The Throw line is the line behind which a player must throw the Pallino
and Bocce for Punto and Raffa shots. A player may stand anywhere between the throw line and the
boards to throw as long as his or her feet are inside the Boards and completely behind the respective
throwing lines when the ball leaves the player's hand.
THE GIRO/FRAME/SCORING PERIOD:
Throwing and Seating the Pallino
1. For the first Giro, a member of the throwing team as chosen in Beginning the Round (above) throws the Pallino.
For each succeeding Giro, the team earning points is the winner, and the winning team becomes the throwing
team for the next Giro.
2. The pallino must end up across the center line and at least 12 inches away from the sideboards or backboard
without hitting the backboard. If a thrower fails to do this, the throw goes to other team.
3. If the throwing team fails to legally seat the Pallino, the opposing team becomes the throwing team. If this
team also fails, the Pallino is turned over to the previous team.
4. If, at any point in the giro, the pallino hits the backboard, the pallino is out of play and the giro ends and the
points before the pallino went out of out of bounds is applied to the score.
5. Throughout the Frame, team members must alternate in throwing the Pallino.
Order of Throwing
BOCCE
LEAGUE RULES
1. The player successfully seating the Pallino must throw the first Bocce. The
failure of the first Bocce to stop inbounds requires the player to throw another
bocce. If that bocce does not stop inbounds his teammate must throw his bocces until a bocce sits inbounds. This
Bocce becomes the "point" Bocce.
2. Once a team establishes a point Bocce, it is "in," and the opposing team becomes the throwing team. This team
throws its Bocci until it makes the point (seats a Bocce closer to the Pallino than any Bocci of the "in" team) or uses
up all of its Bocci.
3. If the throwing team knocks all Bocci out of bounds, the opposing team becomes the throwing team.
4. Each team member must throw two Bocci, but the order of play is the choice of the team and is variable for
each Giro.
INBOUNDS/OUT-OF-BOUNDS PALLINO:
1. Displaced Pallino—Legal Bocce Throw. When the Pallino is displaced during a legal Bocce throw, if it is seated
inbounds, it is left in place. If it is seated out-of- bounds or hits the backboards, the frame (giro) ends and the
points before the pallino was knocked out of bounds is applied to the score.
2. Displaced Pallino—Illegal Bocce Throw. If the Pallino is displaced during an illegal Bocce throw and is seated
out-of-bounds, it is restored to its marked place. If it is seated inbounds - even if it was first knocked
out-of-bounds or into the Boards - it is restored to its marked place.
BOCCE BALL THROWS:
1. Teams throw Bocce until achieving one closer to the pallino - if a Bocce hits the backboards it is removed from
play for the Giro or Frame.
2. Each succeeding ball is thrown by the team that does NOT have the ball closest to the pallino. A team's ball that
ties the opponent’s closest ball must throw again. The “IN” team only throws if opponents have thrown all 4
balls. Team members can throw in any order.
3. Balls may be bounced off or played against sideboards.
FOUL LINES: Players may step on but not over the proper foul line before releasing the pallino or a bocce ball. (Toe
of foot cannot exceed the width of the foul line mark.)
SCORING:
1. The official score for Giro or Frame is determined after all 8 balls have been played and measured to the captains'
satisfaction. One point is awarded for each ball of a team that is closer to the pallino than the opponent’s closest ball
(1 to 4 points) two points for a kiss/Baci (it is possible to score 5 points.)
2. The team that scores in the last frame throws the pallino in the next frame and play continues as above.
3. If each team’s closest balls are tied, no score is made and play continues at the opposite end with the team
scoring the point(s) in the previous frame delivering the pallino.
4. The team that first scores 12 points, wins the game.
5. A match consists of two 12 point games. In the case of a tie a 6 point game with 2 point advantage is played to
determine the win.
PENALTIES:
Foot Fault: A foot fault occurs when the thrower’s foot is beyond the legal throw line when the bocce leaves his or
her hand. The thrower’s bocce is forfeited, and the throw is illegal.
Disorderly Conduct: Our bocce league is family friendly and has a diverse group of people. We believe teams and
players should respect each other and conduct themselves in an appropriate fashion. We ask that no team offends, talk offensively, or creates hate speech. We reserve the right to discuss this with individuals and forfeit a
team that acts unprofessionally.
Physical Interference: Bocce strikes a player or is moved or touched illegally by a player. The bocce is replaced on the
court in its previous position.
Throwing Bocce Out of Order: All bocce and the pallino are returned to their previous positions, and the thrower’s
bocce is lost.
Throwing the Pallino Out of Order: If the wrong team throws the Pallino, the Giro is restarted with the correct
team throwing the Pallino.
Throwing the Wrong Color Bocce: The bocce is returned to the opposing team, and the correct color bocce is
placed on the court where the wrong color bocce was.