CCA Sports Bocce Rules

 

Overview

 

In bocce the object is for one or more of your team’s balls to be closer than any of your opponent’s balls to the pallini (small target ball, often white (also referred to as “the Jack”) at the end of every set. Each week your team plays against two other teams.  Each match has a time limit of 25 minutes.

 

Setup

 

Bocce is played with eight large balls and one smaller target or object ball called the jack.

 

There are 4 balls to a side, or team, and they are made in two colors to distinguish the balls of one team from the 4 balls of the opposing team. You only need 2 players minimum to start a game.

 

A coin toss will determine which team has the jack and which color balls that team selects.

 

Game Play

 

The jack is thrown out by a member of the team having won the coin toss to start the game.

 

The same player throwing the jack must deliver the first bocce ball.

 

The opposing team will then deliver their bocce balls until the point is taken or they have exhausted their 4 balls.

• The "nearest ball", rule governs the sequence of thrown balls. The side whose bocce is the closest to the jack is called the "in" ball and the opposing side the "out" ball. Whenever a team gets "in" it steps aside and allows the "out" team to bowl.

 

A team has the option of rolling, throwing, bouncing, banking, etc. its ball down the court provided it does not go out-of-bounds or the player does not violate the foul markers.

 

A player also has the option of "spocking" or hitting out any ball in play in trying to obtain a point, or decreasing the opposing team's points.

 

At the end of each frame (when both teams have exhausted 4 balls each), a designated official under the scrutiny of the captain/or designee of each team, will determine the points scored.

 

Scoring points all balls of one team closer to the jack than the closest ball of the opposing team, which can be determined by viewing or by mechanical measurement.

 

In the event that the two balls closest to the jack belong to opposing teams and are exactly the same distance from the jack, no points will be awarded, and the jack returns to the team which delivered it.

 

Only balls which are distinguishably closer to the jack than any opponent's balls may be awarded points.

 

RULES/FOULS

 

FOUL-LINE FOULS. ln both pointing and hitting, the foremost part of the specific foul-line will not be surpassed by any part of the foot before the ball leaves the player's hand.

 

One official warning may be granted each team after which penalty will be prescribed.

 

The penalty for a team committing a 2nd. foul-line infraction will be as follows:

• The team fouled against will be awarded points as they were immediately preceding the foul and the frame will end. The team committing the foul will be awarded no points for the frame,
• or the fouled against team may have the option of declining the penalty and completing the frame.

 

ILLEGAL MOVEMENT OF A BALL BELONGING TO YOUR OWN TEAM. If a player moves one or more of his team's balls, it or they are removed from the court and considered dead and play continues.

 

ILLEGAL MOVEMENT OF AN OPPONENT'S BALL. If a player moves one or more of his opponent's balls, those balls are removed and awarded one point each and play continues.

 

ILLEGAL MOVEMENT OF THE JACK BY A PLAYER. If the jack is moved by a player, the team fouled against will be awarded as many points as the number of balls that team has already played the frame will end.

 

The team fouled against may have the option of declining that penalty and completing the frame.

 

"Illegal Movement" refers to any movement of a ball by means other than the result of normal play such as kicking, touching, etc.

 

If a player interferes with an opponent's ball in motion, the team fouled against has the option of:

A) playing the ball over

B) declaring the frame dead or

C) declining the penalty, accept the lie of the touched ball and continue playing.

 

If a spectator, animal or object interferes with a ball in motion and it does not touch another ball already in play, it must be played over by the same player.

 

If a spectator, animal or object interferes with a ball in motion and that ball touches another ball already in play, the frame is dead.

 

OTHER DISRUPTION OF PLAY. Any action which interfered with the position of a ball in play - RENDERS THE FRAME DEAD.

 

LEAGUE POLICIES        

 

FORFEITS:

 

Circle City Athletics will provide a staff member on-site to assist players with any problems or questions they may have. There are no referees.

 

If your team forfeits a match during the season, the following rules apply:

 

First Offense: Loss of game.

 

Second Offense: Loss of game and staff reserves the right to remove team from playoffs.

 

Third Offense: Removal from the league.

 

Any team that forfeits more than once also forfeits any guarantee or right to a certain number of guaranteed games.

If you know in advance that your team is going to forfeit a game, we encourage you to email the league manager so as to help us schedule your opponent a game.

 

Teams may play more than one match per day, and/or play matches on days/nights other than your regularly scheduled league day/night.  CCA reserves the right to schedule playoff games on days other than your regularly scheduled league night.

 

Any questions regarding rules, policies, or eligibility must be addressed before the start of the game. 

    

STANDINGS:

 

The updated standings will be posted weekly, displaying each teams rank within its skill level.

 

PLAYOFFS:

 

Playoffs are single-elimination. Playoffs will take up to 2 weeks to complete and will best 2 out of 3 matches.

 

Playoff Substitute Policy 

 

WAIVERS:

 

In order to participate in the league, each participant must sign the team waiver. Waivers are provided and must be completed and handed in no later than the first night of play. Players not present the first week of play will still be required to sign a waiver with our staff before participating. These waivers will also serve as your final roster.

 

SPORTSMANSHIP:

 

The idea of CCA is to have fun. We hope that all participants keep that in mind when becoming involved. Although the games may become intense, you still can be competitive while maintaining good sportsmanship. With this said, any behavior deemed unacceptable by staff may result in suspension and/or ejection from a game or the league.

 

To coordinate and run the league, our refs and/or staff will be available at all times to help the league run as smoothly as possible. If you have questions regarding schedules, policies, rule interpretations, directions to the bar, etc. please ask or call our office.

 

LEAGUE CANCELLATION/RAINOUT:

 

Leagues may be cancelled due to existing weather conditions, dangerous or unplayable field conditions, facility constraints, scheduling conflicts, etc. CCA staff makes every effort to play all scheduled games, thus we will not cancel games unless absolutely necessary. Therefore, if you are calling concerning a decision on a cancellation, remember we will not have an answer until close to the start of the league.

 

If the league is cancelled, CCA staff will post all notices on social media sites (Facebook/Twitter).  CCA will then email/text all of the captains if possible. If a league is cancelled on site, CCA staff will attempt to contact those teams still scheduled to play the remainder of the league day/night. Depending on the time of cancellation, some teams will have to be notified on site. In extreme circumstances, CCA reserves the right to run a shortened season without a refund or schedule matches on days and/or locations other than our regularly scheduled league day/night/location.