Bocce 101 — Italy's Beloved Lawn Ball Game with Ancient Roots

What is this game?

Bocce is an ancient ball game traceable to Ancient Egypt and Rome, and today it is Italy's quintessential lawn leisure game.

Like Pétanque, the goal is to land your team's balls closest to a small target ball (pallino). But Bocce uses:

• Larger balls (~11 cm diameter)
• A rolling motion (more than throwing)
• A flat, prepared court
• Aggressive bumping shots as a regular tactic

It's also a Special Olympics sport — friendly across ages, body sizes, and abilities.

Equipment & setup

• Bocce balls — ~11 cm, 4 per team (commonly red and green)
• Pallino — ~4 cm white target ball
• Court — regulation ~27.5 m × 4 m. Home games can be much smaller
• Tape measure — for close calls

Polymer starter sets cost $20–50; competition-grade balls go higher.

Players & ages

Format	Players
Singles	1 vs 1
Pairs	2 vs 2
Fours	4 vs 4

Friendly for children, seniors, and wheelchair players alike.

Rules

Minimal rules (just play)

1. Decide first team. They toss the pallino down the court
2. They roll/throw their first bocce, trying to land near the pallino
3. The opposing team rolls; if theirs is closer, they take the lead
4. From then on, the team whose nearest ball is farthest keeps rolling
5. After all balls are played, score: count the nearest team's balls that beat the opponent's nearest one — one point each
6. First team to 12 (or 13, 15, 21) points wins

Standard rules

• Three throwing styles: punto (rolling), raffa (knock balls), volo (lofted)
• Don't cross the foul line
• Pallino must travel a minimum distance (~8 m in regulation)

Official competition rules

The Confederazione Boccistica Internazionale (CBI) governs rules across the disciplines (Punto, Raffa, Volo). Special Olympics also includes Bocce.

Tips for enjoying the game

Common beginner mistakes

• Throwing too hard — bocce is a rolling game; read the surface
• Going only straight — read court slopes and roll lines for curve plays
• Pallino too close — placing it 8 m+ away opens up tactics

How to make it more fun

• A clean raffa (bump) that knocks out the leader is electric
• Pair Bocce with BBQ or wine for the authentic Italian style
• Doubles or fours boost conversation

Age variations

• Kids: shorter court, lighter balls
• Seniors: seated/wheelchair throwing welcome
• Competitive: regulation court and balls, time limits

Playing Bocce in Japan

• Pick a flat patch of park; uneven grass slows the game
• Italian community clubs exist in major cities
• Japan Bocce/Boules Federation hosts official competitions

Learn more

• CBI — Confederazione Boccistica Internazionale
• Special Olympics Bocce
• Related: see also Pétanque and Lawn Bowls — fellow target-ball games