The object of the game is to roll your bocce balls closer to the Jack ball than your opponent.
Balls are rolled underhand. We like to say keep your feet behind the first track light on the bocce court to keep it fair.
PLAYERS
One player per team = four balls per player
Two players per team = two balls per player
Four players per team = one ball per player
PLAYING BOCCE
The game consists of frames. Whoever wins the coin toss will begin by rolling the Jack (smaller white ball).
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A frame starts with rolling the Jack by a team toward the opposite end of the playing court.
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The Jack must be rolled past the center line (guesstimate here) and can not hit the back end of the court. If the Jack hits the back or doesn’t roll past the estimated center, the opposing team attempts to roll the Jack into the play area.
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​Once the Jack is in position, the first team (The Jack rollers) rolls one of their bocce balls. Taking alternate turns, each team rolls their balls toward the Jack to:
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(A) get their ball closest to the Jack,
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(B) move the pallino closer to their ball, or
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(C) move the opponent’s ball.
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The frame is complete after the balls have been rolled and points awarded.
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The team who scored begins the next frame by rolling the Jack.
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Frames are played alternately from one end of the court to the other.
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SCORING
In each frame, only one team scores. One point is given for each bocce ball that is closer to the Jack than the opposing team’s bocce balls.
The game continues until 12 points have been scored.
In this example, the Red Team scores 2 points. for having the two closest balls to the Jack. The third closest ball is a blue ball which stops the red team from scoring any more points.
Note: Safety should be observed when playing bocce. It is recommended that players stay outside for the playing area when balls are being rolled.