Updated 1-19-2024
1. Players must be residents of Camelot East Village to participate in the Bocce League.
2. Each team will designate a captain and a team name. Captains have responsibility to a) field a team of four players for every game; b) to ensure that after the game, the court is prepared for the next game and is in good playing condition; c) to provide a coin for the toss and measuring tape and d) to submit the score after each game. The captain of the winning team must submit the score by email to cevbocce@gmail.com within 2 days of the game.
3. Substitutes for league games, playoff games and championship games will be assigned by the Bocce Sub Master. There is a maximum of two subs allowed in a regular season game and one sub in a playoff or championship game. League players cannot be used as substitutes. A non-roster player may be selected from the spectators in emergency cases. Teams needing a substitute must contact the Sub Master at least one day in advance when possible. A team showing up with only three players will either a) forfeit the game, or b) play with only three balls.
4. If any team is unable to play on their scheduled date, they must contact their opponent and reschedule. Rescheduled games must be played before playoffs begin. To avoid double-booking of courts and to facilitate spectators, please email cevbocce@gmail.com with the date and time of the rescheduled game. The team listed first on the schedule plays on Court V (closest to tennis court).
5. Games are played with all eight players at the same end of the court. After the frame is completed, all players go to the opposite end to begin the next frame. A team may have a fixed line-up or player positions can be rotated within the team. All players must throw a ball in each frame.
To accommodate players with mobility issues, a team may request that all eight players play from one end of the court for the entire game. Balls will be returned to that end of the court for each frame.
6. A coin toss will determine the team that throws the first ball. The loser of the coin toss will choose the color of the bocce balls they wish to throw.
7. All balls shall be thrown underhanded to roll the ball in play. Volo shooting (lofting the ball in the air) is not permitted. Ball cannot be thrown higher than waist high.
8. All players shall remain behind the blue foul line when throwing their ball.
9. The starting team will choose a player to throw the pallino. After the pallino is thrown, the same player will throw the first bocce ball. The purpose of the game is to get your team's bocce balls as close as possible to the pallino. After the first player has thrown the first bocce ball, this ball is considered "inside" this ball is the closest to the pallino. At this time, the opposing team will throw their balls until they succeed in placing a ball closest to the pallino. Whichever team is considered "inside", this team will forfeit its turn for throwing bocce balls until the opposing team has played all their balls or succeeds in placing a ball closer to the pallino.
10. The area inside the sidelines and end board define the court's perimeter. Bocce game must be played between the center red line and the end blue foul line. All thrown balls must COMPLETELY cross the center red line to be in play. At any time, if the thrower of the ball does not reach the red center line, or throws the ball completely past the blue foul line at the opposite end of the Bocce Court, it is considered to be out of play. The pallino is passed on to the opposing team to throw.
11. When the pallino is completely pushed over the end blue foul line by another ball, it is considered to be out of play. The pallino will be replaced in the center of the court in front of the blue foul line.
12. After all players have thrown their bocce balls, the team that is "inside or closest to the pallino will be awarded points. One point will be awarded to this team for every ball that is closest to the pallino than the closest competitor's ball. If a ball from each team is equidistant to the pallino, no points will be awarded in that frame. After the points are awarded, the frame is completed and a new frame is started. A game is won when a team reaches 15 points.
13. If a player throws out of turn (blue throws instead of red or vice-versa), the game proceeds with balls as they lay. If a player throws the wrong color ball, the ball is returned, that player forfeits his or her turn and the next person on that same team throws the next ball.
14. Team captains may call for a measurement at any time which should be overseen by one person only from each team. Measurements are taken by placing the measuring tape's tab end on the bocce ball sphere. The measurement is taken on the pallino sphere (not to the center of the ball).
15. Games shall be completed within the scheduled hour. If the game has not ended after one hour of play, the team with the most points is declared the winner. In the event of a tie, the next score wins.
16. Tiebreaker for the playoffs will be determined by division games (the last 7 games).
17. Rules may change at the discretion of the Bocce committee. Bocce committee members and their delegates have the final say on disputes.
Throughout the season, a spirit of fair play is expected.