What Can I Bring to the Backyard Bocce Bash?
Sponsors - Please bring tables, chairs, signs and or decorations for your sponsor tent.  It is your space to decorate
and promote your business.

Players/Teams - Please bring your choice of beverages, lunch, snacks, sunscreen and a hat.  Water coolers will be
on site.  You may put up a tent by your car in the parking area for “tailgating”.

Cell Phones - May be on silent rings only.  You may not receive or make calls while playing.  

Children are welcome, but must be supervised by someone other than a tournament player.  They may play with
balls, Frisbees, etc. as long as they are kept 25 yards from tournament courts.

CONCEALED WEAPON LAW- It is illegal to carry a firearm, deadly weapon or dangerous ordnance anywhere on the
grounds at Backyard Bocce Bash, unless otherwise authorized by law. No person shall knowingly possess, have under
person's control, convey, or attempt to convey a deadly weapon or dangerous ordnance onto Tournament grounds.
Rules and Regulations
EQUIPMENT
A set of bocce balls : consisting of eight large bocce balls (half of which are of a different color or pattern) and a
smaller "object ball" (sometimes called a "pallina" or a "jack").  Bocce court  60’ X 12’.
PLAYERS
The game is played with two teams of four players.  A team on the court has 4 players maximum (2 stationed at
each end of the court) with each player throwing 2 balls. Players are not allowed to switch ends during a game.   A
team may play a game if only 2 or 3 players are present, however, no player is permitted to throw more than 2
balls (a penalty of 2 balls per missing player).  A team must have one player designated as the team captain. The
team captain participates in the coin toss and assigns players to their position on the court for the match. The
team captain may designate a player as an "end captain" for the end opposite that of the captain. Only the team
captain or an end captain may go on the court for measurements.
ATTIRE
Teams may create their own shirts, choose a theme or dress alike.  Be creative!  No vulgarity or profanity.  
OBJECT
The object of the game of bocce is for one team to get as many of their balls closer to the pallina than the
opposing team's closest ball.  
COIN TOSS
  1. Begin the match with the flip of a coin between the captains of each team. The winner of the coin flip has
    the first toss of the pallina and chooses the color of the team's balls.
  2. If playing a different team, play starts over with the coin toss and players may be reassigned as desired by
    the captain.
  3. If playing the same team in the next game, players must switch ends between games and the winning team
    throws the pallina to start next game.
PALLINA THROW
  1. The pallina is the first ball put into play and is thrown underhand from behind the pointing foul line.
  2. The pallina must end up across the center line and at least 12 inches away from the sidelines or backline
    without hitting the backline. If a thrower fails to do this, the throw goes to the other team.  If the second
    throw fails to place the pallina into play, the pallina is placed approximately in the center of the hitting foul
    line at the opposite end of the court in order to speed up play.
  3. If a player throws pallina and/or first ball when other team should throw the pallina, the balls are returned
    and the frame starts over.  
  4. Once pallina is in play, the pallina can be knocked anywhere on the court except back over the center line
    or out of the court (frame ends, play resumes at opposite end, and same team throws the pallina).   
BOCCE BALL THROWS
  1. The initial pallina thrower always throws the first bocce ball. All balls are thrown underhand.
  2. Except for hitting, all bocce balls are thrown from behind the pointing foul line. Any ball released behind the
    pointing foul line is considered a throw for points.
  3. Each succeeding ball is thrown by the team that does NOT have the ball closest to the pallina. A team
    whose ball 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.
  4. Hitting or spocking is NOT permitted.
  5. If a player throws wrong color ball, it is replaced with a correct color ball after the ball comes to rest.
  6. If a player throws when the other team should throw or throws more than 2 balls, that ball is removed from
    play.
  7. If a team's legally thrown ball is interfered with while moving by someone or something not on the playing
    surface before the throw, the ball is returned to be thrown again. If possible, any balls moved by the throw
    are reset to their approximate original position. If balls are sufficiently moved that the approximate original
    positions can not be determined, the frame is replayed. However, if the interference is caused by a team
    member, the ball is removed from play.
  8. If a team's legally thrown ball is moved (accidentally or intentionally) from its resting position by an opposing
    player or referee before the points are determined and the end of the frame is declared, it is reset to its
    approximate original position. If the ball is sufficiently moved that the approximate original position can not
    be determined, the offended team has the option to leave the balls as they lay or replay the frame.
  9. If a team's legally thrown ball is moved from its resting position (accidentally or intentionally) by a team
    member, the ball is removed from play.
  10. The person(s) doing the measuring must press and rotate balls and the pallina before measuring to mark
    their original position on the court surface. If a ball or pallina is accidentally moved while measuring, it is
    replaced to its original marked position.
  11. A bocce ball , for whatever reason, that goes out of the court is a dead ball and is removed from play for
    that frame.
  12. Volo shooting (lofting the ball in the air beyond the center line of the court) is not permitted.
FOUL LINES
  1. Pointing and Hitting foul lines will be marked by flags on the court.
  2. Players may step on but not over the  foul line before releasing the pallina or a bocce ball.
  3. If a player's toe crosses the proper foul line before releasing a ball (bocce or pallina), they will receive one
    warning. Subsequent fouls will result in nullifying the pallina throw or removal of the thrown bocce ball from
    play.  
MEASURING & DISPUTES
  1. Team captains may measure any balls at any time. All disputes will be resolved by the tournament host.
  2. A team may make one substitution per game. Substitutions may only be made between frames.
LATE ARRIVALS & SUBSTITUTIONS
  1. A team not showing within 10 minutes of the scheduled starting time, looses two points, and an additional
    two points for each five minutes increment thereafter. A team not showing up within 30 minutes of the
    scheduled starting time forfeits the game.
  2. A team missing players at the start of the game may play, however, each player may only roll two balls. A
    player arriving late may enter a game, but only after the completion of the frame.
SCORING
  1. The official score for 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 pallina than the opponent’s
    closest ball (1 to 4 points).
  2. The team that scores in the last frame throws the pallina 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 pallina.
  4. The team that first scores 12 points, wins the game.  
  5. Each team will play one round robin game with each other team in their group.
  6. The winners from each group will go to the semi-finals.


                                                                       Red scores 2 points