Floyd NY Official Bocce League Rules
Updated 3/17/05 | Download Word File

BASICS

1. Matches consist of three games. Best of three games wins the match.
2. A team is made up of a maximum of 10 players and a minimum of 4 players.
3. A team on the court must have 4 players (2 stationed at each end of the court) with each player throwing 2 balls per frame. Teams are allowed to switch out players only between games. If a team does not have four players within ten minutes of game time, they must forfeit the full match.
4. Each team must designate a captain for that day’s match.
5. Players may play on more than one team in the League. However, they may not play on teams that are playing against each other.
6. A team may add players to the roster at any time over the course of the tournament, as long as the number is never more than 10 players. (This may prove to be handy for last minute recruitments when a player is running late.)

PLAY

1. The match begins with the flip of a coin with the winner earning choice of the balls (house balls only – no outside balls are to be used), color of the balls, first toss of the pallino and first throw.
2. The pallino must end up across the center line and cannot hit the backboard. If it does not meet these conditions, it is rethrown by the opposing team. The same is true for the first colored ball that is thrown.
3. All bocce balls must be thrown from behind the pointing foul line. Throwing from beyond the foul line leads to removal of the thrown ball from play. Standard Penalties apply.
4. Each succeeding ball is thrown by the team that does NOT have the ball closest to the pallino. Team members can throw in any order.
5. A ball hitting the backboard without first touching the pallino or another bocce ball is a dead ball and is removed from play. Standard Penalties apply.
6. If a player throws when the other team should throw or throws more than 2 balls, that ball is removed from play. Standard Penalties apply.
7. A bocce ball, for whatever reason, that goes out of the court is a dead ball and is removed from play for that frame.
8. Lofting the ball in the air beyond the center line of the court is not permitted. Standard Penalties apply.
9. If the pallino is knocked either out of the court or back in front of the half-way mark during play, the frame ends with no score and is restarted from the same end of the court with the same team throwing first. This is a Do-Over.
10. If there is a tie the following rules apply:
    A. If a team throws a ball that ties the other team for ball closest to the pallino (and there are more balls to be thrown), the next team throws.
    B. If there are no more balls to be thrown and two balls are tied as the closest to the pallino, there is no score. This is a Do-Over.
    C. If there is a tie for any balls other than the closest ball to the pallino (and there are no more balls to be thrown), only the balls closer to the pallino are used to score. In other words, if there is one red ball closest to the pallino, then a tie for 2nd place, and another red ball for 3rd place, you don’t count the third place red ball. Only the closest red ball counts as a score.
    

STANDARD PENALTIES

1. For the violation of any rule that requires the removal of a bocce ball from play, that ball is immediately removed from play until that frame has been completed. The ball should be placed on the wall of the court so team members can see how many balls have been thrown.
2. If possible, any balls moved because of the action of the violation ball are reset to their approximate original position. If balls are sufficiently moved that the approximate original positions can not be determined, the opposing team has the option to leave the balls as they lay or replay the frame.

SCORING

1. One point is awarded for each ball of a team that is closer to the pallino than the opponent’s closest ball (1 to 4 points).
2. The team that scores in the last frame throws the pallino in the next frame and play continues as above.
3. If each team’s closest balls are tied, no score is made.
4. The team that first scores 7 points, wins the game.
5. The team winning two out of three games wins the match.
6. At the end of a match, the Team Captains must sign the score sheet confirming the result and submit to the bartender.

SCHEDULING GAMES

Saturdays and Sundays 2PM – 4:30PM are reserved for league play. If a team knows in advance they are unable to play on a specific day, they may contact the team captain of the opposing team and try to reschedule. If both teams agree to reschedule, the game must be played by the following Wednesday. Though it is not required that the opposing team reschedule. Again, any team that does not have at least 4 players within 10 minutes after the start of the game results in a forfeit.

OFFICIAL REFEREES

1. To the extent possible, Floyd, NY will supply a referee (staff or owner equipped with a set of these rules). When one is available, the referee has the final word in all disputes.
2. If no referee is available from Floyd, NY teams will be expected to refer to the League Rules, available from Floyd management, and to cooperate in determining the appropriate course of play.

DEFINITIONS

1. Match: Best of three games.
2. Game: Best of 7 points.
3. Frame: The throwing of eight balls, four from each team, from one end of the court. Only one team can score per frame.
4. Do-Over: When a frame is restarted. Balls are thrown form the same side of the court and the same team throws first.