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  Bocce Ball has been evolving for thousands of years. The basics of the game can be traced back to games that were played in Egypt around 5000 BC. It was Giussepi Garibaldi of Italy who popularized the sport as it is known today.  Bocce Ball is one of the oldest of all lawn or yard games. It can be played by people of all ages and on a wide variety of surfaces. History

 The object of Bocce is to get as many of your bocce (bigger, weighted balls) as close to the pallino (smaller target ball) as possible. If you are successful in getting your bocce closer to the pallino than your opponent, you are awarded points. Whomever reaches the predetermined number of points first, wins. Objective

  Divide players into two teams of one, two or four players. Each team gets four balls, divided equally among the players. A coin toss determines who will play first.  To start the game have a player from the starting team stand behind the foul line (which is 10 feet from the throwing end of the court) and throw the small ball, or pallino, toward the opposite end of the playing surface. The same person who tossed the pallino then throws the one bocce ball trying to get it as close to the pallino as possible without touching it. Gameplay

  The next team then throws one ball trying to get closer than the first team.  If team two gets closer, then it is team one's turn. If team two's ball does not come closer then they continue to throw until they get a ball closer to the pallino or until they are out of balls. Then team one throws the reminder of their bocce balls. REMEMBER : you can knock your opponent's balls away from the pallino to increase your score. Gameplay

  The team with the closest ball gets one point for each of its balls that are closer to the pallino than the other team's closest ball.  Keep in mind that if the two teams' closest balls are an equal distance from the pallino, no points are awarded.  End the frame after all eight balls have been thrown and appropriate points have been awarded. The scoring team begins the next frame. If no team previously scored, the team that threw the pallino last begins the next frame.  Play as many frames as needed until one team has a total score of 15 points. Games are played to a set point total usually 12, 15 or 21. Scoring

  A team has the option of rolling, throwing, bouncing, banking, etc. its ball down the court provided it does not go out-of-bounds or the player does not violate the foul markers.  A player also has the option of "spocking" or hitting out any ball in play in trying to obtain a point, or decreasing the opposing team's points.  Only balls which are distinguishably closer to the pallino than any opponent's balls may be awarded points. Rules

  "Illegal Movement" refers to any movement of a ball by means other than the result of normal play such as kicking, touching, etc.  Only one team is awarded points, so only the team fouled against can be awarded points.  ILLEGAL MOVEMENT OF A BALL BELONGING TO YOUR OWN TEAM. If a player moves one or more of his team's balls, it or they are removed from the court and considered dead and play continues.  ILLEGAL MOVEMENT OF AN OPPONENT'S BALL. If a player moves one or more of his opponent's balls, those balls are removed and awarded one point each and play continues. Illegal Moves

  ILLEGAL MOVEMENT OF THE PALLINO BY A PLAYER. If the pallino is moved by a player, the team fouled against will be awarded as many points as the number of balls that team has already played the frame will end.  If a player interferes with an opponent's ball in motion, the team fouled against has the option of: A) playing the ball over (this is what will be used in class) B) declaring the frame dead or C) declining the penalty, accept the lie of the touched ball and continue playing.  OTHER DISRUPTION OF PLAY. Any action which interfered with the position of a ball in play - RENDERS THE FRAME DEAD. Illegal Moves

  Bocce Ball can be played on a variety of flat surfaces such as Bocce Ball Courts, sand, dirt or grass.  A large area is needed in order to make the game more challenging. Playing Surfaces

 Court

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