Bocce is an Italian version of lawn bowling.  The earliest know form of the sport was where stones were tossed at a target stone and was not trying to hit it but trying to get it as close as possible to that target.  This was a major amusement for Roman soldiers.  In between fighting they would substitute stones for balls and would play.  This game was brought to the United States by the Italian immigrants.

This game is played with two teams who can have one, two or four players on a team.  If there are four players then each player throws a ball, two players on a team would then throw two balls each and one player would throw all four.

The balls are made out of a tough, composite material much like bowling balls.  It is played on a hard surface like hard packed dirt, grass and even sometimes hard floors.  The bocce's are about 4.25 inches in diameter and the pallino (target ball) is about 2.25 inches in diameter.

Rules:

The object of the game of bocce is to your teams ball(s) closer to the pallino ball then the other team to earn points.
To start the match you may flip a coin to find who will go first.  The first team throws the pallino ball into the court but it cannot hit the backboard or if it does that team must roll it again.  Aim for the center line.  This team then throws the first bocce ball.  Then it is the second teams turn.  They must get a ball closer to the pallino than the first team or they keep going until they have thrown all four balls.  If they get closer then it is the next teams turn to roll.  You will alternate as long as each team has a ball closer than the other team.

Dead ball:  If the player's booce ball makes contact with the back board, the ball is concidered dead and is removed from the game for that match.  Should it bump a stationary ball, it should be replaced in its original spot and the moving ball remove but if it hits a moving ball and it knocks it back into play, that ball will remain in and at the stopping point.

Foul Line:  Players are not allowed to step on or over the foul line before releasing the ball.

Shooting should be a lofting throw in the air beyond the center of the court.

Scoring:  Only the inside team scores.  One point is given to each ball closer to the pallino ball then your opposing team.  The game is played to twelve points but you must win by two points.

(This information was taken right off of websites.  If you would like to look further at my resources you can do so from the reference page.)

2.   Where did it come from?

3.   Who played a variation of bacce and with what did they play it with?

4.   What is a dead ball?

5.   What is a pallino?

6.   What are the bacce balls usually made of?

7.   How many players can you have on a team?

8.   How do you start a game of bocce?

9.   How do you score in a match?

10.  What is a correct way to shoot?

11.  Name three common courtesies?
 

(teacher side note:  all answers are in worksheet)

2.  If a player is standing in the playing half of the court while the opposing team requiest that the  player step aside, that request should be honored.

3.  Only participating players should be on the court while the game is in progress.

4.  Courtesy and respect should be displayed at all times.  Profanity and unsprotsmanlike conduct is not permitted.  Violations may result ina warning by a ruling official to the player and team captain and if not fixed can be kicked out of the game.

(This is directly from iBocce.com, reference page)

1.  Bowled delivery-The bowl is deliverd underarm to run along the  ground and end up as near to the pallino as possible.

2.  Raised bowl-The bowl is delivered underarm through the air to end up as near as possible to the pallino.

3.  Throw-The bowl is thrown underarm into the air after a run-up, the objective being to displace eith the pallino ball or an opponents bowl.

(Taken directly from Bocce International, reference page)

Put an 'X' mark in the boxes if done correctly.  Leave blank if not done correctly.  Check 5 times each item.