Big Pine Bocce League Inc.
Rules of the Game
These rules shall govern all events, League play and tournaments, sanctioned by the Big Pine Bocce League, Inc.
Object of the Game:
The game of “open” bocce is played with eight bocce balls and one small target ball called a pallina. The object of the game is to roll the bocce ball closest to the pallina. In regular play, there are two balls per person, with four making up a playing team. Two players from each team are permanently stationed at each end of the court for each game. Games are played to 12 points. Unless otherwise noted, League play matches consist of three games.
Starting the Game
A team not present within fifteen minutes of this scheduled starting time forfeits the match unless the opposing team chooses to waive the starting time. If both teams are present prior to the scheduled start time, the match may begin.
The match begins with the flip of a coin between team captains. The winner of the coin flip has the first toss of the pallina and chooses the color of the balls. A player must toss the pallina and bocce ball from behind the 4’ foul line and it must cross the center line but may not pass the opposite 4’ line. The pallina may not be banked off the sidewalls and it may not stop within 12” off the sidewalls. If the player fails to position the pallina after three tries, the pallina is tossed by the opposing team once. If that team fails, the pallina toss reverts back to the original team and tossing is alternated until the placement is successful.
Once the pallina has been tossed and is in play, it remains in play even if it hits the backboard. If the pallina is knocked out in front of the centerline or if it is knocked off the court, that frame is considered dead, and play resumes from the other end of the court, with the same team tossing the pallina.
Playing the Game
The player who originally tossed the pallina, whether successful or not, throws the first bocce ball to set the point behind the 4’ foul line. That team then considered “inside” team, does not throw again until the opposing “outside” team beats (not ties) the roll. The play continues until both teams have thrown their bocce balls. Players need not alternate throws.
Players may proceed full court.
Should a player’s ball make contact with the backboard without first touching another ball or the pallina, that ball is dead on impact and removed from play until the end of the frame. If a bocce ball in play leaves the court due to impact, that one ball is dead, and play continues.
Only players of the game in progress shall be allowed on the court during play. If a League member or spectator who is not playing the game in progress comes onto the court, that person will be warned and upon 2nd violation, may be ejected.
The team scoring in the previous frame shall throw the pallina and set the point. During the match, the team winning the previous game shall start the next game from either end.
All players should toss the bocce ball and/or pallina behind the 4’ line without having their foot/feet beyond the 4’ line.
Scoring the Game
Whenever possible, teams will alternate each game keeping score. Team Captains should assign the scorekeeper for their game. The scorekeeper should stand midcourt with a clipboard and tape measure. The scorekeeper’s responsibility is to call the color closer to the pallina by standing behind it.
It is not the responsibility of the scorekeeper to call for a measurement. The scorekeeper calls the point to his or her best ability, then it’s up to the Team Captain to call for a measurement. If a point is accepted without measurement and later upon measurement it is determined not to be a point, the results of the measurement shall stand.
All measurements should be made from the outside of the bocce balls closest point to the center of the pallina. Only the scorekeeper, the Team Captains, and one player from each team may be present during measurement.
Only the inside team scores. One point is given to each ball of the inside team that is closer than any ball of the opposing team. If at the end of the frame, the closest balls of each team are equal distance from the pallina, the frame ends in a tie and no points are awarded. The team that tossed the pallina that begin the tied frame, tosses the pallina again.
The scorekeeper shall consider the following:
Team Penalties
If a player moves one or more of his team’s balls, whether in motion or at rest, those balls are removed from the court and considered dead.
If a player moves one or more of an opponent’s balls, whether in motion or at rest, those balls will be awarded points for that frame. Only the team fouled can score if points are awarded in this manner.
If the pallina is moved by a player, the team fouled against will be awarded as many points as the number of live balls they have already played and the frame will end, OR the team fouled against may have the option of declining the penalty and completing the frame.
If the scorekeeper, either in the course of measuring or otherwise moves a ball or pallina, the frame is considered dead, and play resumes from the other end. If the foul occurs after all the balls are played and the point or points were obvious to the scorekeeper, those points will be awarded. Any uncertain points will not be awarded.
If a spectator, animal, or object interferes with a ball in motion and it does not touch another ball already in play, it must be played over by the same person. If a spectator, animal, or object interferes with a ball in motion and the ball touches another ball already in play, the frame is dead, and play resumes at the other end of the court with the same team tossing the pallina.
If a player delivers the wrong color ball, the ball must be allowed to come to rest and then replaced with the proper ball by the scorekeeper. If a player delivers a wrong color ball and it cannot be identified by the scorekeeper as a result of hitting or scattering of balls, the frame will be considered dead and play will resume at the other end with the same team tossing the pallina.
If a team wrongly delivers the pallina and its first ball, the scorekeeper will return both the pallina and the ball and begin the frame over again from the same end.
If a player delivers more than his two balls in one frame the frame is considered dead and no points are scored for the frame.
If a player delivers the ball when his team has the point and the other team still has balls left, the ball in question remains where it has come to rest, is considered live and play continues. This ruling holds true regardless of who indicated which ball was “inside” since it is the responsibility of each team to request a measurement when a point is questionable.
Any team that forfeits two matches during a season is considered forfeiting out of the League; games against that team are null and void and will be removed from the standings. If a team forfeits out during the season, that team may not be allowed to compete in the League during the following season.
Players
Team captains shall be responsible for the conduct of their players. If a team captain fails to support the enforcement of League rules, that team will forfeit the game in progress.
Any League member considered to be disturbing play may be immediately suspended for the remainder of the season based on a decision by League Board members.
Any League member, whether playing or a spectator, who physically or verbally assaults the scorekeeper, another player, or a spectator shall be immediately ejected from the League. Assault is defined as an unlawful threat of physical violence or harm to somebody or an attempt to do so.
Any League member, whether playing or a spectator, who taunts another player, spectator, or the scorekeeper shall be immediately ejected from the match in progress. Taunting is defined as the use of word or act to incite or degrade or provoke, ridicule, or tease in a hurtful or mocking way, including those of a sexual nature.
Team members, other than the team captain, who are not playing in the game in progress, are not allowed on the court and if so found, will be ejected from the match in progress.
A team roster shall be due before the established deadline. After that deadline, in extenuating circumstances, additional players may be added to the roster upon approval of the written request submitted to League Board members. A team will forfeit any game in which a non-roster player competes.
Players may not be substituted once a game is already underway unless there is a medical or another legitimate emergency. Conditions:
If a player cannot complete a game and has no legitimate emergency, his team will finish that game with one less player and two bocce balls will be removed from play. If a team losing the player was already competing with three, the loss of a player will result in a forfeit.
A person can only play on one team during any League season.
A team consists of a minimum of three players, each player rolls two bocce balls. If a fourth player arrives after his/her first turn would have been taken, he/she must wait until the start of the next game to play. The team playing with three players must position their players. There are no additional penalty of games lost or forfeit because of three players.
Disputes and Protests
Teams referee their own games; any disputes which cannot be settled shall be decided by the night captain or League Board member.
Should it be necessary, a protest will be considered valid only if both teams understand (before the next frame begins) that the game is being played under protest. All protests must be submitted in writing to any Board member within 72 hours of the disputed game. A $5.00 fee must accompany all protests and will be returned if the protest is valid. The decision of Board members is final.
Should it be necessary to obtain a night captain’s assistance with clarifying rules or in the mediation of a dispute, players will show courtesy and not interrupt or distract the night captains while they are in the midst of rolling. Players will wait until the said role is complete.
In incidents caused by weather, acts of God, civil disorder or other unforeseen reasons, the ruling of the night captain and/or League Board member present will stand with regard to calling the game.
League Business
Members wishing to discuss League business with any League Board member are asked to do so when the Board member is not involved with playing a game.
Make-Up Games
A Board member or the League scorekeeper must be notified in writing by BOTH TEAM CAPTAINS in advance when a make-up game or match is scheduled. All make-up games/matches shall be played on the assigned court at Big Pine Key Park and must be completed by the established deadline each season. The rules of the League shall apply during all make-up games or matches and a score sheet must be completed and signed by both captains.
If one team captain can document, in writing, that three reasonable attempts were made to reschedule a make-up game or match, the make-up date shall be set by a Board member.
Matches not played by the end of the season shall be counted as a loss for both teams.
Interrupted Games
No frame shall start after 8:45PM. The score at that point will determine the winner of that game. If the match is tied at that time, each team will be recorded as a tie in the League standings.
In incidents caused by weather, acts of God, civil disorder, or other unforeseen reasons, the ruling of the night captain and/or Board member present will stand with regard to the calling of that game. If a game is so interrupted, it must be completed by the same number of players as participated in the original game. Whenever possible, the original players shall finish the game.
Rescheduled Games
Games not interrupted or canceled by the League may only be rescheduled if requested in advance by one team captain and accepted by the other team captain. It is a courtesy to agree to reschedule and is not required.
Fees
For League play the team registration fee is established by the membership and shall be due prior to the start of the season. Only teams with paid registration fees shall be considered voting members of the League.
The player fee is also established prior to the start of the season. No player may participate in a League match until that player’s registration fee is paid. Any game in which a player who has not paid this fee competes will be forfeited.
To maintain your nightly spot, should a team disband, the sponsoring party paying the registration fee in a given season shall be given consideration in retaining the team position the following season.
Existing teams requesting a change in nights shall be given consideration over new teams. Those teams in good standing, that participate consistently, season after season, shall be given consideration over teams that do not participate year-round, during scheduling.
No sponsor shall have more than one team playing on the same night without approval from the Board members. The request must be given in writing upon the day of registration for that season.
Playoffs
At the end of each season, a designated number of teams from the combined nights of play for that season will advance to the playoffs. Playoffs will use a seeding format to determine winning teams.
If a qualified team on any night is unable to compete in the playoffs and that team notified the League Board members before the end of the season, the next place team from that night will move up for the purposes of the playoffs, and all other teams shall advance accordingly. If a playoff team fails to show during a playoff match, that team forfeits and an alternate team may be substituted. The alternate team will be chosen first from that night; if a team from that night is not available, the team present with the best League record will be allowed to compete. Alternate teams must report to the scorekeeper or Board member running the playoffs 30 minutes before the playoffs begin. The original eligible team not competing in the playoffs is still considered to hold the title for finishing the season, i.e. Second Place Wednesday.
On the last night of regular season play, the playoff schedule will be announced by League officials. The schedule will include dates and times through the final match.
League teams will be scored as follows:
Win = 2 points
Tie = 1 point
Loss = 0 points
There will be no grace period for playoff matches.
A playoff team must consist of four players.
Welfare of the League
Night captains will be selected by Board members and shall voluntarily serve, acting as League officials in their absence. Team captains are responsible for putting scoresheets and ball bags used during the game in the locker. The last teams playing must secure the locker. The role of the night captains is not park maintenance. All teams must ensure that individual court areas are free of trash and belongings before leaving the park.
The benches at the end of each court are intended for use by players of the match in progress. It is common courtesy that each team will be afforded half of the bench space at each end during a match. The Big Pine Park is a public park and legally anyone can sit on the benches.
Spectators, even if League members, are not allowed on the court at any time during League play.