Bocce Rules

NASSAU GROVE BOCCE LEAGUE RULES (as of 2025)

OBJECT

The object of the game is for two teams to get as many of their 4 bocce balls closer to the pallino than the opposing team’s closest ball.

TEAMS/TARDINESS

A team is made up of 4 players: any combination of team members + substitutes. There must be at least 1 member from both scheduled teams playing the match.

If a sub cannot be found or a last-minute absence arises and no sub is available, you can play with fewer players, each rolling 1 ball per frame. While this is a disadvantage, it allows a team to play and possibly win, preventing a forfeit. The team will have to designate which position the missing player represents, as that will be the spot where a ball is not rolled for that team. Note: If you designate the first position as your missing player, then your team will never roll the pallino.

If a player is late coming to the game, they can start rolling the next time their position (as defined in the previous paragraph) comes up. If they had a substitute playing for them, they would replace the substitute at this point.

Each team will decide the lineup of players for each game. Once a game has started, there can be no changes in the rotation, and no substitutions, except as described in the previous paragraph.

The teams can choose a method to determine who starts the game such as a coin toss, rock/paper/scissors, or choosing a hand with a ball or coin in it. The winning team will: Choose their preferred ball color and start the game.

Both teams are responsible for reporting final scores to the Record Keeper.

BEGIN PLAY

  1. From behind the foul line, the first person in the rotation rolls the pallino, followed by the 1st bocce ball to start the roll then passes to the opposing team. The team whos’ closest ball is further from the pallino then the other team’s closest ball continues to roll. (see Bocce Ball Rolls rule 4 for an expanded explanation)
  2. A match can be played with 3 players, who will each roll only 1 ball per frame. In the case of lateness, the latecomer will start playing when their next rotation comes up.
  3. The lineup, already determined, will roll in order until the end of the game.
  4. At the start of subsequent game(s), the teams may change their rotation.

PALLINO TOSS

       1. A legal pallino toss is made from behind the foul line 
                    a. It must cross the center line and not touch the backboard.                                                                                  
                    b. If this criterion is not met, the pallino is tossed a second time and if that is not a legal toss, the toss passes to the opposing team.
       2. If a player tosses the pallino when the other team should have, the ball is returned to the appropriate team and the frame starts over.
       3. If a player rolls a ball instead of tossing the pallino, they will retrieve the ball and then toss the pallino.
       4. During play, the pallino may be bounced off the sideboards or backboard by another ball and remain in play.
       5. It is permissible for a player to roll a ball to knock an opponent’s ball away from the pallino. A player may also knock the pallino toward his/her own team’s balls.

BOCCE BALL ROLLS

  1. All bocce balls are rolled from behind the foul line.
  2. The roller must have both feet on the court “grass”. Exceptions can be made for disabilities where someone could roll a ball from behind the end of the court. Never from the side of the court.
  3. If a roller steps on or over the foul line when releasing a bocce ball, a foot fault (foul) can be called by either team who is positioned in close proximity. The rolled ball is removed from the court, and the roll passes to the next player in the rotation, leaving the remaining balls in place. Play continues in the existing rotation. If possible, hit balls should be replaced to their original positions.
  4. After the pallino is tossed and the first ball is rolled, the opponent rolls their 1st ball trying to get This team continues to roll until they are closer to the pallino. If they succeed, the roll goes back to the other team who then tries to regain a closer position, etc. until all balls are rolled. If it is determined that two balls are equidistant from the pallino the team that threw last will roll their next ball since they had to get their ball closure to the pallino, not equidistant.
  5. Clarification to rule 4: If, after rolling a ball there are no balls on the court, the team that rolled last will roll again since they did not get closer to the pallino. This rule is not in effect for the very first roll. Example: The first team rolls a ball, and it hits the backboard and is Then the second team rolls a ball, and it hits the backboard and is removed. The second team did not get closer to the pallino than the first team, so the second team rolls again.
  6. If a player rolls out of turn, the rolled ball is removed from the court. The following roll goes to the team that should have rolled, and both teams continue in the established order. If possible, hit balls should be replaced to their original positions.
  7. If a player rolls the wrong color ball, it will be replaced with the correct color and the rotation continues.
  8. If a bocce ball, for whatever reason, goes out of the court or hits the backboard it is a dead ball and removed from play for that frame.
  9. When a roller is on the court, all others must remain outside the court.         
  10. On our artificial turf covered, cement court, lofting the ball is not permitted. The ball should be released while close to the court surface. Lofted balls can be removed if the other team desires, to discourage lofting.

DEAD BALL

       1.  Bocce balls that contact the backboard when rolled are considered a dead ball and removed from play, hopefully before it contacts another ball.
       2. If a bocce ball hits the backboard and rolls back into the court contacting other balls, the moved balls are returned to their original position, and the rolled                  ball is dead. It helps if teams post a player at the end of the court to remove dead balls. 
       3. When a roller is on the court, all others must remain outside the court.
       4. On our artificial turf covered, cement court, lofting the ball is not permitted. The ball should be released while close to the court surface. Lofted balls can be                removed if the other team desires, to discourage lofting.

SCORING

  1. The official score for a frame is determined after all balls have been played. One point is awarded for each ball of the team closest to the pallino. (A frame is after all players have rolled their ball and counted the )
  2. The first team to score 9 points wins the game. In the event of a tie, think again, ties aren’t possible. Three games make up a match.
  3. Measuring: If both teams agree to a call, no measurement is necessary. Only if there is a difference of opinion, is a measurement required.
  4. For consistent measurements using the tape measure: Place the flat rolled end on the court surface, against the pallino. Holding it in place, stretch the tape across the court until it is up against the bottom of the bocce balls in question.
  5. For consistent measurements using the strings: Place the cup over the pallino. Holding it in place, stretch the string across the court to the top dead center of the first Then rotate the cup and/or string and compare against the first ball. Be sure any devices that could affect the length, like the eye hook on the top of the can, is oriented in the same way for both measurements. If the distance is further than either option, the teams must “step it off” or agree on a judgment call.
  6. A player from each team must see and agree, or concede to the call, on the judgement or measurement of distance and no ball is moved until such time. 
  7. If the closest bocce balls from both teams are equidistant from the pallino, NO points are awarded.
  8. The team with the higher score at the end of the frame tosses the pallino in the next frame and play continues.
  9. If, at the end of a frame, a bocce ball is touching the pallino an additional point is awarded. The teams can decide on how that is determined. Note: Checking to see if a piece of paper can go between the balls may just push the balls apart giving the false impression that the balls were not touching.
  10. Matches are 3 games or at whatever point when agreement is reached to discontinue. This agreement also includes what the final score is for games won and lost. This includes the extra point if the match doesn’t end in a tie.

ENDING THE MATCH

      1. All matches start with the roll of the pallino and end after 3 games have been played. There is no time limit in play.
      2. At the end of the match, both teams report via email, as soon as possible, the match scores to the Record Keeper. (Occasionally there is a discrepancy that can           be easily resolved if little or no time elapses.) If only one team reports the scores, it will be recorded, and no adjustment will be made after the following                       Monday.

FORFEIT

  1. A team must produce 1 team member for a match, or the match is forfeited.
  2. If, 15 minutes past the scheduled start time, a team does not have at least 1 team member and any combination of subs, it is a forfeit and a 4-0 win will be awarded for the team fully present. 
  3. In fairness to all, no team has the right to “forgive” the 15-minute lateness of an opposing team. (The team present should not be penalized any further for another’s lateness.)
  4. There is certainly an occasional “emergency” but if teams know in advance the team cannot field a team, the opposing team should be notified of the forfeit and not have to wait at the court.

SUBSTITUTIONS

  1. Always contact those on the Substitute List first.
  2. You may ask another player from the league to substitute.
  3. If either of those don’t work, you may ask an NG neighbor to fill in for a team.
  4. If no subs are available, to avoid a forfeit, the team has the option to play with fewer players, rolling fewer balls.
  5. If an adult family member visits, he/she may be a substitute for YOUR team.
  6. To prevent a team from being hurt by a poor substitute or gaining a greater advantage with a very good substitute, substitutes may not roll the first or last ball.
  7. To prevent having to forfeit due to rule 6 a substitute can roll the first ball if there aren’t enough team members. Example, you have a team of 4 with 3 substitutes, or a team of 3 with 2 substitutes. In no situation can a substitute roll the last ball.