Teams

Teams will be comprised of four players. Two players from each team will be permanently stationed at each end of the court. Throwing two balls each. At the end of each frame, the game resumes at the opposite end of the court. Begin the match with the flip of a coin between the captains of each team. The winner of the coin flip may have the first toss of the pallino (small target ball), or choose the color of the balls.

Tossing the Pallino

A player may toss the pallino any distance, so long as the pallino passes the center line of the court, and does not hit the back wall. If a player fails to toss the pallino properly, the the opposing team will toss the pallino and put it into play. If the opposing team fails to properly toss the pallino, the pallino reverts to the original team. Any time a player is rolling, opposing players must remain outside the court.

Starting the Game

The first ball will be thrown by the team who originally tossed the pallino. If that bocce ball hits the back board, the team must roll again, Otherwise, you step aside and that team does not roll again, until the opposing team has either rolled one if its bocce balls closer to the pallino, or has thrown all of its balls. Whenever a team gets a ball closer, it steps aside and lets the other team roll. The other team throws until it beats (not ties) the opposing ball. This continues until both teams have used all their bocce balls. The team who scored last throws the pallino to begin the next frame. Consecutive or alternating throws by teammates shall be at the option of the players. Players may use the side walls at any time. If a player rolls the wrong color ball, simply replace it with the correct color when it comes to rest. If a player rolls out of turn or plays more than two balls, the other team may leave all balls as is or remove the illegal ball from play and return all balls to their approximate position.

Foul Lines

Players may step on but not over the foul line before releasing the pallino or their ball.

Scoring

Only one team scores in a frame. One point is given for each ball that is closer to the pallino than the closest ball of the opposing team. If at the end of any frame the closest ball of each team is equidistant from the pallino, no points are awarded to either team and the game resumes from the opposite end of the court, with the same team tossing the pallino. Games are normally played to 11 points. The tournament host may change this number.

Balls Hitting the back wall

A ball hitting the back board is dead & must be removed from play unless it first hits another ball in which case all balls are valid. If a thrown ball does not first touch another ball and hits the back board and then strikes a stationary ball, that stationary ball shall be replaced to its approximate position. The thrown ball is removed from play.

Pallino hitting the back wall

Once the pallino is in play, it remains in play even if it hits the back board during the game. However, if the pallino is knocked out of the court, or is knocked in front of the center line, the frame will end and play will resume from the opposite end of the court, with the same team tossing the pallino.

Shooting Volo

Volo shooting is lofting the ball in the air beyond the center of the court. The tournament host may disallow volo shooting for safety considerations.

Measuring and Disputes

Team captains may measure any balls at any time. All disputes will be resolved by the tournament host.

Late Arrivals and Substitutions

A team not showing within 10 minutes of the scheduled starting time, loses two points, and an additional two points for each five minutes increment thereafter. A team not showing up within 30 minutes of the scheduled starting time forfeits the game.

A team missing players at the start of the game may play, however, each player may only roll two balls. A player arriving late may enter a game, but only after the completion of the frame.

A team may make one substitution per game. Substitutions may only be made between frames.

Addendum to the United States Bocce Federation Rules

1. In the Portland Bocce League playoffs, games will go to the first team to score 17 points. No time limit.
 
2. No points for being on time. Teams or players that are late, will be covered by USBF rules.
 
3. No volo shooting allowed (shooting over the halfway line).
 
4. All players must be listed on the team's roster to the league's secretary by the Friday before the start of league play.
 
5. Only players on the team roster can play for the team.
 
6. A player can step on the foul line but not over it. If a player goes over the foulline, the "rule of advantage" take place. The opposing team can accept the shot or remove the thrown bocce and replace the bocce balls on the court to their original positions.
 
7. If there is an illegal shot the "rule of advantage" is used.
 
8. If the pallino is illegally thrown, the opposing team throws and goes to the other team until it is legally placed. The team that that threw the palino first still plays the first bocce. This is the way the USBF plays and it is not clear in the USBF rules.

Tournament Conduct Standards

At the meeting of the directors held in Reno in November of 2003, the USBF board adopted a set of guidelines that should be used to handle behavior problems at our national tournaments.  A committee that was formed to look into some problems that occurred at a previous tournament prepared these guidelines.  Although these occurrences are rare, they sometimes occur.  If our players are aware of certain standards that are expected of tournament participants, it will assist the tournament directors in dealing with and hopefully preventing unpleasant incidents.  Following is a summary of some of the items in the report.

1. Referees and Penalties

The decision of a certified referee or tournament committee referee is final.  A volunteer referee who is challenged about a decision must call a member of the tournament committee for consultation and a final decision.  In the event that there is no referee the offended team must call a member of the tournament committee for consultation and a final decision. 

2.  Penalties Applicable to Players

In the event of an infringement of the rules the referee or member of the tournament committee may apply one of the following penalties:

a.         Warning or admonishment to the players or team (s) at fault.

b.         Annulment of one or more balls.

c.         Award to the team that has been fouled the right to re-play the ball.

d.         Stop the match temporarily.

e.         Temporary exclusion of the guilty player (s).  The team may continue playing, less the number of balls the excluded player (s) would have played.

f.          Declare the game or match lost by the offending team.

g.         Disqualification of the player (s) from the game, match, competition or tournament.

 3.  Penalties Applicable to Team Managers or Coaches

a.         Warning or admonishment.

b.         Temporary exclusion from the premises.

c.         Declare the game or match lost by his or her team.

d.         Disqualification of his or her team from the game, match, competition, or tournament.

4.  Serious Infringements

a.         Bad behavior, offensive gestures and words, incorrect attitudes and dress, bad language and bad faith.

b.         Irregularly formed teams.

c.         Teams not making a proper effort.

d.         Teams drawing out a match on purpose in order to tire or influence their opponents, especially with reference to the maximum time allowed to play.

e.         Players stopping or displacing a ball or pallino on purpose.

f.          Players stopping balls or pallino close to the board or the line but not yet our of play.

g.         Players who refuse to accept the referee’s decision.

h.         Players who come to agreement among themselves not in accordance with the various regulations in force (i.e.: time of scheduled games, number of points for a match, etc.).

i.          Cheating such as using balls that have been tampered with.

j.          Non-production of a valid USBF card or the production of a false card or a card not belonging to the player.

k.         Players who protest to their opponents over infringements instead of appealing to the referee or tournament committee.

l.          Players who leave the court without the permission of the referee.

m.        Players who arrange the results of any game or retire from the competition without an acceptable excuse. 

5.  Spectator Penalties

A non-member of the USBF disturbing or disrupting a game in progress will be expelled from the premises.  A spectator who is a member of the USBF and disturbs or disrupts a game in progress will be expelled from the premises and may be excluded from USBF tournaments for up to one year and / or excluded from the following year’s National Championship tournament.

6.  Conclusion

The committee’s report ended with a request that any future code of conduct that might be adopted by the USBF could include the Olympic Creed or an adaptation the creed.  It was first delivered by Baron Pierre de Coubertin in 1894 in Paris and is included below:

“The most important thing in the Olympic Games is not to win but to take part, just as the most important thing in life is not the triumph but the struggle.  The essential thing is not to have conquered but to have fought well.”

Tie Breaker rule for Tournament Seeding

Team seeding for the tournament is based on team rank after the first half of the season.

If there is a tie, ties are broken based on head to head competition.  If after using head to head competition to break a tie, there still remains a tie among all or some of the originally tied teams that head to head competition results do not break, only then do you look to total points scored to break that tie.  Once part of the tie is broken, you revert to head to head competition for any remaining tied teams.

It is almost impossible to create every possible tie breaking situation.  However the above procedure does address any possiblility.

For that reason every scorecard will be filled out with total points for each game played.

Rule Differences from Last year

1.  In the Portland Bocce League playoffs, games will go to the first team to score 17 points. No time limit.
 
2.  No points for being on time. Teams or players that are late, will be covered by USBF rules.
 
3.  No volo shooting allowed (shooting over the halfway line).
 
4.  All players must be listed on the team's roster to the league's secretary by the May 23.

1.  In the Portland Bocce League playoffs, games will go to the first team to score 17 points. No time limit.
 
2.  No points for being on time. Teams or players that are late, will be covered by USBF rules.
 
3.  No volo shooting allowed (shooting over the halfway line).
 
4.  All players must be listed on the team's roster to the league's secretary by the May 23.