Rules of Play

FLBA Rules

April 2024

Adapted from the Bocce Standards Association

(https://www.boccestandardsassociation.org/StandardRules/rules.htm)

COIN TOSS:

Begin the match with the flip of a coin between members of each team. The winner of the coin flip has the first toss of the pallino and chooses the color of their team’s balls.

PALLINO THROW:

1. The pallino is the first ball put into play and is thrown underhand from behind the foul line. The pallino may be bounced off the sideboards.

2. The pallino must go beyond the half court line and stop in front of the back foul line. If the thrower fails to accomplish this; the opposing team throws the pallino and first bocce ball.

3. If the pallino rests less than 12 inches from a side board, the opposing team on the same end of the court decides whether to play it. If they choose not to play the pallino, they rethrow the pallino and throw the first bocce ball.

4. If the second team also fails to put the pallino into play; the pallino is placed into play. It must be placed in the center and approximately two-thirds of the way toward the opposing backboard. The original throwing team throws the first ball.

5. If a player throws the pallino and/or first ball when the other team should throw the pallino and first ball, the balls are returned, and the frame starts over.

6. Once the pallino is in play, the pallino can be knocked anywhere on the court past the half court line.

7. Once the pallino is in play, if it is knocked out of the court or it is knocked in front of the half court line, the frame will end, no points will be awarded, and the game will resume from the opposite end of the court with the same team tossing the pallino.

8. If more than one game will be played with the same team, the team that wins a game will have the first pallino toss of the next game.

BOCCE BALL THROWS:

1. The pallino thrower always throws the first bocce ball. All balls are thrown underhand. If the first ball hits the backboard without first hitting the pallino, the ball is removed, and the team throws again until they have a ball in play.

2. Bocce balls must go beyond the half court line. Balls stopping short of or on the half court line are considered dead and must be removed from play.

3. Each succeeding ball is thrown by the team that is farthest from the pallino. A team whose ball ties the opponent’s closest ball must throw again. The “IN” team only throws if their opponents have thrown all four balls. Team members can throw in any order, but they must throw an equal number of balls each turn.

4. Balls may be bounced off or played against sideboards.

5. A ball hitting the backboard without first touching the pallino or another bocce ball is a dead ball and is removed from play.

6. If a player throws the wrong color ball, it is replaced with a correct color ball after the ball comes to rest.

7. If a player throws when the other team should throw, that ball is removed from play.

8. If a team’s legally thrown ball is moved from its resting position by a player before the points are determined and the end of the frame is declared, it is reset to its approximate original position.

9. A ball that goes out of the court is a dead ball and is removed from play for that frame.

10. Volo shooting (lofting the ball in the air beyond the half court line) is not permitted.

The first offense will result in a warning and the bocce ball must be thrown again. If the offense occurs a second time, the lofted ball is removed from the court.

FOUL LINES:

1.A player’s forward foot must not step beyond the foul line before releasing the pallino or a bocce ball.

2. The FLBA courts have two foul lines. The foul line closer to the half court line may be used by players needing it due to physical limitations. Teams should agree before play which players will be using the forward foul line.

MEASURING:

1. Sometimes measuring is necessary to determine which bocce ball(s) are closest to the pallino, to decide which player should throw next and/or to determine points. To provide a standard method of measuring for FLBA, the end of a measuring tape should be placed on the inside edge of the bocce ball with the tape extended in a straight line to the inside edge of the pallino.

2. If a bocce ball or pallino is accidentally moved while measuring, it is replaced to its original marked position.

SCORING:

1. The official score for a frame is determined after all eight balls have been played and measured to each team’s satisfaction. One point is awarded for each ball of a team that is closer to the pallino than the opponent’s closest ball (1 to 4 points).

2. The team that scored in the previous frame throws the pallino in the next frame and play continues as above.

3. If after all balls are played there is a tie, no points are awarded and play resumes with the last team scoring tossing the pallino from the opposite end of the court.

4. The team that first scores 11 points (the current game standard used by FLBA) wins the game. FLBA may change the score needed to win a game for special competitions.

TEAM MEMBERS:

1. Team members must play on the team for which they are registered for the season. Exceptions will be made for occasional substitutions if no other player is available.

2. Four-member teams must routinely play with four players. Under extenuating circumstances, two or three players may play.

3. Two-member teams must play with two players. [Must reschedule if no substitute is available.]

4. Teams are always encouraged to obtain a sub when possible so they have a full complement of players.

5. Team members who start a game must complete that game. No substitutions are allowed unless there is an injury or a member is unable to play the rest of the game due to an emergency or illness.

6. When playing more than one game against the same team, team members should play one game at each end of the bocce court [unless a player plays only one game].

7. Standing or walking on sideboards and backboards is not allowed.

8. Glass containers are not allowed at the bocce park [per Village of McFarland ordinance].