Editing Bocce

{{Short description|Ball sport}}
{{Use dmy dates |date=July 2020}}
{{distinguish|Boccia}}
{{Infobox sport
| image=Bocce_players_scoring.jpg
| caption=Bocce players scoring a match, 2005
| union=[[Fédération Internationale de Boules]]
| nickname=Bocci
| first= 18th century in [[Italy]]
|country/region= Worldwide
| first team= 
| registered=
| clubs=
| contact=Non-contact
| team=Singles and doubles
| mgender=Yes, separate tours and mixed doubles
| category=[[Ball games]]
| ball=''Bocce'' (balls) and ''pallino'' (jack)
| olympic= No
| paralympic=No
| IWGA=No
}}

[[File:Bochas oliver family.jpg|thumb|An Argentine family playing bocce in [[San Vicente, Buenos Aires]], {{circa|1902}}]]
[[File:Bocce Play Cape Coral FL-2007.JPG|thumb|Bocce play in [[Cape Coral, Florida]], United States in 2007]]
[[File:Bocce being played.theora.ogv|thumb|Bocce being played]]
[[File:Bocce set2.jpg|thumb|a typical bocce set]]
'''{{lang|it|Bocce|italics=no}}''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|b|ɒ|tʃ|i|audio=en-us-bocce.oga}},<ref name="Collins">{{cite web |url= https://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/boccie |title=Boccie |work=[[Collins English Dictionary]] |publisher=[[HarperCollins]] |access-date=9 July 2019}}</ref><ref name="MW">{{Cite Merriam-Webster |boccie |access-date=9 July 2019}}</ref> or {{IPAc-en|ˈ|b|ɒ|tʃ|eɪ}},<ref>{{Cite dictionary |url=http://www.lexico.com/definition/bocce |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200127193122/https://www.lexico.com/definition/bocce |url-status=dead |archive-date=2020-01-27 |title=bocce |dictionary=[[Lexico]] UK English Dictionary |publisher=[[Oxford University Press]]}}</ref> {{IPA|it|ˈbɔttʃe|lang}}), sometimes anglicized as '''bocce ball''',<ref>E.g.: {{cite web |first=Jennifer |last=Brown |title=In Denver, a binge drinking capital, the sober curious movement is gaining popularity |date=2 August 2019 |work=[[The Colorado Sun]] |location=Denver |publisher=[[Civil (journalism)|Civil]] |quote="strangers played bocce ball on a June night" |url= https://coloradosun.com/2019/08/02/denver-sobriety-movement/ |access-date=7 August 2019}}</ref> '''bocci''',<ref>{{cite web |title=bocci |work=American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language |edition=5th |year=2016 |publisher=Houghton Mifflin Harcourt |url= http://www.thefreedictionary.com/bocci |via=TheFreeDictionary.com |access-date=7 August 2019}}</ref> or '''boccie''',<ref name="Collins"/> is a [[Ball sports|ball sport]] belonging to the [[boules]] family. Developed into its present form in [[Italy]], it is closely related to English [[bowls]] and French {{lang|fr|[[pétanque]]}}, with a common ancestry from ancient games played in the [[Roman Empire]]. Bocce is played around [[Western Europe|Western]], [[Southern Europe|Southern]], and [[Southeastern Europe]], as well as in overseas areas with historical [[Italian diaspora|Italian immigrant]] population, including [[Australia]], [[North America|North]] and [[South America]], principally [[Argentina]] and the southern Brazilian states of [[Paraná (state)|Paraná]], [[Rio Grande do Sul]] and [[Santa Catarina (state)|Santa Catarina]]. Initially only played by Italian immigrants, the game has slowly gained popularity among descendant generations and outside the Italian diaspora. <ref name="Bocce's Meteoric Rise"> {{cite web | title="From unified sport to Olympic dreams: Bocce's meteoric rise" | url= https://www.packaworld.com/news-blog/from-unified-sport-to-olympic-dreams-bocces-meteoric-rise | year=2024 | access-date=16 August 2024}}</ref>

==History==

Having developed from games played in the Roman Empire, bocce developed into its present form in Italy,<ref name="Malta and Gozo">{{cite book |last1=Rix |first1=Juliet |chapter=Boċċi |page=309 |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=WmKKCwAAQBAJ&pg=PA309 |title=Malta and Gozo |date=2015 |publisher=Bradt Travel Guides |isbn=978-1-78477-025-9 }}</ref> where it is called ''{{lang|it|bocce}}'', the plural of the Italian word ''{{lang|it|boccia}}'' which means 'bowl' in the general sporting sense.<ref name="collins">{{cite web |url= http://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/italian-english/boccia |title=boccia |work=Collins Italian–English |via=CollinsDictionary.com |access-date=8 November 2012}}</ref> It spread around Europe and also in regions to which Italians have migrated. The first form of regulation was described in the book "Gioco delle bocchie" by Raffaele Bisteghi in 1753.<ref> 
[https://www.treccani.it/enciclopedia/bocce_%28Enciclopedia-dello-Sport%29/ Treccani encyclopedia: read first section]</ref> In South America it is known as ''{{lang|es|bochas}}'', or ''[[bolas criollas]]'' ('[[Criollo people|Criollo]] balls') in [[Venezuela]], and ''{{lang|pt-BR|bocha}}'' in southern [[Brazil]]. The accessibility of bocce to people of all ages and abilities has seen it grow in popularity among [[Special Olympics]] programmes globally, and it is now the third most-played sport among Special Olympics athletes.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Special Olympics bocce sport profile|url=https://www.specialolympics.org/our-work/sports/bocce|access-date=12 July 2020|website=Special Olympics International|date=6 August 2018}}</ref>

==Geographical spread==

The sport is also very popular on the eastern side of the [[Adriatic]], especially in [[Croatia]], [[Serbia]], [[Montenegro]], and [[Bosnia and Herzegovina]], where the sport is known in [[Serbo-Croatian language|Croatian]] as ''{{lang|sh|boćanje}}'' ('playing ''{{lang|sh|boće}}''<nowiki />') or ''{{lang|sh|balote}}'' (colloquially also ''{{lang|hr|bućanje}}'').<ref name="hr">{{Cite web|url=https://hrvatski-bocarski-savez.hr/|title=Hrvatski boćarski savez - HBS|website=hrvatski-bocarski-savez.hr}}</ref><ref name="hr2">[[Croatian Bocce Federation]]</ref><ref name="bih">{{Cite web |url=http://www.bocanje-bih.com/ |title=BiH Bocce Association |access-date=2012-03-13 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090529222733/http://www.bocanje-bih.com/ |archive-date=2009-05-29 |url-status=usurped }}</ref> In [[Slovenia]] the sport is known as ''{{lang|sl|balinanje}}''<ref name="slo">{{Cite web |url= http://portal.balinarska-zveza.si/ |title=Bocce Association of Slovenia |access-date=16 June 2010 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20100611221558/http://portal.balinarska-zveza.si/ |archive-date=11 June 2010 |url-status=dead}}</ref> or colloquially 'playing ''{{lang|sl|boče}}''<nowiki />', or ''{{lang|sl|bale}}'' (from Italian ''{{lang|it|bocce}}'' and Venetian ''{{lang|vec|bałe}}'', meaning 'balls').<ref name="slo2">{{Cite web |url= http://www.etno-muzej.si/en/spletne-zbirke/klasifikacije/igra-odraslih |title=Slovene Ethnographic Museum |access-date=13 March 2012 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20130622091515/http://www.etno-muzej.si/en/spletne-zbirke/klasifikacije/igra-odraslih |archive-date=22 June 2013 |url-status=dead}}</ref> There are numerous bocce leagues in the [[United States]] (USA). <ref name="US Bocce Federation">{{cite web | url=https://usbf.us/ | title="United States Bocce Federation" | access-date=16 August 2024}}</ref>

Bocce was brought to [[Venezuela]] between 1498 and 1510 by a Spanish friar or by Priest Sojo, great-uncle of [[Simón Bolívar]]. The Venezuelan modality became popular during the 1930s and is played in several [[Caribbean island]]s, including [[Aruba]], [[Curaçao]] and [[Bonaire]]. In 1946, bocce was including in the first Venezuelan National Sports Games, and in 1956 the National Venezuelan Federation of Creole Bocce was founded.<ref name="el ciudadano">{{cite news |last=Gutiérrez |first=Félix Eduardo |title=Hace más de 500 años se juega Bolas Criollas en Venezuela |date=3 January 2019 |journal=El Ciudadano |url=https://www.elciudadano.com/latinoamerica/venezuela/hace-mas-de-500-anos-se-juega-bolas-criollas-en-venezuela/01/03/ |language=es |access-date=11 April 2025 |archive-date=11 April 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250411162650/https://www.elciudadano.com/latinoamerica/venezuela/hace-mas-de-500-anos-se-juega-bolas-criollas-en-venezuela/01/03/ |url-status=live}}</ref>

Bocce is also played in [[Brazil]]. The sport was brought between 1880 and 1930 by the [[Italian Brazilians|Italian]] families of Baggio, Zanetti, Tedesco, Merlin, Pazello, Bolisenha, Ricetti, Fressatos and Dorigos. The sport became popular on [[Curitiba]] and in 1952 the families created the bocci club Sociedade 25 de Maio. The city has also developed their own modality of bocce, "bocha clássico" (classic bocce).<ref>{{cite news |title=Em Curitiba, comunidade italiana comemora o Dia Municipal da Bocha |date=23 May 2022 |journal=Bem Paraná |url=https://www.bemparana.com.br/esportes/em-curitiba-comunidade-italiana-comemora-o-dia-municipal-da-bocha/ |language=pt-BR |access-date=11 April 2025 |archive-date=11 April 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250411154536/https://www.bemparana.com.br/esportes/em-curitiba-comunidade-italiana-comemora-o-dia-municipal-da-bocha/ |url-status=live}}</ref> On 25 May, the city celebrates the bocce day.<ref>{{cite news |title=Dia da Bocha: modalidade milenar sobrevive dentro de clubes tradicionais de Curitiba |date=25 May 2022 |journal=CBN Curitiba |url=https://cbncuritiba.com.br/materias/dia-da-bocha-modalidade-milenar-sobrevive-dentro-de-clubes-tradicionais-de-curitiba/ |language=pt-BR |access-date=11 April 2025 |archive-date=11 April 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250411153605/https://cbncuritiba.com.br/materias/dia-da-bocha-modalidade-milenar-sobrevive-dentro-de-clubes-tradicionais-de-curitiba/ |url-status=live}}</ref>

Brazil is also notorious in the paralympic bocce modality. During the [[2012 Summer Paralympics]], the country conquered three gold medals and one bronze medal in the BC2 and BC4 categories.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Herbst |first1=Dulce Mari |last2=Mascarenhas |first2=Luis Paulo |last3=Slonski |first3=Edson César |title=A história do bocha paralímpico no Brasil e sua evolução como esporte de alto rendimento |url=https://www.fiepbulletin.net/fiepbulletin/article/download/2965/5783/0 |journal=FIEP Bulletin |publisher=International Federation of Physical Education and Sports |volume=83 |year=2013 |language=pt-BR}}</ref> Brazil hosted the paralympic bocce world championship twice. On [[2016 Summer Paralympics|Rio 2016]], Brazil conquered a gold medal and a silver medal in the BC3 and BC4 categories.<ref>{{cite news |title=Brasil encerra a participação da bocha nos Jogos Rio 2016 com um ouro e uma prata |date=15 September 2016 |journal=Brazilian Paralympic Committee |url=https://cpb.org.br/noticias/brasil-encerra-a-participacao-da-bocha-nos-jogos-rio-2016-com-um-ouro-e-uma-prata/ |language=pt-BR |access-date=11 April 2025 |archive-date=11 April 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250411155946/https://cpb.org.br/noticias/brasil-encerra-a-participacao-da-bocha-nos-jogos-rio-2016-com-um-ouro-e-uma-prata/ |url-status=live}}</ref> On 2022, the World Championship was hosted again on [[Rio de Janeiro]], and Brazil conquered one gold, three silver and three bronze medals.<ref>{{cite news |title=Brasil encerra Copa do Mundo de bocha com sete medalhas no Rio de Janeiro |date=2 May 2022 |journal=Brazilian Paralympic Committee |url=https://cpb.org.br/noticias/brasil-encerra-copa-do-mundo-de-bocha-com-sete-medalhas-no-rio-de-janeiro/ |language=pt-BR |access-date=11 April 2025 |archive-date=11 April 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250411160453/https://www.gov.br/mds/pt-br/noticias-e-conteudos/esporte/noticias_esporte/com-medalhistas-paralimpicos-e-atletas-que-disputaram-as-paralimpiadas-escolares-rio-de-janeiro-recebe-o-mundial-de-bocha |url-status=live}}</ref> In 2025, Curitiba hosted the Youth Bocce World Cup.<ref>{{cite news |title=Curitiba recebe Copa do Mundo de Jovens de Bocha|date=31 March 2025 |journal=[[Ministry of Sports (Brazil)|Ministry of Sports]] |url=https://www.gov.br/esporte/pt-br/noticias-e-conteudos/esporte/curitiba-recebe-copa-do-mundo-de-jovens-de-bocha |language=pt-BR |access-date=11 April 2025 |archive-date=11 April 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250411161341/https://www.gov.br/esporte/pt-br/noticias-e-conteudos/esporte/curitiba-recebe-copa-do-mundo-de-jovens-de-bocha |url-status=live}}</ref>

==Rules and play==

Bocce is traditionally played on a natural soil or asphalt court up to {{convert|27.5|m}} in length and {{convert|2.5|to|4|m|ft}} wide.<ref name="auto">{{Cite web|url=http://www.boccevolo.com/about/ch1.html|title=Bocce Volo - Rules - Ch. 1|website=boccevolo.com}}</ref> While the court walls are traditionally made of wood or stone, many social leagues and [[Special Olympics]] programs now use inflatable 'Packabocce' PVC courts due to their portability and ease of storage.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Ussery|first=Peggy |title=Bocce ball newest sport for Dothan's Special Olympians|url=https://dothaneagle.com/lifestyles/local/bocce-ball-newest-sport-for-dothan-s-special-olympians/article_12c28035-54d3-5ae3-9fce-b373134bb5cd.html|access-date=2020-07-23|website=Dothan Eagle|date=15 February 2020 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Oddball Sports - The Best Pop-Up Bocce Settings of All-Time|url=https://www.oddballsports.tv/articles/the-best-pop-up-bocce-settings-of-all-time|access-date=2020-07-23|website=oddballsports.tv|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200723023105/https://www.oddballsports.tv/articles/the-best-pop-up-bocce-settings-of-all-time|archive-date=2020-07-23}}</ref> Bocce balls can be made of wood (traditional), [[metal]],<ref name="auto"/> baked clay, or various [[kinds of plastic]]. Unlike [[lawn bowls]], bocce balls are spherical and have no inbuilt bias.
  
A game can be conducted between two players, or two teams of two, three, or four. A match is started by a randomly chosen side being given the opportunity to throw a smaller ball, the '''jack''' (called a ''{{lang|it|boccino}}'' ('little bocce') or ''{{lang|it|pallino}}'' ('bullet' or 'little ball') in Italian, depending on local custom), from one end of the court into a zone {{convert|5|m|ft}} in length, ending {{convert|2.5|m|ft}} from the far end of the court. If the first team misses twice, the other team is awarded the opportunity to place the jack anywhere they choose within the prescribed zone.<ref name="Malta and Gozo"/> Casual play is common in reasonably flat areas of parks and yards lacking a bocce court, but players should agree to the minimum and maximum distance the jack may be thrown before play begins.

The side that first attempted to place the jack is given the opportunity to bowl first. Once the first bowl has taken place, the other side has the opportunity to bowl. From then on, the side which does ''not'' have the ball closest to the jack has a chance to bowl, up until one side or the other has used their four balls. At that point, the other side bowls its remaining balls. The object of the game is for a team to get as many of its balls as possible closer to the target ball (jack, boccino, pallino) than the opposing team.  The team with the closest ball to the jack is the only team that can score points in any frame. The scoring team receives one point for each of their balls that is closer to the jack than the closest ball of the other team. The length of a game varies by region but is typically from 7 to 13 points.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.boccevolo.com/about/ch2.html|title=Bocce Volo - Rules - Ch. 2|website=boccevolo.com}}</ref><ref name="Malta and Gozo"/>

Players are permitted to throw the ball in the air using an underarm action only. This is generally used to knock either the jack or another ball away to attain a more favorable position. Tactics can get quite complex when players have sufficient control over the ball to throw or roll it accurately.<ref name="Malta and Gozo"/>

==Variants==

===Punto raffa volo===

Also known as PRV, punto raffa volo is the main international competition form of bocce. The name refers to the three legal types of throws in the game:  punto, or lagging the ball toward the pallino; raffa, shooting a ball with an aerial throw that hits the ground and rolls toward the target; and volo, hitting a ball on the fly or a short hop. The rules of PRV are strict and reward precision and accuracy. Rules violations allow the opposing team to keep the result or reset the game to its set-up before the rules violation (and pulling the foul ball off the court). This reset is accomplished by marking the ground with chalk to indicate the placement of each ball and the pallino.

Rules include (but are not limited to):

*When lagging a ball toward the target, the thrown ball may not move another ball or the pallino more than 70 cm (in Italy, some leagues enforce a 50 cm rule).
*When throwing a raffa or volo, the player must declare which ball will hit first.
*Players cannot throw a ball off the side walls.
*The back wall is dead for missed shots and any balls that hit the back wall while lagging (there are some variations of the lagging rule that may allow the pallino to be pushed into the back wall).

===Open bocce===

Played mainly in the U.S. and Canada, open bocce features a basic set of rules as compared with PRV. In open bocce, there are fewer limitations on lagging (side walls are live, balls can be moved any distance), and missed targets while shooting are allowed. Some clubs play with the back wall live, while other clubs play with the back wall as dead if a ball hits the back wall on the fly without striking a ball or the pallino. Other variations include angled corners and gutters at the end of the court rather than  a back wall.

===Bocce volo===

{{Main|Bocce volo}}
A variation called ''{{lang|it|bocce volo}}'' uses a metal ball, which is thrown overhand (palm down), after a run-up to the throwing line. In that latter respect, it is similar to the French boules game ''{{lang|fr|[[jeu provençal]]}}'' also known as ''{{lang|fr|boule lyonnaise}}'' which is internationally called sport-boules.  Another French variant of the game is called ''{{lang|fr|[[pétanque]]}}'', and (lacking the run-up) is more similar in some respects to traditional ''{{lang|it|bocce}}''.<ref>Petanque vs. Bocce at [http://petanque-america.com/game.html Petanque America] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304030513/http://petanque-america.com/game.html |date=4 March 2016 }}</ref>

===Boccia===

{{Main|Boccia}}
[[File:Australian Boccia team members.jpg|thumb|Australian boccia team members]]
Another development, for persons with disabilities, is called ''{{lang|it|boccia}}''. It is a shorter-range game, played with leather balls on an indoor, smooth surface. Boccia was first introduced to the [[Paralympics]] at the [[1984 Summer Paralympics|1984 New York/Stoke Mandeville Summer Games]] and is one of the only two Paralympic sports that do not have an [[Olympic Games|Olympic]] counterpart (the other being [[goalball]]).<ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.paralympic.org/boccia|title=Boccia |work=Paralympic.org |publisher=[[International Paralympic Committee]] |access-date=12 March 2018}}</ref>

===Classic bocce===

A Brazilian variety of bocce where the ball is rolled on the floor instead of thrown.<ref>{{cite news |title=Abertura de torneio misto de Bocha faz parte do Mia Cara 2022, o festival de cultura italiana que retoma atividades presenciais |date=23 May 2022 |url=https://www.radioculturadecuritiba.art.br/abertura-de-torneio-misto-de-bocha-faz-parte-do-mia-cara-2022-o-festival-de-cultura-italiana-que-retoma-atividades-presenciais/ |journal=Rádio Cultura de Curitiba |language=pt-BR |access-date=11 April 2025 |archive-date=11 April 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250411162045/https://www.radioculturadecuritiba.art.br/abertura-de-torneio-misto-de-bocha-faz-parte-do-mia-cara-2022-o-festival-de-cultura-italiana-que-retoma-atividades-presenciais/ |url-status=live}}</ref>

===Creole bocce===

A Venezuelan variety of bocce, where 4 red balls, 4 green balls and one 5 cm ball (called Mingo) are thrown at once in the field.<ref name="el ciudadano"/>

==See also==

*[[Fédération Internationale de Boules]]

==References==

{{Reflist}}

==External links==

* [https://web.archive.org/web/20150716220945/http://www.cmsboules.org/index.php/en/ Confederation Mondiale des Sports de Boules]
* [http://www.fiboules.org/ International Bocce Federation (FIB)]
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UkII-Ju6Mvw How to Play Bocce]
{{Commons category|Bocce|position=left}}

{{Bowling}}
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[[Category:Boules]]
[[Category:Lawn games]]
[[Category:Sports originating in Italy]]
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