If you are planning a trip to one of the popular resorts, then you need to prepare for what you will be offered to play in the bocce. What is bocce, and what should you learn about this game in order not to fall into the mud in front of other vacationers?
What is the essence of the game
Bocce (boccia, pétanque) is the traditional entertainment of many vacationers in the resorts of Egypt or Turkey. This game was brought to these countries by animators who adopted its rules from the French. If we talk about the bocce game (what is bocce - we already found out), then it should be noted first of all that it refers to sports games for accuracy.
Bocce is very close in nature and rules to petanque, bowling and bowles. All these games have a common basis in ancient games, common in the Roman Empire. In its current form, the bocce was created in Italy and from there this game spread to other continents.
Props required for the game
A bocce set for one player or team consists of four balls of the same color and one small ball. The game process involves making throws. Throws are of three types: “punto” - tackle of your ball as close to the ball as possible (pallino); “Raffa”, “volo” or “boccia” - knock-out throws in which it is necessary to repel the opponent’s ball as far away from the pallino; "Coupon" - the player must first indicate this throw to the referee.
Game process
During the competition, each player should enter into the game all the balls that belong to him or his team. In this case, the team distributes the sequence of throws among their players at their discretion. The team must have a captain who discusses with the referee all the issues that arise during the game. The player is given one minute to prepare and complete each throw.
Bocce rules
What is a bocce game, we already found out, it remains to determine its rules. So, the player who will start the game and throw the first ball is determined by lot. The goal of the next throw is to place the ball so that it approaches the first. At the same time, knocking out enemy balls to distant positions is allowed. If two teams take part in the game (as in the bocce for the disabled), then the player of the team who pulled the die throws first, then the player of the next team, and so on, until all participants in both teams make their throws.
Then the players determine whose balls are closest to the first one thrown, and points are awarded according to the layout. In a bocce game, the accrual rules are as follows: the closest ball, for example, gets 20 points, then 19, and so on. The greatest "cost" of one ball depends on the number of balls involved in the game. Suppose if there are twenty of them, then the maximum number of points will also be twenty. Then the points are added up and determined which player of the team scored the maximum number. This team is considered the winner.
Bocce Field
What is necessary to do with the site, so that it can be used to play the bocce? It can be from 24 to 26.5 meters long and from 3.8 to 4.5 meters wide. For international competitions, sizes 4.5–26.5 meters are recommended. Before starting the game, referees and teams must ensure that the surface is suitable for this. If the match started without preliminary preparation, then the lines and measuring devices on the site should remain unchanged. Correcting the markup after the game has already begun is prohibited.
Bocce lovers
This game in its traditional form is played on the ground or on asphalt courts. Sometimes around the court are erected boards made of wood about 15 centimeters high. Balls for the game can be metal or plastic. They are without holes, have the shape of a sphere. There are many different bocce options that differ in the number of players and rules. Two people and two teams can play the game. There are options in which the number of players does not have to be constant.
Bocce in Russia
In Russia there is a bocce federation. Every year, an unofficial Moscow championship is held here - the Moscow Ball tournament, as well as other international amateur tournaments. The Russian team regularly, once a year, leaves for international and European competitions. There is a federation of this sports game in St. Petersburg. Its representatives also annually travel to world and European championships in this sport.
The following countries are considered leaders in the bocce game: France, Italy, Croatia and Slovenia. Teams representing these states, as a rule, take away all championship medals. World championships are held in odd years, and European tournaments in even years. Thus, athletes get the opportunity to participate in these major international competitions. There are several championship options: for men, women and youth international forums.