Sport is the best way to spend time. But what if football, basketball and volleyball are so boring and bored that you don’t want to think about them? Or can’t you get a team to make the game interesting? Of course, we must pay attention to unusual sports, which in our country have not yet reached the peak of their popularity. Among such games, a worthy place is taken bocce.
What is bocce?
First you need to understand what kind of game it is. Bocce is not only a sporting event, but also a very interesting way of entertainment. You can play this game with the whole family. It will be interesting and useful not only for children, but also for elderly people. Fresh air and small physical exertion will help to improve health and avoid many diseases.
Bocce is somewhat reminiscent of bowling and curling. These games were much closer to each other in the past. Now, bowling has become the main way of entertainment for young people in different countries, and more often it remains in the shade.
However, the bocce game was spotted by the International Olympic Committee. She was recognized and became one of the programs in the Paralympics. This means that the game is available not only to completely healthy people, but also to people with various diseases.
It is better to understand what bocce is, in France. This game is the most popular here. Tourists can see how the French play it to distract and have fun. Moreover, among the players it will be possible to see people of different ages and social status.
This game has several names at once. If we are talking about boccia, bocca or petanque, then we can confidently say that the interlocutor is talking about boccia.
Game history
In Russia, this game appeared recently. Therefore, some people mistakenly believe that bocce is a young game. But in fact, it originated in ancient Rome.
As soon as this game appeared, it immediately became popular. Such a way to spend time with benefit conquered many. This game was played from dawn to dusk all the people who could afford to spend so much time. Both children and adults played. The popularity of the game has reached such limits that it is more banned. They argued the ban on the fact that this game is a waste of time. However, the ban did not cause oblivion.
Bocce was not only not forgotten, but also pushed to the development and gaining popularity of such games as, for example, bowling and curling. Now the latter have become more popular than bocce.
There is a legend, which may well turn out to be true, that in 1792 the bocce game caused the death of about three dozen people. It is not known for sure whether the participants played cannonballs or there was gunpowder in one of the balls, but during the throw one of the balls exploded and claimed the lives of about thirty inhabitants of Marseilles.
How to arrange a bocce championship
The game is more good in that everyone can play it. This game is ideal for schools, universities and just urban or rural sports. But in order to conduct your bocce championship, you need to thoroughly prepare.
First you need to prepare a site for athletes. It should be 12.5 by 6 meters. Moreover, the coverage for the site can be any. Some decide to play on the lawn, others choose sand. It is necessary to proceed from what platform is available for the championship.
Of course, you need to prepare in advance and balls for bocce. The game requires special balls. They are sold in sets. The set must have 6 blue balls, 6 red and one white.
Bocce balls are heavy. In size, they can be compared with tennis balls. But only the bocce balls are lined with leather.
Of course, in order to conduct the championship, you need to recruit teams. Two teams participate in one game. Each includes from two to six players. But it is important that the two teams have an equal number of participants.
Boccia Rules
In order to understand what bocce is, you need to get to know the rules more closely. Even those who first hear about this game, it will be easy to understand the basic rules. Because the game is more popular bocce. The rules are quite simple.
So, when the teams are recruited, the sites are prepared, and the balls are bought, you can start. Usually start with a toss. She will help you decide which team will be the first.
A white ball is placed at a distance from the players. It is called a coupon. The task of the players is to throw their ball as close as possible to the coupon. In this case, you can kick the ball that the opponent threw. If, during the strike, it was not the opponent’s ball that was kicked off, but the coupon itself, this is not considered a violation of the rules.
Each ball that is close to the coupon brings the team one point. In order for the team to become a winner, they need to be dialed 13.
Where to buy bocce shells
Despite the fact that many Russians do not know what bocce is, this game is still becoming more and more popular. And this means that it will not be difficult to buy balls for the game. Of course, they are not sold on almost every corner, like football, basketball or volleyball. But still, those who want to play will not be left without their set.
First you need to visit the sports shops of your city. In large, there is certainly a set that is suitable for a personal bocce championship. If there is no desire to travel from one end of the city to the other in order to find balls, you can turn to online stores for help. As usual, you can find anything there.
So, after you learn the rules, it’s easier to understand what bocce is. This is a very interesting game that is perfect for people who have health problems, for adults and children. And to arrange your championship is very simple.