Santa Rosa Bocce League Rules and Regulations

1. RULE CHANGES. The Santa Rosa Bocce League has the right to change, interpret, modify, add, or delete any rule or requirement it deems necessary.

2. START TIMES AND FORFEITS. Each evening match, consisting of three games, begins at 5:30 PM. A team not present and prepared to play by 5:45 PM will forfeit one game. If the team is still not present and prepared to play by 6:00 PM, the team will forfeit the next two games. For any game forfeited, the score recorded will be zero points for the forfeiting team and nine points for the team present and prepared to play at the designated times.

3. COIN FLIP START. The match shall begin with the flip of a coin between the captains from the two teams. The winner of the coin toss may choose to have the first toss of the pallino or choose the color of the balls. Play starts from the west end of the courts.

4. TEAM SIZE AND FIRST BALL. A team consists of four players, with two at each end of the court. Players may not switch ends during a game. The player throwing the first pallino shall toss the first ball. Team members may take their two rolls in sequence or alternate. A team can play shorthanded (minimum 3 players) but each player is only allowed to throw 2 balls. Players must change ends if they play additional games.

5. SUBSTITUTIONS. A team member can be inserted into a game at any time prior to the throwing of the pallino in any frame. A replaced player can not re-enter that game.

6. PALLINO IN PLAY. The starting team may toss the pallino any distance so long as the pallino passes the centerline of the court and does not hit the back wall. If a player fails to toss the pallino past the centerline or the pallino hits the back wall, that same player will get a second chance. If the second attempt is unsuccessful, the other team will toss the pallino. If this is unsuccessful, the pallino will be placed in the center of the halfway line. The team that first attempted to throw the pallino into play throws the first ball.

7. PALLINO OUT OF PLAY. Once the pallino is in play, it will remain in play even if it hits the back wall. If the pallino leaves the court or bounces back across the centerline, the frame is terminated and play will resume at the other end with the previous starting team throwing the pallino again.

8. ORDER OF PLAY. Once the pallino is in play, whenever a team gets a ball closer, they step aside and let the other team roll. The other team rolls until it beats (not ties) the opposing ball. This continues until both teams have used all their balls. The team who scored last rolls the pallino to begin the next frame from the opposite end.

9. SCORING AND TIES. Only one team scores in a frame. A frame ends when both teams have rolled their balls and points are decided. At the end of the 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, the frame ends in a tie. 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.

10. END OF GAME. The first team to score 9 points is the winner of the game. The game ends at the time both teams agree that one team had scored the necessary points. It is not necessary to roll any balls remaining.

11. NO BALLS REMAINING ON COURT. If after a valid play only the pallino remains on the court, no points are allowed and the game resumes from the opposite end of the court with the same team tossing the pallino.

12. SIDEBOARDS. Players may use the sideboard at any time.

13. WHILE PLAYERS THROW. All team players must be completely off the court while a member of the opposing team prepares to throw the pallino or a bocce ball and until all balls have come to rest. Spectators and team members not playing must stay off the court.

14. BALL HITS PLAYER. If a live ball hits a player on the opposing team, the throwing team may accept the result of the throw or replace all moved balls to their original positions and re-throw the bocce ball, at their option.

15. MEASURING. Each team will assign one player at each end of the court to do the measuring without interference from other members of the respective teams. The two designated players will agree to the point or points awarded. The method of measurement can be decided by the measuring players. The method must be consistent with each measurement. Either team can ask that the balls be measured at any time. For purposes of measurement, the short inset back wall at the west end of the courts shall be ignored.

16. DEAD BALL RULES: If a dead ball strikes a live ball(s) or the pallino, the live ball(s) and/or the pallino are replaced to their original position(s). A dead ball is removed from play immediately and may not be thrown again until the next frame. A bocce ball is “dead” when:

a) The ball is thrown out of turn; the ball is considered dead when thrown.

b) The ball hits a player on the throwing team; the ball is considered dead when it strikes the player.

c) The ball is not released before the thrower steps over the fault line.

d) The ball strikes the back wall (or the short, inset back wall at the west end of the court); any bocce ball is considered dead on impact with the back wall.

e) If balls are picked up or disturbed (accidentally or intentionally) prior to all of the balls being thrown or prior to agreement by both teams on the point count for that frame. Of the balls picked up or disturbed, opponent’s balls are replaced, own balls are dead.

f) Ball is thrown while the pallino or another ball is still in motion. Thrown ball is dead and any balls disturbed are returned to their original position.

17. BALLS FROM OTHER COURTS. If a ball thrown from another court disturbs any balls, the frame will be restarted unless both teams agree that any balls disturbed can be replaced and play continue.

18. THROWING WRONG COLOR BALL. If a player throws a wrong colored ball, it is exchanged with the right colored ball.

19. NOT CROSSING CENTERLINE. Players participating in any game must not cross the centerline during play except for personal convenience. Any player crossing the centerline may not become involved in the game by directing, suggesting plays, measuring, or any other capacity.

20. SCORESHEETS. Scores of all games and the names of players during the match must be recorded on score sheets and placed in the bocce shed “completed games” envelope.

21. RAINED OUT MATCHES. Matches may be rescheduled only if the Bocce Supervisor is notified more than 48 hours in advance of the proposed match time and the both team captains agree to the rescheduling. All matches must be completed by playoff time. In the event of a rematch, it is the responsibility of the captain of the winning team to transmit the match results to the Bocce Supervisor within forty-eight hours of the completion of the match. (June 22 and June 24 are also available for makeup games.)

22. INELIGIBLE PLAYERS. Only Roster Players may compete in league play and players may only play for one team in any series of matches. All games involving ineligible players will be forfeited.

23. SITUATIONS NOT COVERED. US Bocce Federation rules shall apply.

Communication, Conduct and Courtesy:

Team captains, or their alternates, are responsible for the actions of their players. Captains are also responsible for informing their team players about the following guidelines.

1. Courtesy, respect and good sportsmanship should be displayed at all times.

2. Dogs must be on leash and always attended to.

3. City ordinances prohibit smoking, alcohol and glass containers in the park.

4. All trash and recycling is to be discarded in appropriate containers.

Violations of any of the above may result in a warning by the Bocce Supervisor to the player and team captain. Severe violations or a violation after a warning may result in the player’s suspension or expulsion by the Bocce Supervisor from the game or match. Team captains are responsible for the conduct of their players, and sanctions may be leveled against a team for intentional or repeated violations by one or more members of a team, at the discretion of the Bocce Supervisor. Violators may appeal this decision to the Bocce Committee, but suspensions and violations will remain in effect until a decision is made by the Bocce Committee. Any suggestions, complaints or protests with other teams or the Bocce Supervisor, should be presented to the Bocce Committee by the captain.

DEFINITIONS OF TERMS:

Bocce Supervisor: Robert Battaile

Bocce Committee: Robert Battaile, Michelle Jensen, Karl Adelman

Match: Two teams competing in three games.

Game: A contest decided on a team gaining 9 points.

Frame: A completion of bocce rolls by both teams from one end of the court.

Bocce: The large balls that are rolled to score points. Each team has 4 bocce of two different

colors. They are composition balls with regulation size (107mm) and weight (920 grams).

Pallino: The small ball which serves as the object or target ball. It is usually yellow or white.

Captain: The person designated to represent the team and decide on line-up, coin toss, point scores, rulings, and protests. This may or may not be the “official” team captain.

Foul line: A player must release the bocce ball and pallino before crossing this “fault” line.

You may step on, but not over this line.

Back wall: The boards at the narrow ends of the court.

Centerline: The line at the half way point between the two back walls.

Side board: The boards on the long sides of the court.

Live ball: Any bocce ball that is legally put into play by being rolled past the fault line and not hitting the back board, leaving the court or otherwise being declared a “dead” ball.

Dead ball: Any bocce ball that touches the backboard or bounces off the court or otherwise declared a “dead” ball is removed from the court. A ball that hits any other balls or the pallino before hitting the back wall is NOT a dead ball.

Rolling: Propelling the bocce ball on the court surface to get close to the pallino.

Shooting: Propelling the bocce ball at a relatively high velocity with the intention of forcefully moving the opponent’s bocce or the pallino.

ADDITIONAL POLICIES AND REGULATIONS.

EQUIPMENT. Each court will be provided with eight bocce balls and a pallino. Accompanying the bocce will be a measuring tape, a clipboard and pen. The team captains must also collect a score sheet and score board. These are all available in the Bocce Shed. Complete the score sheet in triplicate, giving a copy to each captain and leaving the original in the shed.

KEYS TO BOCCE SHED: Each captain will be given a key to the Bocce Shed by the Bocce Supervisor. This key must be returned to the Bocce Supervisor at the end of each season.

NUMBER OF PLAYERS ON A TEAM: A minimum of seven players and a maximum of fifteen players are on each team roster.

GROOMING THE COURTS: Captains or players should arrive an hour early to rake and brush the courts; and thus allow time for practice prior to the start of play at 5:30 PM.

DISPUTES: Teams should endeavor to referee their own game. If a dispute occurs, the Bocce Supervisor may be asked to rule on the dispute. If the Bocce Supervisor is not available, stop the game immediately and ask two captains from other teams playing at the same time to hear the dispute and to vote and issue a resolution. If there is no agreement, the frame will be thrown out and play resumed with the same player throwing the pallino.

RAIN OUT: Any game that is halted due to weather shall be replayed before the playoffs.

Cancellation shall be made by the Bocce Supervisor or a majority of the four Captains.

ENDING TIME: Games shall end promptly by 8:00 PM. If possible, a five-minute warning shall be given and the scores recorded after the last frame played.

SERIES STANDINGS: Each win, loss, and total points will count in the team standings.

Thanks go to St. Helena Bocce Committee, Robert Battaile, Nancy Kelly and Bruce Stolbov for developing these Rules. Thanks also to the Santa Rosa Recreation and Parks Department for co-sponsoring the 2009 Spring Bocce League.