If you go online and look at the bocce ball forums, you may be surprised by the enthusiasm there. People of all ages are raving about how much fun they had playing bocce ball with their family or friends in their backyard this spring and summer. Many times these are the same people who think things like shuffle board and horseshoes are boring activities they get forced into by elderly family members. Bocce ball bridges the generational gap and is something the whole family can enjoy.
The way you play is easy to learn and remember, which is probably why it has become so popular so quickly. There are two teams with the same number of players. The first teams thrown the pallino, a small flat stone or a smaller brightly colored ball, different from the other balls in play.
The goals of the game is to throw one of the eight balls in play and come as close to the pallino as possible. Strategy comes into play, though, because the points are not counted until every ball has been thrown. This means that players can also choose to knock an opponent’s ball out of the way and even move the pallino if they can. This means that even if the first throw comes close to the pallino, it is not a certainty that this team will win.
For every ball that is closer to the pallino than the other team’s, that team receives one point. If the two teams have equal distances, there are no points awarded and a new round is started. The first team to reach 16 points wins the game. This can be done in a minimum of four sets, but there is no limit to how many sets are played in a single game.
If you ever get the chance to go online and watch some online videos of the professional bocce ball players, it is well worth it. The precision and skill that is used in playing tournament games is seriously impressive. Some games are so uneven in team skills they are over very quickly, while better matched games last a long time and become real nail bitters.
The enthusiasm surrounding bocce ball is certainly not unfounded. Visit some forums, watch some videos, and start an impromptu game the next time your friends are over. You won’t regret it.
