Bocce Ball..
by Vengrai Parthasarathy
by Vengrai Parthasarathy
A friend, Venky who is an active member of Rotary International
invited me to participate in their Annual Tournament for fund
raising to support worthy projects.Bocce Ball,I learn, is an Italian
game. It is also played in England where they call it Lawn bowling
Bocce Ball requires very little sports equipment and playing
area. It is played on plain ground,or grassy or gravel surface.
Sometimes in sands too when it is scalled Beach Bocce.
At the Rotary tournament, ten or twelve games were in progress
simultaneously. In a playing area of 75 feet by 15 (divided into
two halves the game is played
Usually two teams with two players each are pitched against one another.
A small ball called Pallino or Jack is thrown by the team which wins the
toss. They also get to choose the side from which the game will start.
The ball is thrown in underhand bowling action. Games are played alter
=nately from both ends.The opening player has to throw or toss a
a heavy wooden ball, typically weighing three pounds to be as close as
possible to the Jack.
A small ball called Pallino or Jack is thrown by the team which wins the
toss. They also get to choose the side from which the game will start.
The ball is thrown in underhand bowling action. Games are played alter
=nately from both ends.The opening player has to throw or toss a
a heavy wooden ball, typically weighing three pounds to be as close as
possible to the Jack.
A player from the team whose ball is the farthest from the Jack
get to try their subsequent throws. Each player has four balls/tries.
A referee is at hand with a measuring tape to adjudicate on
distance if the two rival balls are at about the same distance from the Jack
The team which scores nine points first is the winner of that round.Typically
there are four rounds. This is a game which can be easily introduced in schools
and colleges in India.Apart from the benefit of breathing fresh air the players
get to exercise their wrists and shoulders and perhaps their backs too.
get to try their subsequent throws. Each player has four balls/tries.
A referee is at hand with a measuring tape to adjudicate on
distance if the two rival balls are at about the same distance from the Jack
The team which scores nine points first is the winner of that round.Typically
there are four rounds. This is a game which can be easily introduced in schools
and colleges in India.Apart from the benefit of breathing fresh air the players
get to exercise their wrists and shoulders and perhaps their backs too.
