Section 3
Traditional Game
The Game of Bocce is played between two
players or teams. Players seek to place their bowls nearer to the jack
than their opponent's bowls or to displace their opponent's bowls and so
improve the position of their bowls in relation to the jack.
The Court (See Diagram 25) may be of any type of surface. The lines are traced with a measure. Lines must be clearly visible and may be retracted if necessary. Lines which are not clearly marked must be challenged before any shot is made. The standard court length is 27.5m; it may be reduced to a minimum of 26.5m. For international matches the minimum court width is 3m and there should be end banks at least 20cm high.
Diagram 25
The Referee's decision
shall be final. If temporarily absent any person may give a ruling
providing both teams agree to accept that decision.
When
both teams have played all their bowls, one team scores one point for each
of its bowls nearer to the jack than the nearest bowl of the opposition.
If
a team delays the start or resumption of play, the opposing team receives
one point for each 5 minutes, or part of 5 minutes, after the first 10
minutes. The opponents win when they have 6 points (either from time
points or previous play). If both teams are late, both are penalized.
At the start of the
game, the right to first throw of the jack is decided by toss, thereafter
it is by the team that last scored. The jack is delivered from the foot
line. A delivery is valid when the jack comes to rest in the 5m rectangle
at the far end, the jack's whole circumference must be within the lines.
If the first delivery fails, the same team has the right to try again
providing there was no foul. After two attempts, the opposing team may
place the jack in the 5m rectangle (at least 50cm from each
line). If they place it wrongly they can be asked to move it, but the
request must be made before the first bowl is delivered.
Throwing the jack.
During the delivery of the jack, the players must not, by their position
on the court, disturb the player who is bowling.
A bowled delivery is a bowl delivered underarm from a standing position, to travel along the ground and stop as near as possible to the jack.
A raised, lifted or slide bowl is a bowl delivered underarm into the air in a parabolic arc and intended to stop as near as possible to the jack.
A throw is a bowl thrown
underarm, from a run, into the air in a parabolic arc and intended to
displace another object (bowl or jack) on landing.
The team that delivered
the jack, delivers the first bowl (though it need not be the same person
who delivers). It is then the turn of the team not holding point, except
if a delivered bowl goes out of play or is annulled, the next delivery
goes to the other team. If two opposing bowls are at an equal distance
from the jack, the team that played last plays again. If the tie remains
the other team plays and so on. When one team has delivered all its bowls,
the other team continues until all its bowls are delivered. The players
then measure to decide the score, and then change ends. If two opposing
bowls tie for nearest, the end is void and replayed in the other direction
with the same team delivering the jack.
Both feet must be behind
the foot line except for a throw when one foot may be put on the
line. The advantage rule is followed after any foul.
Other players must
be behind the foot line of the far 5m rectangle. If the court allows it,
they must stand outside the sidelines but as near alongside them as
possible. At the moment of delivery other players must stand motionless
and not stare at the player. Team-mates of the player must not point at
lines or objects on or off the court. For fouls by opponents the referee
imposes penalties; for fouls by team mates the advantage rule applies.
The team in play may remove obstacles from the court, retrace boundary lines and smooth or level the court surface. They may not create mounds, channels, obstacles or signs.
After
the jack is delivered, the court may only be touched to mark position,
erase landing, measuring and positioning marks and to mark and erase
radius marks and throws. (The referee may allow the court to be leveled
if normal play becomes impossible). No one must touch the court when the
bowl is moving.
Regular And Irregular Deliveries
A regular bowled delivery is when the bowl;
(a) does not go out of play.
(b) does not run-on more than 1m after displacing a bowl or jack on the court.
(c) does not displace such an object by more than 1m
(d) approaches within at least 2m of the front edge of the far 5m rectangle (Displacement may be indirect.)
(See Diagram 26)
A bowl is irregular when it does not
fulfill the conditions to be regular, or when a foul has been signaled.
After an irregular bowl, the opponents follow the advantage rule
(unless the only irregularity is that the delivered bowl has run-on more
than 1m, in which case the delivered bowl stays where it is and all
other positions may be retained or replaced.)
A bowled delivery passing near a
sideline is regular if over half the trace mark is within the
line; otherwise all objects are replaced by an opponent and the bowl is
annulled.
Designated target: before marking a throw the player must designate one target object (either the jack or an opponent's bowl).
If a player fails to do this clearly, it is assumed that the designated opposition bowl is that nearest to the jack.
Tracing arcs: before a throw is made,
Diagram 27
the opposing team traces an arc with a measure. (See Diagram 27)
(a) 50cm in front of the designated target
(b) 50 cm in front of any objects within 50cm of the designated target: providing such a thrown mark is also
Diagram 28
within 50cm of that target.
(See Diagram 28)
Throw
marks are normally 15 - 20cm long, but a throw mark in front of a
designated target may be extended. Any object that prevents marking may
be temporarily removed. A throw mark must be challenged before a throw,
if it is to be ruled invalid. The referee will decide in favor of the
thrower in cases of doubt caused by unclear or missing lines.
Diagram 29
A regular throw must fulfill three conditions (See Diagram 29)
(a) the landing point where it first strikes the ground must be within 50 cm of the designated target.
(b) the landing point must be within 50 cm of the first object struck
(c) the object first struck must be within 50cm of the designated target.
(See Diagram 30)
Diagram 30
(Measurement is to an objects circumference). In these cases a throw is regular even if the object first struck is a bowl of the thrower's team or the object is struck before the throw hits the ground,
An irregular throw. A throw is irregular when it does not fulfill the conditions to be regular or there has been a foul.
After
an irregular throw the opponents follow the advantage rule. If
the thrown bowl is still in play, it may be accepted or rejected. (In
disputed cases all marks must be left for the referee to see. Landing
points are judged according to whether or not the outside edge of the
relevant throw mark is broken).
(a) If a bowl is regular and an object is displaced indirectly, the position is accepted even if in front of the landing mark.
(b) A throw is regular if it touches an object before landing near a sideline, if it strikes the ground before or as it touches the object, it is regular if the landing mark is within the line (otherwise the thrown bowl is annulled and all objects are replaced by the opposition).
(c) A throw is annulled if it comes to rest on the court without touching an object.
(d) A throw with a non-designated jack in all
cases (regular delivery, irregular delivery whether accepted or not) the
moved or annulled jack is to be replaced in the original position.
The position of the jacks and all bowls must
be marked before all throws, using lines at ninety degrees drawn with a
measure. The jack's position is marked by the team that threw it or
placed it, or if it has been displaced it is marked by the scoring team.
This is done by the team that thinks it
has scored. The opponents may verify. A bowl may be temporarily lifted
during measuring. If a measure disturbs any object, the opponents score,
unless the measuring team is still holding the point after
disadvantaging but still winning the point.
After a foul (foot in advance of the foot line on delivery, bowl not delivered within 45 seconds or an irregular delivery) by an opposing team, the playing team may:
(a) accept the delivery
(b) reposition the objects and retake
the delivery
The opposing team may-
(a) accept the position of all objects,
or
(b) have all objects repositioned
In either case the fouling bowl may be left in place, or annulled and removed from the court.
The position exchange rule is applied in all cases where:
(a) a fouling bowl is wholly or partially occupying the former position of another object
(b) under the advantage rule the opposing team asks for the disadvantaged bowls to be repositioned and the fouling bowl to be left in position.
Under
this rule the positions of the fouling bowl and the displaced are simply
exchange. If the fouling bowl partially occupies the former position of
two objects, the team applying the advantage rule chooses which object
shall be moved.
(a) the first time a player accidentally plays another's bowl the opposing team puts the correct bowl in the position of the bowl played in error, the advantage rule applies on subsequent occasions.
(b) deliberately exchanging bowls is forbidden, except with the referee's agreement when a bowl is damaged. Both bowls are annulled if a player deliberately plays the wrong bowl.
(c) the opposition wins if a player deliberately delivers too many bowls
(d) if the jack is in the 7m rectangle and a player holding a bowl enters the rectangle, the carried bowl is annulled.
(e) Unplayed
bowls should be in the rack provided or along the side of the court
allocated to each team. Unplayed bowls left out of position after a
warning will be annulled.
The Measure is used for tracing lines, tracing marks, measuring and evaluating distances. (See Diagram 31A and B). Both teams measures must be identical.
Diagram 31A
Diagram 31B
These must be made of metal material. They must not be nailed or weighted with lead. They must be 90 to110mm in diameter and weigh 0.9 to 1.2kg.
(See Diagram 32)
Any bowl disallowed by the referee must be replaced.
Diagram 32
The jack must be made of wood and without hobnails, ridges or lead weighting. (See Diagram 33). It may be colored only to aid visibility under abnormal conditions.
Any irregular jack must be replaced.
Diagram 33
The game may be played:
(a) one against the other (three or four bowls per player).
(b) two against two (two or three bowls per player)
(c) three against three (two bowls per player)
(d) four against
four (two bowls per player)
Scoring
When
all bowls have been played a team scores a point for each of its bowls
nearer to the jack than the nearest bowl of the opposing team.
Games are normally played to 13 points but may varied between 9 and 18 points or may be played to a time limit.
Shuttle Progressive Throw (Running Throw)
The
court is the same as the traditional game.
The target bowls are positioned on the ladder mats as depicted (See Diagram 34). The six positions are 80cm apart with the first 60cm from the far foot line. The mat is made of synthetic material. The mat color should permit good visibility of the target bowls.
Diagram 34
Target balls are colored white or
yellow. Bowl stands must be between 60 and 80cm in height and positioned
behind the maximum line.
The game involves a regular hit of a target and processing up and down the targets placed on the ladder mats. The winner is the player with the greatest number of hits scored before the game clock expires. In international competition this time is five minutes. The game involves hitting regularly and progressively (the first time target balls 1-2-3-4-5-6) and regressively (the next time 5-4-3-2-1) and so on to hit the largest number of targets before the game clock expires. The player throws, alternatively in both directions of play, whilst continuously running. Only a regular throw (a hit bowl in the regular manner) allows for progression to the next target ball.
At either end of the court are two assistants; one collects the thrown bowl and places it on the bowl stand. The other collects the displaced target ball and places it in its correct target position.
Upon
request of the thrower the mats may be placed diagonally opposite on the
left or right hand courtside.
A throw is deemed regular (the landing point where it first strikes the ground must be within 50cm of the designated target) and therefore valid and if the target bowl regularly hit is validly displaced from the hole in which it was correctly placed.
The thrower must run through the Little Square and collect the next throwing bowl from its stand which must be placed behind the maximum line. The bowl must not be handed to the player.
If the target has been placed in the wrong target hole on the ladder mat and the referee signals this incorrect placement, the throw is irregular.
Scoring. Each target validly hit before the game clock expires is worth one point.
The court to
be used is the same as for the regular game.
The targets are placed on the ladder mat as in Diagram 35. Target bowls are white or yellow in color and 100mm in diameter. The target jack is 36mm in diameter and is white or yellow. Obstacle balls are red or black and measure 95mm in diameter. The ladder mat is made of synthetic material. The mat color should be such that it allows for high visibility of the target bowls and obstacle balls.
The progression of
distance to each target is 1m.
The throw is valid when the object regularly hit is displaced from the hole in which the target was correctly placed and the obstacle was not displaced. Points in the range of 1 to 5 are awarded linked to the degree of difficulty for a valid hit. (See Diagram 35)
Diagram 35
Rules of
the Game. Each player has two throws at each target. There are eleven
targets; the player has a total of 22 shots. The winner is the player with
the highest total points.
Mats
are used in this competition as the game depends on precisely locating the
position of targets and defining the 5cm separation areas.