CONNESTEE FALLS BOCCE LEAGUE
Purpose of the game is to provide a competitive and enjoyable activity in a social and friendly atmosphere. Good sportsmanship is a must! It's only a game.
1. Each team will be assigned a minimum of 6 players. Players will be selected at random for each team. Each player on a team should have equal playing time on the schedule for a season. We will attempt to balance the number of men and women on each team.
2. Each team will compete with a maximum of four players. No player substitutions after play begins. One bocce ball to be put into play by each player. No spectator substitutions are allowed. Players from another team can not be substituted in your team.
3. Each team can compete with a minimum of three players without forfeiting the game. The fourth bocce ball must be rotated among the three players.
4. Games must begin no later than 10 minutes from the scheduled starting time or the team with fewer than 3 players will forfeit the game.
5. A coin toss will determine which team starts with the pallina and has choice of ball color.
6. The starting team has three attempts to toss the pallina beyond the midline of the court, 4 feet from the backboard, and one foot from either side board. If the player is not able to place the pallina properly in those three attempts, the captain of the opposite team will walk to the point in the center of the court and place the pallina in a legal area.
7. The player who tosses the pallina delivers the first bocce ball in a frame.
8. When a player is delivering his bocce ball or pallina, ALL other players should be OFF the court.
9. The team whose bocce ball is closest to the pallina is the "in" ball; the opposing team's balls are "out." Whenever a team gets "in," the team steps aside and allows the "out" team to deliver. This continues until all eight balls have been played.
10. The starting team must deliver the first bocce ball to establish the "point" or "in" ball. The opposing team will then deliver its bocce balls until the "point" is taken or until all four of their bocce balls are tossed.
11. During play, any bocce ball which goes out of the court is considered disqualified and out of play. This ball is out of play even if it bounces back into the court.
12. If a wrong colored ball is tossed by a player, replace the ball, already on the court, with a correct colored ball.
13. If an "in" team player tosses a ball before the required "out" team player, the frame is canceled and repeated. Repeating a frame means that the pallina is returned to the team which delivered it to start the frame, from the same side of the court.
14. If the pallina is struck and knocked out of the court, the frame is canceled and repeated. The pallina is out of play even if it bounces back into the court.
15. The number of points to win a game is 16.
16. To automatically rotate players on a team correctly the following method will be used. Each player receives a number 1 through 4. Frame #1, Player 1 rolls the first ball; frame #2, Player 2 rolls the first ball, frame #3, Player 3 rolls the first ball, frame #4, Player 4 rolls the first ball. Rotate in this manner throughout the game. The pallina rotation will eventually take care of itself. Three members on the team use the same method of numbering players, except the person rolling first will then roll the fourth ball. At no time can one player be assigned the task of always delivering the pallina.
17. For every bocce ball of Team One closer to the pallina than that of Team Two bocce balls, Team One scores one point, or vice versa. A team can score a maximum of four points in any one frame.
18. After a frame is completed, or all eight balls are tossed, if both teams' closest bocce balls are the same distance from the pallina, no points will be awarded and the frame is repeated, at the same end and same starting team and rotation.
19. During play of a frame, before all eight balls are tossed, if both teams' closest bocce balls are the same distance from the pallina, the team that threw the last ball throws again.
20. The winner of the previous frame delivers the pallina of the following frame.
21. Each team player has the option of tossing, rolling, or bouncing the ball down the court. Balls must be tossed with an UNDERHAND motion. Volo shooting (lofting the ball in the air beyond the center line of the court) is not permitted.
22. When delivering your toss of the bocce ball or the pallina, you MUST be behind the 4 foot boundary (foul) line. One warning will be granted to a team after which penalties will be prescribed. The penalty for a team committing a second foot-line infraction during a game will be as follows:
A. The fouled against team may have the option of declining the penalty and completing the frame.
B. The team fouled against will be awarded points as they were immediately preceding the foul and the frame will end.
C. The team fouled against will be awarded one point and the frame will end.
23. The captains or their designated representative from each team should measure or determine which bocce ball is closest to the pallina, or which team is the "in" team. All measurements must be made from the inside dimension of the bocce ball to the inside dimension of the pallina. During measurements, all other players must be off the court.
24. Only the team captain or designated player should return balls to the backboard after completion of a frame for continuing play. This is a safety measure.
25. For scheduled league play, substitutes cannot out-number regular members on the team. NO SUBSTITUTES will be allowed for the seasonal play-offs. A captain unable to produce at least three members from his/her regular team will forfeit the play-off game. In the event that at the end of the season there are three teams tied for 1st place, the method of drawing straws will determine which teams play-off first. The winner will then play the "bye" team to establish the Season Champion Team. The recording of "four in a frame" will occur during the league season play but will not apply during season play-offs.
2/17/2012