Bocce is a sport that is typically played on soil, oyster shell, and asphalt. Bocce balls are spherical and are usually made of bronze, plastic, or wood. A game can be played between two people, two teams of two, or two teams of four.

Bocce is an ancient game, made popular throughout the world by Italian immigrants. Played on a rectangular court usually made of clam shells or gravel, players or teams score points by throwing wooden balls at a smaller, target ball. Throws vary based on the player's intention, as knocking the opposing balls away from the target is encouraged. Play ends when a player or team reaches nine points.

Score points by bowling wooden balls at a smaller, target ball.

Two players or two teams of up to four players stand at one end of a rectangular court. The court ranges in size from 20 to 27 meters in length and 2.5 to 4 meters wide. It's sometimes bordered by 15-centimeter high wooden boards and made of oyster shells, decomposed granite, soil or asphalt. Play begins with a randomly chosen player or team throwing the pallino towards a 5-meter zone at the end of the court. If, after two opportunities, the player or team fails to bowl the pallino in the zone, the pallino is given to the other player or team. The player or team that properly bowled the pallino is the first to bowl bocces. Players or teams alternate bowling with the intention of putting their balls as close to the pallino as possible. Points are scored for the player or team that bowls their bocce closest to the pallino, while additional points are scored for each bocce that is closer than the opposing player or team's bocce. The player or team that reaches nine points first is the winner.

Bocce is one of the oldest and most popular games in history. As early as 5000 BCE, Egyptians played a form of bocce involving polished rocks. Greeks adopted the game around 800 BCE, who then passed it to the Romans. In Rome, the first wooden balls were introduced and the name "bocce" was first used. By the late Middle Ages and early Renaissance, bocce had grown so popular that rulers were outlawing it for causing a distraction to the people. The game survived, and developed its modern rules in the late 19th century in Italy. As Italians emigrated throughout the world in that era, bocce spread and grew more popular. Today it is played in many different countries, especially those in Latin America where it ranks as a major sport and recreational activity.

Bocce Balls (8)
Pallino

Players and spectators should be aware of their surroundings, as to avoid being hit by a bowled ball.

Little training is needed prior to playing bocce. Players can improve the strength of their bowls with mild upper-body weight training, and can improve accuracy with practice.

Giro - scoring periods, which separate rounds

Pallino - small ball, which is thrown first and then used as a target

Punto - a throw aimed directly at the pallino that has the goal of making a point

Raffa - a throw aimed at another bocce in order to move it out of the way

Volo - an aerial throw aimed to move another bocce or the pallino

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bocce
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