Bocce
Bocce is an Italian target boules game played on flat courts with large balls and a smaller target ball called the pallino. Players or teams earn points by rolling their balls closer to the pallino than their opponent's closest ball.
AT A GLANCE
- ERA
- Ancient / Modern
- ORIGIN
- Italy
- PLAYERS
- 2, 4, or 8 players
- EQUIPMENT
- Bocce balls, pallino
- PLAYING AREA
- 26.5 × 4–4.5 m court
- DURATION
- Varies (to 12–16 pts)
- GOVERNING BODY
- CBI / CMSB
- OLYMPIC
- No
Scoring at a glance
| Frame Outcome | Points |
|---|---|
| Closest ball to pallino | 1 point |
| Each additional ball closer than opponent's best | 1 point |
| Opponent balls closer | 0 points |
| Maximum score per frame | 4 points |
| Year | Event |
|---|---|
| c. 250 BC | Roman soldiers play stone-tossing target games across the Mediterranean. |
| 1319 | Bocce is banned in Venice to prevent neglect of military training. |
| 1898 | First Italian national bocce organization is founded in Genoa. |
| 1947 | Confédération Mondiale des Sports de Boules (CMSB) is established. |
How a game works
A frame begins with throwing the small target ball, called the pallino, into the court. Players then take turns rolling or throwing larger bocce balls to get as close to the pallino as possible. Players can also strike the pallino or opponent balls to move them away.
Scoring in one line
Only the team with the ball closest to the pallino scores in a frame, earning one point for each ball closer than the opponent's nearest ball.
Where it came from
Bocce evolved from ancient Roman stone-tossing target games played across the Mediterranean region. It developed into its modern structured format in Italy during the 19th century, gaining standardized rules and spreading globally with Italian emigration.
Bocce today
Bocce is governed internationally by the Confederazione Boccistica Internazionale under the world boules umbrella. It remains widely popular across Europe, the Americas, and Australia as both a casual recreational pastime and an organized sport.
Run a Bocce tournament
Brackets, fixtures and standings in your browser — Frame-based (to 12 pts).
FAQ
What is the difference between bocce and petanque?
Bocce is typically played on flat, prepared courts with larger balls rolled underhand, whereas pétanque uses smaller hollow metal balls thrown on varied rough terrain without taking running steps.
How many balls does each player get in bocce?
In singles matches, each player rolls four balls. In doubles, each player rolls two balls, and in four-player team matches, each team member rolls one ball per frame.
How do you win a bocce match?
Matches are played over consecutive frames until one player or team reaches a pre-agreed target score, typically 12 or 16 points.