Thank you for your interest in participating in the Selkirk Signs Spirit of the Balls Bocce Tournament. Registration opens on March 1, 2027

Selkirk Signs’ Spirit of the Balls Bocce Rules

ALL teams are required to umpire some bocce games. You will find this schedule in your team package. If the team scheduled to Umpire does not show up their team will lose 7 points off their score at the end of the Round Robin.

  1. Winner of the coin toss chooses to throw the Pallino or picks the bocce ball color. Team with the oldest player gets to call the coin toss. Pallino Throw
  2. The Pallino must cross the center line. It can hit the sideboards, but CAN’T hit the end board. If it fails to cross center or hits the end board a single re-toss is awarded. If this throw fails, the Pallino goes to the other team.
  3. The Pallino thrower then tosses the first bocce ball.
  4. If the first ball hits the backboard without hitting the Pallino first, the ball is removed and the team throws again until they have a ball in play.
  5. Each succeeding ball is thrown by the team that does NOT have the ball closest to the Pallino. The Umpire will call the next color ball to be thrown.
  6. Balls may bounce off side boards, but not off the end board. A ball hitting the backboard without first touching the Pallino or another bocce ball is dead and removed from play
  7. The scoring team starts the next end. One point is awarded for each ball of a team that is closer to the Pallino than the opponent’s closest ball (1 to 4 points).
  8. The maximum number of points for one end is 4. The Umpire will note the score for each team and provide the team names and results to the scorekeeper.
  9. Only the Umpire measures distance between bocce balls and Pallino with the Team Captains observing. Other players and spectators stand back.
  10. Measurements are taken from the edge of the Pallino to the inside edge of the ball. If the distance is equal, no points are awarded.
  11. Game is 15 points or maximum 25 minutes. At the 20 minute mark in the game, the Umpire will indicate that one more full end will be played. (ONLY the final game for 1st and 2nd will be played to the full 15 points with no time limit) Final game will be umped by a SOTR volunteer.
  12. If game is tied, the Umpire throws the Pallino and 1 member from each team throws a single ball, the closest to the Pallino takes the game.
  13. A team must field at least 3 players within 5 minutes of the scheduled start of the game or forfeit the match. If only 3 players are playing, they must take turns throwing last. The “winning” team will receive a 4 – 0 game score.

Note: After Round Robin, top 16 teams will be chosen based on numbers of wins. In case of a tie, the team with the highest point differential (Total Points for minus Total Points Against) will advance.   

See Diagram on next page

Throw Line (8’ from end line)  

                                                                              8 feet

Text Box: 64 feet

 

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