Bocce League In McCarren Park

When: Tuesday nights at 7pm, April 24th to June 11th. 6 weeks of regular play, two weeks of playoffs. The winning team will receive a $100 bar tab at Pete's Candy Store; second and third place will receive $50 and $25 bar tabs respectively.


Where: There are two new bocce courts between the track and the intersection of Union Ave and Bayard St. in McCarren Park.


Teams: Teams shall have a minimum of 4 players. Each team is allowed up to 4 substitutes.


Cost: There is a $50 entry fee for each team.

We are expecting a rather large turnout, so please register early to ensure your spot in the league. To register, email

A Bocce Overview

Tossing the pallino.

• A player must toss the pallino any distance as long as it passes the centerline of
the court and does not hit the backboard.
• If a player does not toss the pallino properly, the opposing team will toss the
pallino instead, but the original team will continue with the first roll.

Rolling the ball.

• Players’ movements are limited to the foul line.
• The player may step on, but should not step over, the foul line before releasing the
pallino or bocce ball.
• When a player releases the pallino or bocce, both feet must be on the court.
• Any time a player is rolling, opposing players should remain outside the court.

Starting a game.

When the pallino has been properly put into play, the home team (Green) will roll
the first bocce ball trying to get as close as possible to the pallino. If that bocce ball hits
the backboard without touching the pallino, remove that ball and roll a new ball.
Otherwise, he/she steps aside and that team does not roll again until the opposing
team has either gotten one of its bocce balls closer to the pallino or has rolled all of its
balls.
Whenever a team gets a ball closer, they step aside and let the other team roll.
The other team rolls until it beats (not ties) the opposing ball. This continues until both
teams have used all their bocce balls. The team who scored last rolls the pallino to begin
the next frame from the opposite end. Consecutive or alternating rolls by teammates shall
be at the option of the players.
• Players may use the sidewalls at any time.
• If a player rolls the wrong color ball, simply replace it with the correct color when
it comes to rest.
• If a player rolls out of turn, the opposing team may leave everything, including the
rolled ball exactly where it is or they may return all moved balls to their
approximate original positions and remove the rolled ball from play.

Rules of the game

How Do You Score?
• Only one team scores in a frame.
• At the end of the frame, one point is given for each ball that is closest to the
pallino than the closest ball of the opposing team.
• If at the end of any frame the closest ball of each team is equidistant from the
pallino, the frame ends in a tie. No points are awarded to either team, and the
game resumes from the opposite end of the court with the same team tossing the
pallino.
• The first team to score 12 points is the winner of the match, each week you
will play 3 games against your opposing team. The Home team is Green and
Visitors are Red.
• All measurements should be made from the inside dimension of the bocce ball to
the inside dimension of the pallino.
• The team manager must fill out a summary and initial scoresheet at the end of all
three matches.
• Scores will not be modified after scoresheet is initialed by both managers, unless
by error of the Town of Danville.
What if a Ball Hits the Backboard?
• Any bocce ball that comes in contact with the backboard is a dead ball on impact
and is removed from play until the end of the frame. This includes balls that hit
the backboard as a result from being moved by another ball.
• If after a valid play only the pallino remains on the court, the team that last rolled
must roll again until a ball remains in play or that team is out of balls.
• If the thrown ball comes to rest on the pallino or another ball that is touching the
back wall, that thrown ball remains in play. The ball touching the back wall is
removed from play. If the pallino is touching the back wall it remains in play.
• If a ball, after hitting the backboard, strikes a stationary bocce, that stationary
bocce shall be replaced in its approximate original position. The thrown ball is
removed from play.
• Please wait to throw any bocce balls, until all bocce balls have been removed
and/or replaced accordingly to the backboard rulings.