Bocce is a sport that is widely played in the world, which may come as a surprise to some, but also very familiar to others, particularly those inhabiting European countries. However, before we dive straight into how a Bocce Ball Court is made, and what it consists of, let’s talk about the game itself a little!
What Exactly Is Bocce Ball
The game, pronounced ‘baa-chee’ is a yard sport, which is played with eight balls, targeting a smaller ball, known as the pallino. This game’s main aim is to score points by getting the weighted balls closest to the pallino, before the opposing player manages to do so.
The Ancient Game And Its Origins
It is actually an ancient sport, being one of the oldest yard sporting games played, with a modernized version having originated in Italy, thus being popularly played till date. It is recognized as an Italian version of bowling, except in the lawn.
A common question that crosses one’s mind when it comes to Bocce Ball and the game of Boules itself; as the striking similarities between the two often lead to the assumption of them being the same if not extremely similar. this also comes down to the respective country of origin with both. Boules is of French origin, it is primarily like the game of horseshoes, traditionally being played upon hard soil or public fields/spaces. Bocce, or its known alias ‘Italian bowling’ is played upon flat terrain like lawns, or earthy-floor courts.
The word “bocce,” when referring to ‘Bocce Ball’ the game itself, is the plural form for the word that literally translates to ‘bowl’ in English, from Italian, thus the distinguished similarity is often drawn between Bocce Ball and the British game of Lawn Bowling. Another similarity that is often picked up on is or the weighted balls used in Bocce as well as Croquet, however, the balls used to play Bocce Ball tend to be heavier in weight and larger in size than those of Croquet.
What Is A Bocce Ball Court Made of; Where to Play
The game of Bocce Ball can surprisingly be played on various types of surfaces, how convenient! The most commonly used surface is that of your average garden lawn, but other commonly used surfaces consist of dirt that is hard-picked, gravel, clay, sand and grass.
If your lawn is built with grass, a patch can be mowed in accordance with what a Bocce ball court requires, in order to create one in your own home! The key element to regulate is that the surface should be levelled throughout.
An approved standard Bocce Ball court of regulation, has been measured to be about 87 feet long and about 13.5 feet in width. This of course is an approximation and based on the official game’s rules and guidelines, in accordance with your garden’s measurements, accurately exact measurements can be found for your installation.
If you just want to build a Bocce court for fun and do not have enough space in your garden lawn, these measurements can definitely be altered accordingly; a plus point is that the game is always easy when the court itself is smaller in size!
Once you have outlined the rectangle size for the Bocce court, two foul lines need to be placed on each side of the rectangle, to mark out where the Bocce players are not permitted to step whilst throwing. A centre line also needs to be marked.
When asked how to mark, we say, be as creative as you like! The most commonly used materials however, are chalk, drawn lines with markers, even string has been used, but the most convenient and last minute option is by drawing a line in the sand as well! Anything works as long as a line is visible of course.
Tips to Keep In Mind, When Installing A Bocce Court
For the optimal Bocce Ball Court, you should try and regulate a few factors. These key features include, picking the size in accordance with your surface and area, choosing the location itself, clearing the area and essentially choosing the most suitable materials for your DIY Bocce Ball court. This is how the professionals (almost) do it.
Step 1 would be to start with, you should pick the best location. This needs to be done by taking into account whether your garden has a fence, or wall or even a yard to the side, which is narrow and long in size. Spaces alongside these elements would be best suited for a Bocce court.
Step 2 brings us to identifying your makeshift court’s dimensions and sizing. As per professional court dimensions which are approximated between about 87-88 feet long and about 13-14 feet wide, you can gauge according to your designated space’s measurements. For recreational purposes, courts have been about 20 feet lesser in length so you can definitely play around with sizes as this depends on your designated space.
Step 3 is to clear out any potential obstructions to your playing field. Ensuring that the court’s surface is not harmed by any drainage issues, by weeping any holes. If you want to certainly go the extra mile and ensure your Bocce court is here to stay, you can try installing a French drainage system surrounding the court’s perimeter. This will prevent any accumulation of water and safeguard the court’s surface from eroding or seeing any potential damage.
Once you have ensured step 3 is in place, move to step 4 by identifying the best suited materials for your court. Artificial turf, grass itself and clay are most common. The pros have advised sand or even crushed stone to be really good alternatives, as these materials give the weighted balls the capacity to roll at a faster pace and be directed straight forward. These materials tend to also be shock absorbent and so eliminate the chance of extra bouncing.
Once the essentials have been outlined, get the game playing equipments and you are ready! Some Bocce enthusiasts really take it to the next level by getting creative! They add decorative elements such as borders of wood or frames of stone, to ferment the framing of the court itself and add a level of professionalism! It really makes you feel like you’re playing in an actual Olympiad level Bocce court!
Bocce Courts are quite simplistic in their framework, but need to be done right. Ensure the right materials and measurements are in place and you will have a pro-level court at the comfort of your own back garden!
