The Town offers 2 bocce/petanque courts at the Riverfront Community Center Fairgrounds.

Courts are open on a first come, first served basis and cannot be reserved for private or commercial use. The Town organization, (e.g. Parks and Recreation and Senior Services) maintains the right to reserve the courts for programming, during which time the courts will NOT be available for public use.

Courts are for bocce/petanque only. Any other activity is strictly prohibited.

Proper etiquette and sportsmanship is expected.

Bocce Game Rules

Game Objective:

The object is to throw your bocce balls closer to the white Pallino ball or Jack than your opponent. The first team to reach 12 points wins the game and must win by 2 points. A match typically consists of 3 rounds. 

Free Play Rules:

Games are typically played between 2 teams with 4 balls each to a team. Teams can consist of 1 player (4 balls each), 2 players (2 balls each) or 4 players (1 ball each). Toss a coin to decide which team throws the Pallino (small white ball) first.

Pallino Throw:

• The white pallino ball is the first ball put into play after the coin toss. It is tossed underhand within a reasonable distance. Once the pallino is in play, it can be knocked anywhere on the desired playing field.

Game Play:

• The initial pallino thrower always throws the first bocce ball. All balls are thrown underhand.
• Teams alternate throws until all balls are thrown, regardless of which team's ball is closest to the Pallino.
• Once everyone has thrown at the pallino, calculate the scoring team for that frame (1 to 4 points per frame). If a bocce ball is touching the pallino, its often known as a “baci” or “kiss” and can be rewarded 2 points if they remain touching at the end of the frame.
• The first team to reach 12 Points wins the game (must win by 2). Typically, games are played from 12 - 21 Points

Scoring:

• Once all 8 balls have been thrown at the pallino, only one team scores after points have been calculated (1 to 4 points per frame). If a bocce ball is touching the pallino, its often known as a “baci” or “kiss” and can be rewarded 2 points if they remain touching at the end of the frame. The first team to reach 12 points wins the game (must win by 2).

BRIEF RULES OF PETANQUE or BOULES

1. Size of teams, number of boules 

   You can play the game with two teams of one, two or three players on each side. With teams of one or two, each player has 3 boules; with teams of 3, each has 2 boules. 

2. Choosing the throwing place 

   Toss a coin to choose which team plays first. Any player in this team chooses where to draw a circle on the ground in which every player will stand to throw their boules. The circle should be about 0.5m in diameter and at least 1m from any obstacle (edge of playing area, etc.). 

3. Throwing the cochonnet 

   He/she then throws the "cochonnet" between 4m and 8m, or 6 to 10 paces from the circle in any direction. 

4. The first boule 

   Any player from the first team then throws the first boule, trying to get it as close as possible to the "cochonnet". Both feet must stay together on the ground and within the circle while throwing and until the boule has landed. 

5. The other team 

   A player from the other team then steps into the circle and tries to place a boule closer to the cochonnet than their opponent, or to knock the opponent’s boule away. You must throw within 1 minute of your turn starting. The boule nearest to the cochonnet is said to be “holding the point”. 

6. Who plays when 

   The players in the team that is not “holding” continue throwing until they place a boule closest to the cochonnet, and so on. Players on the same team do not have to take alternate throws, but player must always play their own boules.  

7. When one team has no more boules 

   When a team has no more boules to be played, the players of the other team throw theirs and try to place them as close as possible to the cochonnet.  

8. Counting the points 

   When both teams have no more boules, you stop and count up the points. The winning team scores one point for each boule nearer the cochonnet than the opponents closest. Only one team can score points in each round.  

9. Starting the next round, known as an “End”
   A player from the team that has won throws the cochonnet from a new circle drawn around the cochonnet’s last position. The winners are the first team to reach 13 points (or whatever total you decide). If the cochonnet is hit and leaves the playing area (where there is one or hits the wall), the  cochonnet is dead. If one team has boules still to be thrown they get a point for each of these boules. If both teams have boules, then the end is void.