How to play recreational boccia
What is Boccia?
Boccia is a competitive sport in which players throw six red balls and six blue balls at each other to get closer to the white ball. The player closest to the white ball gets points, and the total score at the end of all ends determines the winner.
Basic rules
Do not cross or step on the throwing line.
Balls thrown beyond the throwing line are invalid and will be thrown out of the court.
If the jackball comes to rest in the invalid area, the right to throw the jackball passes to the opposing team.
If the jackball goes out of court on the first throw, the right to throw the jackball passes to the opposing team.
If the jackball goes outside the court during the competition, return it to the cross position.
If a colored ball goes outside the court during the game, it will be invalidated.
Flow of the match
1 Decide who will throw first.
First, play rock, paper, scissors to decide who goes first. The winning player can choose whether to play first with the red ball or play second with the blue ball.
It is said that the player who goes first has an advantage because he can throw the jack ball wherever he wants.
2 Player throws the jack ball.
The player who goes first throws the jack ball over the V-shaped line of the court.
If the ball stops short of the V-shaped line, the right to throw the jack ball passes to the next player.
3 Same player throws a red ball.
The same person who threw the jack ball throws the red ball closer to the jack ball.
The key is to consider the position where you are likely to get in the way of your opponent and throw the ball.
4 Next player throws a blue ball.
The second player throws the blue ball.
From now on, the person whose color ball is farthest from the jack ball will always throw it.
In this case, blue is farther away, so blue will throw the next one as well.
The referee indicates the color of the next person to throw with the referee paddle.
How to count points
The team whose color is closer to the jack ball gets points. In this case, the closest one is red ball①.
Next, find the ball that is closest to the jackball among the opponent balls (in this case, blue ball①).
The number of red balls closer to the jackball than that is the score.
In this case, red ball① and red ball② are closer to the jackball than blue ball①, so two points are scored for red team.
The sequence of throwing 6 colored balls at each other is called an "end", and there are 4 ends in individual and pair matches, and 6 ends in team matches, with the winner determined by the total score at the end of the final end.
Tie break
If the score is tied at the end of the final end, the winner will be determined by a "tie-break".
Place the jack ball on the cross and play rock, paper, scissors to decide who goes first.
Each player throws one ball, and the one closest to the jack ball wins.
In pair and team matches, one representative throws.
Tie-breaks are used to decide the winner and the points scored here will not be added to the total points.
If there is no winner after the tie-break, another tie-break will be held.
Is this okay?
Up throw/down throw
Any way you throw it is OK.
Throw in the method that is most comfortable for you, such as one-handed up/down throws, two-handed throws, or inseam throws with your back turned.
Hit your ball
You can also hit your own ball on the court.
Another method is to push your ball closer to the jack ball.
Hit the opponent's ball
It is also OK to hit the opponent's ball.
You can also bounce balls that are in your way or hit your opponent's ball to bring your ball closer to the jack ball.
Hit the jack ball
It is also OK to hit the jack ball.
When the jack ball goes out of the court, it is returned to the position of the cross, so it is possible to quickly turn the tide.
Watch the video for more details!
*Sorry, it's only in Japanese.