The Hone Dogs play in the City of St. Helena, Recreation Department Bocce league, where the rules most closely resemble the USBF Open rules, as presented here:

City of St. Helena

Bocce League Rules & Regulations

It is the intent of the City of St. Helena to provide a program that promotes sportsmanship, friendship, fun and enjoyment.

1.    Each evening match, consisting of three games, begins at 6:15 pm. A team not present and prepared to play by 6:30 PM will forfeit three games. Each Farmers' Market match, consisting of three games, begins at 9:00 AM. A team not present and prepared to play by 9:15 AM will forfeit three games.

2.    The match shall begin with the flip of a coin between the captains from the two teams. The winner of the coin toss may choose to have the first toss of the pallino or the color of the balls.

3.    A team can play shorthanded (minimum 3 players) but each player is only allowed to throw 2 balls.

4.    A team member can be inserted into a game at any time prior to the throwing of the pallino in any particular frame. A replaced player can not re-enter until the next game.

5.    The starting team may toss the pallino any distance so long as the pallino passes the centerline of the court and does not hit the back wall. If a player fails to toss the pallino past the centerline or the pallino hits the back wall the other team will toss the pallino, alternating until the pallino is in play. The player who throws the pallino into play throws the first ball.

6.    Once the pallino is in play, it will remain in play even if it hits the back wall. If the pallino leaves the court or bounces back across the centerline the frame is terminated and play will resume at the other end with the previous starting team throwing the pallino again. 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 balls. The team who scored last rolls the pallino to begin the next frame from the opposite end.

7.   Only one team scores in a frame. A frame ends when both teams have rolled their balls and points are decided. At the end of the frame, one point is given for each ball that is closer 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.

8.    The first team to score 12 points is the winner of the game.

9.    If after a valid play only the pallino remains on the court, no points are allowed and the game resumes from the opposite end of the court with the same team tossing the pallino.

10.  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.

11.  If a ball, after hitting the back wall, strikes a stationary bocce, that stationary bocce shall be replaced in its approximate original position. The thrown ball is removed from play.

12.  Players may use the sideboard at any time.

13.  If a live ball hits a player on the opposing team the throwing team may accept the result of the throw or replace all moved balls to their original positions and re-throw the bocce ball, at their option.

14.  Each team will assign one player at each end of the court to do the measuring without interference from other members of the respective teams. The two designated players will agree to the point or points awarded. Players not playing in game must stay off the court. The methods of measurement can be decided by the measuring players. The method must be consistent with each measurement.

15.  In the event of a tie after all balls have been thrown, no point will be awarded. The pallino will be thrown first from the other end of the court for the next frame by the team that threw it first for the no-point frame.

16.  In order to be considered a point, a ball must at least cross the fault line at the throwing half of the court.

17.  DEAD BALL RULE: If a dead ball strikes a live ball(s) or the pallino, the live ball(s) and/or the pallino are replaced to their original position(s). A dead ball is removed from play immediately and may not be thrown again until the next frame. A bocce ball is "dead" when:

a.   The ball strikes the back wall; any bocce ball is considered dead on impact with the back wall.

b.   The ball is thrown out of turn; the ball is considered dead when thrown.

c.   The ball hits a player on the throwing team; the ball is considered dead when it strikes the player.

d.   The ball is not released before the thrower steps completely over the fault line, the thrower crosses the centerline in the course of throwing the bocce ball, or the ball flies past the center line before hitting the ground. In all cases, the ball is considered dead when thrown.

e.   If balls are picked up or disturbed (accidentally or intentionally) prior to all of the balls being thrown. In the spirit of good sportsmanship, if opposing captains agree, all balls will be replaced to original positions and no balls would be dead. If no such agreement can be reached, of the balls picked up or disturbed, opponents balls are replaced, own balls are dead.

f.    Ball is thrown while the pallino or another ball is still in motion, thrown ball is dead and any balls disturbed are returned to their original position.

18.  If a ball thrown from another alley disturbs any balls, the frame will be restarted.

19.  If a player throws a wrong colored ball, it is exchanged with the right colored ball.

20.  Players participating in any game must not cross the centerline during play except for personal convenience. Any player crossing the centerline may not become involved in the game by directing, suggesting plays, measuring, or any other capacity.

21.  Scores of all games and the names of players during the match must be recorded on score sheets and placed in the bocce shed "completed games" envelope.

22.  Matches may be rescheduled only if the Bocce Supervisor is notified more than 48 hours in advance of the proposed match time and the both team captains agree to the rescheduling. All matches must be completed by playoff time. Each team may request to reschedule only one match per half.

23.  Only Roster Players may compete in league play and players may only play for one team. All games involving ineligible players will be forfeited.

24.  Roster players must play in at least half of the matches to be eligible for playoff competition.

25.  Teams may make roster changes during the first two weeks of the season. However, the roster change must not lower the team's Priority Level as outlined in the Team Application Procedure.

26.  If a team forfeits three matches during the season they will lose their priority spot the following season. If a team forfeits 4 matches they will be removed from the league.

27.  United States Bocce Federation rules apply to all situations not covered.

Conduct and Courtesy:

DEFINITIONS OF TERMS:

Match- Two teams competing in three games.

Game- A contest decided on a team gaining 12 points. Winning two games claims a match.

Frame- A completion of bocce rolls by both teams from one end of the court. It may take many frames for one team to get 12 points and win a game.

Bocce - The large balls that are rolled to score points. Each team has 4 bocce of different color. They are composition balls with regulation size (107mm - 114mm diameter) and weight 920 - 1100 grams maximum). 

Pallino - The small ball which serves as the object or target ball. They are usually yellow or white.

Captain - The person designated to represent the team and decide on line-up, coin toss, point scores, rulings, and protest.

Fault line- A player must release the bocce ball and pallino before completely crossing this line.

Back wall- The narrow ends of the court.

Centerline- The line at the half way point between the two back walls.

Side board- The long sides of the court.

Live ball - Any bocce ball that is legally put into play by being rolled past the fault line and not hitting the back board or leaving the court.

Dead ball -Any bocce ball that touches the backboard or bounces off the court is dead and removed from the court.

Rolling - Rolling the bocce ball on the court surface with the intention of getting close to the pallino.

Shooting - Propelling the bocce ball with the intention of moving the opponent's bocce or the pallino.

EQUIPMENT. Each team will be provided with four bocce balls. Accompanying the bocce will be a measuring tape, a clipboard and pen. The team captains must also collect a score sheet and score board. These are all available in the Bocce Shed.

Each captain will be given a key to the Bocce Shed by the Bocce Supervisor. This key must be returned to the Bocce Supervisor at the end of each season.

NUMBER OF PLAYERS ON A TEAM: A minimum of six players is on each team. There is no maximum. Player scheduling can be a problem and enough players should be available.

LEAGUE SCHEDULING: The Bocce Supervisor will use team priority levels to decide on scheduling conflicts.

DISPUTES: The teams will referee their own game. If a dispute occurs, stop the game immediately and ask three captains from other teams playing at the same time to hear the dispute and to vote and issue a resolution. Resume play.

RAIN OUT: Any game that is halted, due to weather or lights going out, should be canceled. Because of lack of courts on which to play, rescheduling is difficult.

LEAGUE STANDINGS: Each win, loss, and total points will count in the team standings.

LEAGUE PLAYOFFS:

a.     At the end of each season a Playoff will be held. The top four teams from each night and day advance to the playoffs.

b.    The Bocce Supervisor will randomly match top seeded with lower seeded teams to start the playoffs.

c.    Playoffs will be three game matches.

d.    Bocce Supervisor will inform team captains of their team's playoff schedule.

e.    Captains will inform their team members of the starting time dates of the playoff to assure their availability.

f.     Teams must have minimum of three players to play in the playoffs..

g.    Ties for playoff seeding will be determined by average points scored per game.

h.    League Questions, Comments, Concerns? The team captain should contact the Bocce Supervisor.