There are several different systems of rules that govern play for bocce, depending on where the match is being held, and in what context. Different rules can be applied for league play and tournaments. The various styles include: The United States Bocce Federation (USBF) Open rules, Punta Raffa Volo rules and regular Volo rules. 

The league will be governed by the Park & Recreation Department of the City of St. Helena.

The City of St. Helena has the rights to change, interpret, modify, add, or delete any rule or
requirement it deems necessary for the welfare of the league. It is the intent of the City of St.
Helena to provide a program that promotes sportsmanship, friendship, fun and enjoyment.
With the intent to maximize those intents, the following Rules & Regulations have been
adopted.

1. The league will be governed by the Park & Recreation Department of the City of St.
Helena. The City of St. Helena has the rights to change, interpret, modify, add, or delete
any rule or requirement it deems necessary for the welfare of the league.

2. 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 one game. If the team is still not present and
prepared to play by 6:45 PM, the team will forfeit the next two 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 one game. If the team is still not present and
prepared to play by 9:30 AM, the team will forfeit the next two games. For any game
forfeited, the score recorded will be zero points for the forfeiting team and twelve points
for the team present and prepared to play at the designated times(s).

3. 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.

4. A team consists of four players, with two at each end of the court. Players may not switch
ends during a game. A team can play shorthanded (minimum 3 players) but each player is
only allowed to throw 2 balls.

5. 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.

6. 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 team that throws the pallino into play throws
the first ball.

7. 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.

8. Once the pallino is in play, 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.

9. 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.

10. The first team to score 12 points is the winner of the game. The game ends at the time
both teams agree that one team had scored the necessary points. It is not necessary to roll
any balls remaining.

11. 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.

12. Players may use the sideboard at any time.

13. All team players must be completely off the court while a member of the opposing team
prepares to throw the pallino or a bocce ball and until all balls have come to rest.
Spectators and team members not playing in game must stay off the court during a game.

14. 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.

15. 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. The method of measurement can be decided by the
measuring players. The method must be consistent with each measurement. Either team
can ask that the balls be measured at any time.

16. 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.

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

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

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

c) The ball is not released before the thrower steps over the fault line.A player steps
over the fault line when his or her foot touches the ground.

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

e) 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.

f) If balls are picked up or disturbed (accidentally or intentionally) prior to all of the
balls being thrown or prior to agreement by both teams on the point count for that
frame. Of the balls picked up or disturbed, opponent’s balls are replaced, own balls
are dead.

g) 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.

19. If a ball thrown from another alley disturbs any balls, the frame will be restarted unless
both teams agree that any balls disturbed can be replaced and play continue.

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

21. 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.

22. 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.

23. Matches may be rescheduled only if the Bocce Supervisor is notified more than 48 hours
in advance of the proposed match time and both team captains agree to the rescheduling.
All matches must be completed by playoff time. It the event of a rematch, it is the
responsibility of the captain of the winning team to transmit the match results to the
Bocce Supervisor within forty-eight hours of the completion of the match.

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

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

26. 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.

27. 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.

28. United States Bocce Federation rules apply to all situations not covered.
Communication, Conduct and Courtesy:

Team captains, or their alternates, are responsible for the actions of their players. Captains are
also responsible for informing their team players about the following guidelines.

1. Courtesy and respect should be displayed at all times. Profanity and unsportsmanlike
conduct is not permitted.

2. Dogs must be on leash and always attended to.

3. City ordinances prohibits smoking and amplified music in the vicinity of the bocce
courts and picnic area.

4. All trash, pop tops, cigarette butts, etc. are to be discarded in appropriate containers.

Violations of any of the above may result in a warning by the Bocce Supervisor to the player and
team captain. Severe violations or a violation after a warning may result in the player’s
suspension or expulsion by the Bocce Supervisor from the game or match. Team captains are
responsible for the conduct of their players, and sanctions may be leveled against a team for
intentional or repeated violations by one or more members of a team, at the discretion of the
Bocce Supervisor.

Any suggestions, complaints or protests with other teams or the Bocce Supervisor, should be
presented to the Recreation Manager that oversees St. Helena Bocce.

DEFINITIONS OF TERMS:

League: Collectively all series, matches or games organized by the City Recreation Department
involving teams with rosters of players.

Season: A sequence of matches scheduled to take place over multiple days or weeks, such the
Farmers’ Market, early summer, and late summer.

Match: Two teams competing in three games.

Game: A contest decided on a team gaining 12 points.

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 two different
colors. 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. It is usually yellow or white.

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

Fault line: A player must release the bocce ball and pallino before crossing this line. Sometimes
called the “foul line.”

Back wall: The boards at the narrow ends of the court.

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

Side board: The boards on 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, leaving the court or otherwise being declared a “dead” ball.

Dead ball: Any bocce ball that touches the backboard or bounces off the court or otherwise
declared a “dead” ball is removed from the court.

Rolling: Propelling the bocce ball on the court surface with the intention of getting close to the
Pallino.

Shooting: Propelling the bocce ball at a relatively high velocity with the intention of forcefully
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. A team may not provide its own balls.

KEYS TO 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 roster. There is no maximum. Player scheduling can
be a problem and enough players should be available.

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

DISPUTES:
The teams should endeavor to referee their own game. If a dispute occurs, the Bocce Supervisor
may be asked to rule on the dispute, if available. If the Bocce Supervisor is not then available,
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 rescheduled by the end of
that season. If games are not rescheduled, then each team will be assigned a forfeit.

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