We all have favourites; two identical pairs of socks – but we prefer to wear one colour over another; over time that pair wears thin, makes a hole and is no longer fit for purpose. Should Boccia balls be any different? It seems most players prefer one colour ball over the other: is it wise to prefer red or blue?

Author Liz Moulam

*** Read all of this story in the world’s 1st Boccia magazine – “Boccia Inclusive” here.  Sign up to subscribe regularly here. Find out more about Boccia Inclusive by visiting its Facebook page here. ***

At Excel during the Paralympics, and since, I have heard many athletes express a wish to play for GB in Rio. The path to international success is as challenging in boccia as any other sport. Unfortunately dreams do not come true by wishing but they can become a reality through hard work and careful planning.

The recently established Boccia England Talent squad is a stepping-stone on the way to representing a Home Nation and then Great Britain. Players are selected through achieving at National competition or being identified by the selection team as having genuine potential. This might mean someone who has shown skill in Regionals or an Open competition but only been playing for a few months, or a young athlete who has played for several years and is now maturing and developing in their sport and able to compete at a senior level.

Author: Liz Moulam

*** Read all of this story in the world’s 1st Boccia magazine – “Boccia Inclusive” here.  Sign up to subscribe regularly here. Find out more about Boccia Inclusive by visiting its Facebook page here. ***

The game, developed by Preloaded on behalf of Channel 4, is playable online here:

Channel 4 release online Boccia game – GB Boccia.

BBC’s look at Boccia – go here for information especially for those new to Boccia.

BBC – GCSE Bitesize – Boccia.

Out of the twenty sports that make up the Summer Paralympic Games, Boccia was the one which we felt summed up the games for us. It isn’t an Olympic sport and so helps represent the difference of the games and the importance of the different sports involved. It is also a really exciting sport which we felt would work brilliantly as a game, and Channel 4 agreed.

Boccia is a turn based game based on similar rules to Boules, but devised specifically for athletes with physical disability who require a wheelchair. The aim of the game is to throw leather balls as close to the target jack as possible.

The game has various modes for players to access once they’ve chosen their nationality. Quick play gets players to the heart of the action in a simulated Boccia court either playing against the computer with highly competitive and realistic AI or against another player on the same machine.Choose the number of ends and play away.

Tournament mode puts you in a simulated tournament, playing against the best names in the sport. Play through from the quarter final stages to see if you can beat the professionals. Arcade mode focuses on skills, from target practise through to speed and strategy in a technical setting.

via Case Study – Boccia – Preloaded – Games with purpose.

After each Paralympic Games, the governing body of international boccia – now BISFed (Boccia International Sports Federation) – opens submissions for changes to the official rules.  The submission process from nations is now over and draft changes have just been announced, and can be downloaded here.

BISFed is inviting comments on the draft changes.

I have submitted to them written comments in the following areas:

Sections 5.2.1 and 5.3.1: Pairs and Team Divisions

Section 6.10.2: Completion of End

Section 9.1 and 11.1: Movement on Court

Section 9.5: Movement on Court

Section 18.1: The Captain’s Responsibility

Section 19.2: Warm up Procedures

Section 24: Protest Guidelines

I am presenting my proposals publicly and on individual pages, so that the boccia community can comment on each one separately.  An athlete was not on the very small committee that decided which proposals to reject or approve.  It is very important that we hear from as many players as possible so that the rules reflect realities of the game.

via Boccia Rule Changes After London 2012.

The Boccia International Sports Federation was launched on 1 January 2013 following an historic resolution by the Boccia – playing nations that the sport needed an independent governing body. We hope you will find the website informative and useful. Please email us any comments or ideas you may have by clicking here

We are now accepting membership applications. Please download the form below, complete and sign it then scan and e-mail it to info@bisfed.com

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