About the game of Boccia

Boccia can be played by individuals, pairs, or teams of three. All events are mixed gender. The aim of the game is to throw leather balls — coloured red or blue (which side gets which is determined by a coin toss) – as close as they can to a white target ball, or jack. The jack is thrown first, then the first two regular balls are played, (first, the player who threw the jack then the opposing side), after which, the side furthest away from the jack goes next in an attempt to either get closer to the jack or knock the opposition’s ball out of the way. In this fashion, each end will continue until one side has played all their balls, at which point, the opposing side will play their remaining balls. The balls can be moved with hands, feet, or, if the competitor’s disability is severe, with an assistive device such as a ramp. At the end of each round, or end, the referee measures the distance of the balls closest to the jack, and awards points accordingly — one point for each ball that is closer to the jack than the opponent’s closest ball. The team/player with the highest number of points at the end of play is the winner. If both teams have the same amount of points after all ends have been played, one additional end is played to determine a winner.

The number of ends and balls in each end depends on the side makeup. Individual competition consists of four ends and six balls per player per end, whilst paired competition is four ends and six balls per pair per end (three per player). Team competition is six ends, and six balls per team per end (two per player).

In pair and team events, a reserve player is allowed. Between ends a reserve can be substituted for a player during a game, but only one substitution per game is permitted.[3]

Boccia is played on a court measuring 12.5 × 6 m with 2 m of empty space around it. The surface of the court is flat and smooth. The throwing area is divided into six rectangular throwing boxes in which the athletes must stay completely within during play. On the court is a V-shaped line over which the jack must cross for the throw to be valid. At the end of the court is the ‘dead ball container’ which balls are put in if they are thrown outside of the time limit, out of the area of play or the athlete violates a rule during his or her throw. A cross marks the position where the jack must be placed if it touches or crosses the boundary line or in the case of a tie break. The balls themselves are made of leather and are slightly larger than a tennis ball, weighing approximately 275 grams and measuring 270 mm in circumference. They are available in different grades of softness and hardness.

Boccia /ˈbɒtʃə/ boch-ə is a precision ball sport, similar to bocce, and related to bowls and pétanque. The name Boccia is derived from the Latin word for boss – bottia.[1] The sport is contested at local, national and international levels, by athletes with more severe physical disabilities. It was originally designed to be played by people with cerebral palsy but now includes athletes with other severe disabilities affecting motor skills. In 1984 it became a Paralympic sport, and in 2008 was being practised in over fifty countries worldwide.[2] Boccia is governed by the Cerebral Palsy International Sports and Recreation Association CPISRA and is one of three Paralympic sports that have no counterpart in the Olympic program.

via Boccia – Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Boccia is a target sport that tests muscle control and accuracy, demanding extreme skill and concentration at the highest level.

Believed to have Ancient Greek origins, Boccia is a tough test of nerve, tactics and skill. Played on a rectangular court by individuals, pairs and teams, the sport offers both tension and excitement, as athletes aim to land balls close to a target ball, across a series of demanding ends. The sport is similar to boules or petanque.

via Paralympic Boccia – Information, History, Rules | London 2012.

Boccia (pron.: /ˈbɒtʃə/ boch-ə) is a portuguese precision ball sport (maxime, from Senhora das Dores, Condeixa-a-Nova), similar to bocce, and related to bowls and pétanque. The name Boccia is derived from the Latin word for boss – bottia.[1] The sport is contested at local, national and international levels, by athletes with more severe physical disabilities. It was originally designed to be played by people with cerebral palsy but now includes athletes with other severe disabilities affecting motor skills. In 1984 it became a Paralympic sport, and in 2008 was being practised in over fifty countries worldwide.[2] Boccia is governed by the Cerebral Palsy International Sports and Recreation Association (CPISRA) and is one of three Paralympic sports that have no counterpart in the Olympic program.

via Boccia – Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Boccia is a precision sport focusing on muscle control and accuracy which resembles boules. Athletes propel balls towards a white target ball known as the jack playing either four ends (that’s rounds to you and me) for individual and pairs and six ends for teams. Each player, pair or team gets six balls during each end and the athlete, pair or team whose ball is closest to the jack at the close of an end scores one point, and an extra point for every ball that’s closer to the jack than the opposition’s closest ball.

Players must be in a wheelchair as a result of cerebral palsy or other related locomotor conditions such as muscular dystrophy. There are four classifications relating to the athletes ability within the sport. They are:

BC1 – athletes with cerebral palsy who can either kick or throw the ball

BC2 – athletes with cerebral palsy who find it a little easier to throw than BC1 athletes

BC3 – athletes with cerebral palsy who cannot independently kick or throw the ball three metres, and who therefore use a ramp

BC4 – athletes with an impairment other than cerebral palsy who have difficulty in throwing the ball

via Five Paralympic sports you may not know about – Now. Here. This. – Time Out London.

The Great Britain Boccia Federation (GBBF) was formed in 2007 to meet the growing need for Boccia to have a co-ordinated Great Britain wide approach to the development of the elite level of the sport.

Previously ‘Great Britain’ had only competed as a unified team at the Paralympic Games. The Home Countries had sent separate teams to European Championships, World Championships and World Cups. These events contribute to world ranking positions and prior to 2007 Great Britain would only qualify for the Paralympic Games based on the position of the highest ranked Home Country. Now Great Britain attend these championships and are able to send the best players from across England, Scotland and Wales in one unified team. The Home Countries continue to send representative teams to non ranking events.

via ABOUT US – GB Boccia.