BISFED Boccia competition rules update
The rules committee has been working long and hard sifting through the proposals and responses from our members. We specifically considered FAIRNESS and EQUALITY when making these decisions.
After many hours and much debating we have our first draft of the 12th edition ready to present to you. These rule changes were proposed and accepted from survey results. In page 3 of the Rule book you will notice that we ask for your observances throughout 2017.
The rules are set for 2017. We are accepting comments regarding structure, wording and grammar until Dec 9, 2016. After which, we will have them checked by a law firm. We plan to publish the final version in early January.
- We listened to the athletes. We agree, ramp restrictions make pointer length and seat height restrictions unnecessary.
- We have added more clarity by having better definitions and arranging the rules in chronological order.
- Again, we heard what the athletes are asking. More freedom for BC3 in the throwing boxes – many of the athletes asked for this to equalize sighting capabilities and to be on par with the other divisions that already have freedom in the throwing boxes.
- Penalty balls – athletes expressed concern that often throwing a penalty ball put them at risk of losing points they just earned, because all the balls are so close together around the Jack, especially when playing at the International level. A clear shot to earn the penalty point would be more fair. We have a unique and elegant sport. Spectators understand penalties where the playing field is cleared and the athlete gets a free shot at the target. This benefits the athletes, makes things clearer to the spectators and as a bonus helps the referee. There are some athletes who have already been working on this shot. Reports that have come in, show that success has increased dramatically in just 2 weeks of practicing this shot.
- We listened to the coaches. They asked for more opportunities to coach the Team and Pairs athletes. Now they are permitted to come and speak to them between every end.
With all of us working together Boccia becomes better and better.
Remembering London 2012
With Rio 2016 fast approaching, we want to take a look at some of the more memorable Boccia moments from London 2012!
We can’t wait for more of the same this September when the Boccia tournament begins on the 3rd of September.
The official Boccia rule book
Download the official Boccia rules covering everything you need to know (PDF) > here. Pblished by the Cerebral Palsy, International Sports and Recreation Association.
Paralympic Boccia – overview, rules and classification
Great Britain won Paralympic gold in the BC1/BC2 Team and a silver in the Individual BC2 in Beijing in 2008. It was an outstanding performance from the GB Boccia team, and they have set themselves similarly ambitious targets for 2012.
Since Beijing, the British team has maintained its reputation as a leading nation in Boccia.
At the 2009 European Championships the team won two gold medals, a silver and a bronze. David Smith won gold in the Individual BC1 event and Nigel Murray won bronze in the Individual BC2 event. The duo then teamed up with Zoe Robinson, Dan Bentley and Andrew Morgan to win silver in the BC1/BC2 Team event. Meanwhile brothers Stephen and Peter McGuire and Jamie Kelly won GB’s second gold in the Pairs BC4. Sadly, Jamie passed away in 2011 at the age of 17.
At the 2010 World Championships, Nigel Murray went one better than at the Europeans to win silver in Individual BC2, while Stephen McGuire secured silver in Individual BC4 and then joined Peter to win the same colour in Pairs BC4.
The 2011 World Cup in Belfast saw the BC1/BC2 Team pick up a bronze while Nigel Murray kept up his record of medalling in every Individual BC2 event since Beijing with silver, thus retaining his World No.1 ranking. The BC3s had their best performance for many years with the Pair finishing sixth and Jacob Thomas coming fifth on his major championship debut.
The final qualification event, the 2011 Europa Cup, saw David Smith and Dan Bentley win Individual BC1 and BC2 golds respectively. Stephen McGuire won BC4 silver with brother Peter picking up the bronze.
At the London Prepares Test Event in May 2012, British athletes won five medals: gold for David Smith in Individual BC1, gold for Nigel Murray in Individual BC2, gold for Jacob Thomas and Jess Hunter in BC3 Pairs, bronze for Jacob Thomas in Individual BC3 and bronze for Team BC1/BC2.
GB Boccia has also invested in talent identification and development, with the result that several athletes have been fast-tracked onto the GB squad. Both Jess Hunter and Jacob Thomas were identified through a systematic talent programme and are hoping to compete in London.
Boccia explained – by the experts!
Not many people know about Boccia. But at John Grant School we play Boccia and have a lunchtime and after-school club.
We are young Boccia officials, which means we know how to referee games.
As an official we have to keep score and check players aren’t crossing other players’ lines, but we can never touch the ball. It can be quite tough as you have to keep concentrating.
One of the good things about Boccia is that anyone can play it and it’s good fun!
History of the Sport
Boccia is a very old game. Boccia comes from the Latin word meaning ball. It was played by the ancient Greeks and today it is a part of the Paralympic Games
Boccia was first introduced to the Paralympic Games at Stoke Mandeville in 1984
In the 2008 Beijing Games the Great Britain team won a gold medal
In the London 2012 Games the Boccia will take place at the ExCeL Centre
via School Report – Paralympics 2012: Boccia explained – by the experts!.
Boccia: Facts & Encyclopedia Article
Boccia is a traditional recreational sport, similar to bocce. The name Boccia is derived from the Latin word for boss – bottia. The sport is competed at national and international level, by athletes who require a wheelchair because of physical disability. 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 practiced in over fifty countries worldwide. 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: Facts, Discussion Forum, and Encyclopedia Article.
The Rules Of Boccia
Boccia is an attack and defend game, with two sides competing over a set number of ends. The aim is to score as many points as possible by placing their set of coloured balls closest to the white ‘Jack’ ball.
news from the world of Boccia 