You’ve probably played or seen others playing bocce ball in the park: although it may seem deceptively simple, it’s a sport that requires skill, concentration and, often, teamwork.
All this and more will be on display in Paris, where athletes will be competing in bocce — the indoor Paralympic version of the outdoor game. one of only two Paralympic sports which does not have an Olympic version, which means you will only be able to watch it at the Paralympics.
But before you do, you’ll want to brush up on all the bocce ball so you can follow all the action. Here’s everything you need to know about this strategic ball sport.
When did the game of bocce begin?
Many, many years ago. In fact, according to Paralympic.orgBocce is perhaps “the oldest game ever played by mankind” — murals and engravings relating to the sport have been found in Egyptian tomb excavations dating back to 5200 B.C. In the earliest iterations of the sport, which has roots in Greece and Egypt, players threw large stones at a stone target. So it’s fitting that its later name, “boccia,” derives from the Italian word for “bowl.”
Fast forward to bocce as we know it: originally developed for people with cerebral palsy, bocce has become popular around the world and is now played by people with any type of neurological disability that affects motor function.
Boccia made its debut at the 1984 Paralympic Games in New York City, where a total of 19 athletes represented five different countries on the global stage. Forty years later, 124 athletes will compete in 11 medal events at the 2024 Paralympic Games in Paris.
How do you play bocce?
There are several formats for bocce. Two teams compete against each other individually, in pairs, or in teams of three. The first team gets six red balls, the other six blue balls. The goal is to get as many of your colored balls as possible to the white ball, called the jack, so that you can score more points. At the same time, you want to keep your opponents’ balls as far away from the jack as possible.
Athletes compete in wheelchairs; there are four classes depending on the level of disability:
- BC1 athletes play the ball with their hands or feet and have an assistant to help position the wheelchair.
- BC2 players shoot without assistance.
- BC3 athletes can use a pointer — which can be held in their mouth or attached to their helmet — to push the ball down a ramp onto the court and can also receive support from an assistant.
- BC4 athletes cannot have an assistant during the competition.
How to score and win in bocce?
The scoring system depends on the type of game (single, double or team).