Bocce ball is played with 8 larger playing balls and one small object ball. Bocce can be played on all different types of surfaces such as grass, sand, and indoor turf. The Special Olympics
3.2 Equipment
3.2.1 Bocce Balls and Pallina
3.2.1.1 Bocce balls may be manufactured of wood or a composition material and must be of equal size. Official tournament ball sizes may be from 107 millimeters (4.20 in) to 110 millimeters (4.33 in) in diameter. The color of the balls is immaterial, provided that the four balls of one team are clearly and visibly distinct from the four balls of the opposing team.
3.2.1.2 Bocce is played with eight balls and one smaller target or object ball called the pallina (jack, cue, beebee, etc.).
3.2.1.3 There are four balls to a side or team, and they are generally made in two colors to distinguish the balls of one team from those of the opposing team (see section 4.2 for ball color selection process).
3.2.1.4 The bocce balls may also be inscribed with distinctive lines to identify the balls of the players on the same team.
3.2.1.5 The pallina must not be larger than 63 millimeters (2.5 in) or smaller than 48 millimeters (1.875 in) in diameter and should be of a color visibly distinct from both teams’ bocce ball colors.
The above rules are based on the following definitions:
7 Definition of Playing Terms
7.3 Bocce Ball: The larger playing ball.
7.4 Pallina: A small object ball sometimes called cue ball, beebee, etc.
References:
Special Olympics Rules – https://media.specialolympics.org/resources/sports-essentials/sport-rules/Sports-Essentials-Bocce-Rules-2024.pdf
Photo – https://www.eastpointsports.com/
