The Modern Sports and Hobbies Encyclopedia http://www.hobbystop.net http://www.hobbystop.net/Bocce/A_Summary_Of_Bocce_Rules.html To the uninitiated, bocce may look confusing. In reality, it's incredibly simple. And its simplicity makes the game more fun. Each player (or team) is given a set of 4 colored bocce balls. A target ball (known as a Pallino) is tossed into a target zone. From that point, the players take turns tossing their bocce balls as close to the Pallino as possible. Once all 8 balls have been tossed by the players, points are tallied and the frame ends. Below, you'll learn the specifics behind the game including how bocce begins, how the scoring works and how penalties and fouls are treated. http://www.hobbystop.net/Bocce/A_Summary_Of_Bocce_Rules.html http://www.hobbystop.net/Bocce/Bocce_History:_Learning_And_Appreciating_Its_Past.html Of all games, bocce has one of the longest histories. In fact, its beginnings are so immersed in history that the true origin of the game is only speculated. But, learning how the game was played throughout thousands of years by different civilizations can be as fascinating as playing the game itself. Below, you'll discover how bocce was adopted by Romans, barbarians and soldiers. We'll describe why bocce was banned in a certain country centuries ago and why the ban was eventually lifted. Finally, you'll read how bocce spread throughout Europe before penetrating America. http://www.hobbystop.net/Bocce/Bocce_History:_Learning_And_Appreciating_Its_Past.html http://www.hobbystop.net/Bocce/Overview_Of_The_USBF_National_Championships.html The United States Bocce Federation (USBF) was created in 1976 with the primary goal of sponsoring and promoting the sport. Its secondary mission was to pursue having bocce included in the roster of Olympic events. Among its responsibilities are organizing and promoting bocce national competitions and backing the players that go on to represent the United States in international tournaments. To maintain its presence while simultaneously promoting the game, the USBF also sponsors bocce clinics to teach the sport to beginning players, organizes tournaments for players of all ages and provides help in organizing Special Olympics events. In this article, you'll learn about the USBF National Championships, including the rules of play and code of conduct during the tournaments. http://www.hobbystop.net/Bocce/Overview_Of_The_USBF_National_Championships.html http://www.hobbystop.net/Bocce/Basic_Bocce_Strategies_For_Winning.html Even though bocce looks simple, there are a number of strategies used by experienced players to gain an edge on their competition. Watching a few games played by veteran players can provide insight on how to formulate your own strategies. But, before you can learn the advanced tactics, you need to master the basic moves. In this article, we're going to describe the fundamental shots (or tosses) that every beginning player should master. Then, you'll learn a couple of bocce strategies employed by proficient players. http://www.hobbystop.net/Bocce/Basic_Bocce_Strategies_For_Winning.html http://www.hobbystop.net/Bocce/An_Introduction_To_Proper_Bocce_Equipment.html One of most appealing aspects of bocce is its seeming simplicity and limited requirements for equipment. Balls are tossed, points are easily tallied and the game proceeds until one player (or team) reaches 13 points. The game doesn't require much equipment to get started. In that respect, it's similar to baseball; as long as you have a place to play, the equipment is the last thing that will hold you back. Below, we'll describe the bocce equipment you'll need to get started along with a few items that you may want to purchase in the future. http://www.hobbystop.net/Bocce/An_Introduction_To_Proper_Bocce_Equipment.html http://www.hobbystop.net/Bocce/Playing_Bocce:_An_Overview.html Though most people have never heard of bocce (much less participated in the game), its history can be traced back to the Egyptian civilization and the Roman Empire. In fact, most enthusiasts will admit that the game's true origin is unknown. But, despite the uncertainty about how the game began, it has been enjoyed by people from all walks of life for thousands of years. Roman generals and soldiers played a version of the game to pass the time during the Punic Wars against Carthage. Since then, it has been enjoyed in the back alleys, fields and streets throughout Europe and America. http://www.hobbystop.net/Bocce/Playing_Bocce:_An_Overview.html