• in the name of god 

boccia  sport

 

 

Boccia is a disability sport where players aim to propel balls close to a target ball. Two sides compete as individuals, pairs or as a team of three over a set number of ends. Points are accumulated over the course of a match to find a winner.

A ball can be rolled, thrown or kicked. If a player is unable to throw or kick the ball, they can use a ramp. If players are unable to release the ball with their hands, they can use assistive devices – head/hand pointer.

Visually Impaired Boccia

This is an adapted version of boccia for people with a moderate to severe visual impairment.  This version uses a handheld tactile grid that represents a scaled down version of the boccia court.  Players wear eyeshades so that sight is standardised.

After each ball is thrown, a sport assistant places a tactile marker representing that ball in its position on the grid. The red, blue and jack balls have different textures to allow players to feel where all the balls are on court.

Handheld Tactile Grid

History

  1. Boccia originated in Greece, where players threw large stones at a stone target
  2. Originally designed for people with severe cerebral palsy, it is now enjoyed by players from many sectors of the community
  3. Practiced in over 50 countries worldwide
  4. Ranges from recreational to a

 

  1. Name Origin

    The name boccia is derived from the Latin word bottia, meaning 'ball', and is pronounced ‘bot-cha’.

  2.  
  3. 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.
  4. A ball can be propelled by rolling, throwing or kicking
  5. If a player is unable to throw or kick it, they can use a ramp (assistive device)
  6. If they are unable to release the ball with their hands players can use a head pointer
  7. All players must be seated during the game
  8. Singles and pair matches are four ends and team matches are six ends
  9. An end consists of all 13 balls being propelled onto court (the jack, 6 red and 6 blue)
  10. Each side can have 1, 2 or 3 players (singles, pairs or team match)
  11. Decided using a coin toss, the winning player/captain chooses to be red or blue
  12. Both sides must occupy a designated box on the court from where balls are propelled
  13. The red side always begins the first end by propelling the jack into court
  14. In a pairs or team match each player propels the jack onto court in turn
  15. In a singles match both players will alternate twice
  16. The player who propels the jack ball also propels their team’s first coloured ball
  17. A player from the opposite side then propels their first coloured ball
  18. The side not closest to the jack plays until they get closer, or run out of balls
  19. The end is complete when all balls from both sides have been propelled
  20. One point is awarded for every ball of the same colour, which is closest to the jack
  22.  

  23. Abridged Rules

  24. Note: These rules have been adapted from the BISFED Boccia Rules1st Edition Dec 2013. Boccia England recognises that certain situations may arise that have not been covered within this manual. In these situations the BISFED 1st Edition Dec 2013 should be consulted.

  25. Table of Contents

  26.  

  27. Equipment

  1. 2.1Set of Boccia Balls – consists of six red, six blue and one white jack ball. The balls must be in good condition with defined colouring and no visible signs of tampering.6.2Each player or side can use their own set of balls. In pairs or teams each side  must use only one jack. A side is able to examine each other’s Boccia balls before the first end.2.3Scoreboard – should be placed in a position where it can be seen by all players.2.4Timing Equipment – should be used whenever possible and should be electronic.2.6Red/Blue Indicator – similar to a table tennis paddle that allows the Players to clearly see which side should play.

  1. The Court

  1. 2.7The surface should be flat, smooth and clean such as a gymnasium floor.The dimensions will be 12.5m x 6m.All court markings should be between 2 & 5 cm in width and should be easily recognisable.Boccia Court

  1. Classification

  2. .

  3. Divisions of Play

  1. 4.1Each division is played by competitors of either gender.5.1Individual Divisions consist of 4 ends except in the case of a tie-break. Each player starts two ends by throwing the jack ball alternating between Players. Each Player receives 6 coloured balls.  The side throwing red balls occupy throwing box 3 and the side throwing blue balls occupy throwing box 4.5.2Pair Division consists of 4 ends except in the case of a tie-break. Each player starts one end by throwing the jack ball passing in numerical order from throwing box 2-5. The team throwing red occupy throwing boxes 2 and 4. The team throwing blue occupy boxes 3 and 5. Each player will receive 3 balls.5.3Team Division has 3 red Players and 3 blue Players. A match consists of 6 ends except in the case of a tie-break. Each player starts one end by throwing the jack ball passing in numerical order from throwing box 1-6. The red team occupy throwing boxes 1, 3 and 5 and the side throwing blue will occupy boxes 2, 4 and 6. Each Player will receive 2 balls.

  1. Play

  1. 6.3Coin Toss – the referee flips a coin and the winning side chooses whether to play red or blue.
    1.        
    6.4Warm Up – at the start of each match the Players can throw their own warm up balls, including the Jack, when the referee has indicated. An athlete/side may throw up to seven warm up balls in 2 minutes. Substitutes do not throw warm up balls at any time.
    1.        
    6.5Throwing the jack ball – the side throwing red always starts the first end. The Player must throw the jack ball passed the V line into the valid area of the court.
    1.        
    6.6Fouled Jack – if the jack is fouled it is given the Player who is due to throw the jack next. The jack will be fouled if:          
    1. It fails to cross the V line
    2. It is thrown out of court
    3. A violation is committed by the Player throwing the jack ball
    6.7Throwing the first ball into court – the Player who throws the jack ball also throws the first coloured ball. If the ball is thrown out of court or is retracted following a Violation that side will continue to throw until a ball lands in court.6.8Throwing the first opposition ball – the opposition side will then throw. If the ball is thrown out of court or is retracted following a Violation that side will continue to throw until a ball lands in court.6.9Throwing the remaining balls – the side to throw next will be the side which does not have the closet ball to the jack. This will continue until both sides have thrown all of their balls.6.10Completion of end – after all balls have been thrown, including any penalty balls, the referee will score the end. The referee will verbally announce the score before removing any of the balls.6.13Balls out of court – a ball, including the jack ball, will be considered out of court if it touches or crosses the boundary lines.6.14Jack knocked out of court – during a match it will be repositioned on the ‘Jack Cross’. When the jack has been replaced the side to throw next is determined according to rule 6.9
  1. Note: If there are no coloured balls on the court after the jack has been replaced, the side which knocked the jack out will play again. (Ref. 6.15)
  1. 6.15Equidistant balls – if two or more balls of different colours are equidistant from the jack and there are no other balls closer, it is the side that threw last that must throw again. The side to throw will then alternate until either the equidistant balls are disturbed or one side has thrown all of its balls.6.16Balls thrown simultaneously – if more than one ball is thrown at the same time when it is that side’s turn to throw both balls are deemed to be played and remain on court.
  1. Note: If in the referee’s opinion the balls were thrown on purpose to gain an advantage e.g. time is running out, then both balls are retracted.
  1. 6.17Dropped ball – If a player accidentally drops the ball the Referee can allow that Player to replay that ball.

  1. Scoring

  1. 7.2The side with the ball closest to the jack will score one point for each ball closest to the jack than the opponent’s closest ball to the jack.7.3If two or more balls of different colours are equidistant from the jack each side will receive one point per ball.7.5At the completion of the match, the points scored on each end are added together and the side with higher total score is declared the winner.7.7If the scores are equal a ‘tie break’ end is played

  1. Tie Break

  1. 8.3In a tie break end the winner of a coin toss will choose which side plays first. The Jack ball of the side that plays first will be used.8.4/5The Jack ball is placed on the ‘Jack Cross’ and the end is played as normal.

  1. Violations

  1. 10.1          There are 3 types of penalties:          
    1. Penalty – 2 extra balls are awarded to the opposing side to be thrown at the conclusion of the end
    2. Retraction – removal of a ball from court that was thrown when a violation occurred
    3. Warning & Disqualification – a yellow card is shown for a warning and a red card for disqualification. If a second warning is given the player will be disqualified.
    10.2.1Penalty balls – the time limit for penalty balls is 2 minutes for each violation.10.2.2Dead balls of the side awarded the penalty balls should be used. If there aren’t enough dead balls then ball(s) of that side which are furthest from the jack will be used.10.2.6Violations resulting in penalty balls committed by both sides cancel each other out.

  1. Penalty

  1. 11.1.1Leaving the throwing box when their turn has not been indicated11.1.2A ramp assistant looking into court before the Referee has declared the end finished11.1.3Inappropriate communication between players and their assistants or coaches11.1.4The player prepares their next shot in the opposite sides time11.1.5The assistant moves the wheelchair, ramp or rolls the balls without the player asking

  1. Retraction

  1. 11.4.1Throwing a ball before the Referee has indicated which side to go next11.4.2Throwing a ball when it is the opposing sides turn to throw11.4.3If the ball stops in a ramp11.4.4If the BC3 assistant stops the ball in the ramp11.4.5/6If the BC3 player is not the person that releases the ball11.4.7If a coloured ball is thrown before the Jack ball11.4.8If a side has not released the ball when the time limit is reached

  1. Retraction and Penalty

  1. 11.2.1/5Any part of the player, chair, equipment, assistant or ball touching the floor outside of the throwing box when releasing the ball11.2.2Not resetting the ramp after each shot11.2.3The ramp is overhanging the throwing line when releasing the ball11.2.4Not having at least one buttock on the throwing chair when releasing the ball11.2.6Releasing the ball when the BC3 assistant looks into court11.2.7Releasing the ball when the seat height is higher than the maximum 66 cm11.2.8The BC1, BC3 or BC4 foot player sport assistant has direct physical contact with the athlete, head, mouth, or arm pointer during the act of propelling the ball, including helping the athlete propel the ball by pushing the wheelchair.
  • Penalty and Warning

 

  • 11.3.1Deliberately distracting or interfering with a player from the opposing side11.3.2Deliberately causing a disrupted end

 

  • Warning
  • 11.5.1Unreasonably delaying a game11.5.1A player not accepting a Referee’s decision, or acting in a manner detrimental to their opponent or competition personnel.

Disqualification

 

11.6.1When a Player displays poor sporting behaviour to the Referee or the opposition players, this should lead to a Red Card and immediate disqualification

  1. Disrupted End

  2. 12.1If an end is disrupted the referee will return the disturbed balls to their previous position. If in the opinion of the Referee this is not possible then the end will be restarted.

 

  1. Time

  2. 14.2Propelling the Jack is counted as part of a side's time allocation.14.3A side’s time shall start when the referee indicates to the timekeeper14.4A side’s time will stop when the ball stops rolling or goes out of court14.7The time limit for penalty balls is two minutes for each violation (2 balls)14.9If the time is incorrect the Referee can adjust the time to compensate14.11
ClassificationTime/Player/End
BC1 5 minutes
BC2, BC4 4 minutes
BC3 6 minutes
BC3 Pairs 7 minutes
BC4 Pairs 5 minutes
Teams 6 minutes
Warm up balls/time out/violation (2 balls) 2 minutes
Medical/technical time out 10 minutes

  • Classification is a way of grouping players into levels of impairment, in order to make sure that players are competing on an equal level. There are opportunities for players that do not fit into these classification groups. Find out more...

    • BC1

      Cerebral Palsy

      • Locomotor dysfunction affecting whole body      
      • Mostly unable to propel manual wheelchair, may have no functional ability in legs      
      • Trunk often involved in head and arm movements      
      • Has difficulty in changing sitting position in chair      
      • Poor grip and release of ball, sufficient strength to propel consistently with hands or feet

      BC2

      Cerebral Palsy

      • Locomotor dysfunction affecting whole body      
      • May be able to stand or walk but will lack stability      
      • Able to control trunk but with associated limb movement      
      • Has difficulty in replicating shoulder movement      
      • Superior grip and release of ball compared to a BC1, able to slowly spread fingers
      •   

      BC3

      Cerebral Palsy or Non Cerebral Palsy

      • Locomotor dysfunction affecting whole body      
      • Likely to use electric wheelchair, will play with assistive device (ramp)      
      • Trunk control will vary      
      • Poor coordination of movement, unable to consistently release a ball in same direction      
      • Insufficient grip and strength to consistently propel a ball into play  
      •   

      BC4

      Non Cerebral Palsy

        • Locomotor dysfunction affecting whole body      
          • May be able to propel a manual wheelchair      
          • Poor dynamic trunk control, will require assistance of head or arms to return upright      
          • Range and coordination of movement poor, unable to do rapid movements      
          • Poor grip and release of ball, but sufficient strength to propel a ball consistently
          •                                                                  

      Officials are vital to the successful running of boccia competitions. This includes competitions organised by Boccia England as well as other groups and organisations.

      It is important that officials have an in depth understanding of the sport, have attended the necessary training and have the required knowledge for the role and level they are officiating at.

      Referees

      Head Referee

      • Oversee the referees      
      • Control and manage the competition (alongside the competition manager)    

      Referee

      • Oversee the game      
      • Control and manage the game      
      • Make decisions according to the rules    

      Linespersons

      • Assist the referee, especially with regard to violations and court management    

      Scorekeepers

      • Operate the timing system      
      • Operate the scoring system    

      Classifiers

      Classification is the grouping of athletes based on functional ability.  The process is designed to include things such as muscle tone, range of movement and co-ordination but it purposely excludes the evaluation of learnt skills and training development of participants for a chosen sport.    

      Classifiers are trained officials that assess players to determine which classification group players should compete in. They are usually from a medical background, e.g. doctor, physiotherapist, or have technical expertise within the sport, e.g. coach.