Official Open Bocce Regulations

Italian Prisoners of War – Benicia Arsenal (March 7, 1944)

2015 League Handbook

www.beniciabocce.org

BBL LEAGUE HANDBOOK - REVISED 2014 BENICIA BOCCE BALL LEAGUE 2015

OFFICERS DIRECTORS

Ron Kane – President Jim Arruda 510-847-1680 Dave Moore [email protected] Randy Olson Al Bertelotti Greg Richey – Vice President Fred Railsback Sherri Bortolazzo – Secretary Mike Klug Colleen Williams – Treasurer Matt DeClaire Sue Karasson – Senior Director Bob Botti Scott Reep Frank Karasson Nick Martino

COMMITTEEE ASSIGNMENTS

Website Matt DeClaire Shed Maintenance Bob Botti Randy Olson New Courts Scott Reep, Greg Richey, Fred Railsback Jim Arruda (oversee construction) Scheduling – Playoffs and Standings Frank Karasson Rules Jim Arruda, Sue Karasson Fund Raising Greg Richey Misc. Sheri Bortolazzo Sign-Ups Sue Karasson, Colleen Williams

BBL LEAGUE HANDBOOK - REVISED 2014 OFFICIAL 2015 BBL “OPEN BOCCE” RULES & REGULATIONS

BENICIA BOCCE LEAGUE PLAY IS INTENDED FOR THE LEISURE & ENJOYMENT OF BOTH PLAYERS & SPECTATORS. THE FOLLOWING RULES ARE INTENDED TO ENHANCE THE GAME OF BOCCE TO FURTHER THAT ENJOYMENT.

I. INTRODUCTION The game of “Open Bocce” is played with eight large bocce balls and one small target ball called the palino. The object of the game is to roll the bocce ball closest to the palino. A playing team consists of four players, with two balls per person. Opposing teams have two players on each end of the bocce court, and are permanently stationed at their designated side for each game. Games are played to twelve points and must be won by two points. Only composition balls accepted by the BBL are permitted for league play.

II. STARTING TIME NOTE: TO START EARLY, BOTH CAPOS MUST AGREE

A. Evening matches played on a weekday evening will begin at 6:00pm. Matches played on the Sat./Sun. begin at 9:00am or 1:00pm.

B. Matches consist of three games.

C. A team not present within 15 minutes of scheduled start time forfeits game 1. A team not present within 25 minutes of scheduled start time forfeits game 2. A team not present within 30 minutes of scheduled start time forfeits game 3.

III. COURT MAINTENANCE The designated HOME team has the responsibility for maintaining the court prior to League Play competition. The HOME team Capo is expected to assign players to groom the court. However, if necessary, a team Capo may arrange to trade or otherwise modify its maintenance duties with the opposing team Capo. Allow a minimum of 30 minutes to properly groom the court. Games start promptly at their designated times so consider adding 10 to 15 minutes of practice time when scheduling your HOME team for court maintenance. The following standards have been set by the BBL Board of Directors:

1. Pick-up any debris that may have blown onto the court and put it into one of the trash containers. Make sure you do not pick-up too much sand/oyster flour.

2. Use the large broom to prepare the surface.

3. Wet the court with a fine spray. Usually one pass is sufficient.

4. Once the court has dried (about 10 minutes), roll the court using the large roller. Use the wooden wedge to enter the court with the roller. Enter from the sides and NOT the ends as the court may be damaged if you enter from the end.

5. Return all of the grooming equipment to the shed and replace the equipment in its designated location.

BBL LEAGUE HANDBOOK - REVISED 2014 IV. STARTING THE MATCH The match shall begin with the flip of a coin between the Capos from each team. The winner of the coin flip will determine the end from which play will begin and may either have the first toss of the palino or choose the color of balls. Teams must play on the assigned courts.

A player may toss the palino any distance so long as the palino passes the center line of the court and does not hit the back wall. If a player fails to validly toss the palino after one attempt, the opposing team will have one chance to toss the palino and put it in play. If the opposing team fails to properly toss the palino, the throw reverts to the original team. In any case, once the palino has been properly put into play, the first bocce ball will be thrown by the team member who originally tossed the palino.

V. PLAYING THE GAME The team member who originally tossed the palino, whether successfully or not, throws the first bocce ball. If the bocce ball hits the back board, the ball is removed and that team must roll again. If the ball is thrown successfully, the player steps aside and their team will not roll again until the opposing team has (1) gotten their bocce ball(s) closer to the palino or (2) has thrown all of their balls. The team whose bocce ball is closest to the palino is called “inside” and the opposing team “outside”. This continues until both teams have used all of their bocce balls. The team who scores last throws the palino to begin the next frame.

A. If a player rolls the wrong colored ball, simply replace it with the correct color when the ball comes to rest.

B. If a player rolls out of turn, the opposing team may leave everything, including the thrown ball exactly where it is, or may return any moved balls to their approximate original positions and remove the thrown ball from play.

C. If a ball is moved before all eight balls are played, the opposing team replaces the ball to the approximate original position. This is to be done in the spirit of good sportsmanship.

D. When a team wins a game, players exchange ends of the court and substitutions may be made. The team winning their previous game will toss the palino to start the next game.

E. NO PRACTICE BETWEEN GAMES.

F. During game play, a player cannot carry their bocce balls beyond the foul line.

BBL LEAGUE HANDBOOK - REVISED 2014 VI. PALINO Once the palino has been validly put into play, it remains in play even if it hits the backboard. However, if the palino is knocked out of the court or knocked in front of the center line, the frame will end and NO points are awarded. The game will resume from the opposite end of the court with the same team tossing the palino.

VII. NO SHOOTING “Shooting” is lofting the ball in the air beyond the center of the court. If the ball does not hit the ground before the center line, everything goes back to its approximate original position. The thrown ball is out of play. In all shots the played ball must hit the ground before striking any other ball.

VIII. DEAD BALLS Should a player’s bocce ball make contact with the back board, the bocce ball is considered a dead ball on impact and is removed from play until the end of the frame. If after a valid play, only the palino remains on the court, the team that last rolled must roll again until a ball remains in play or that team is out of balls.

A. If the thrown ball comes to rest on the palino or another ball that is touching the back wall, that thrown ball remains in play. The ball touching the back wall is removed from play. If the palino is touching the back wall, it remains in play.

B. If a bocce hitting the backboard strikes a stationary bocce, that stationary bocce ball shall be replaced in its approximate original position. The thrown ball is removed from play.

C. If a bocce hitting the backboard is not removed quickly enough and, as a result, strikes a moving ball that likely would have hit the backboard, allowing the moving ball to remain in play, that moving ball remains in play where it comes to rest.

IX. FOUL LINE Player’s movements are limited to the foul line. Player’s movements are limited to the foul line. The player may step on but not step over the foul line when releasing the palino or bocce balls. Any part of the foot touching the throw line is considered a legal roll. If the intent of the foot foul rule is abused, the offending player may be removed from the game by a Director of the Benicia Bocce League. When a player released the palino or bocce, both feet must be in the court unless that player has significant physical impairment.

X. DISPUTES The teams playing will referee their own game. Any dispute which cannot be resolved by the team Capos shall be decided by one member of the Benicia Bocce League Board of Directors, agreed to by both Capos. Upon his/her decision, the game shall continue.

XI. SCORING Only the “inside” team scores. One point is given for each ball of the inside team that is closer to the palino than any ball of the opposing team. If at the end of any frame the closest ball of each

BBL LEAGUE HANDBOOK - REVISED 2014 team is equidistant from the palino, the frame ends in a tie and no points are awarded to either team. The game will resume from the opposite end of the court with the same team tossing the palino Capos of each team are responsible for keeping the score sheet and for reporting the results of the match by submitting the “Official Score Sheet” to a designated location.

XII. MEASUREMENTS All measurements will be made from the inside dimension of the bocce ball to the inside dimension of the palino, rather than the middle of the palino. Do not touch the balls. Only the Capo and one representative from each of the opposing teams may be present during measurements. If both team Capos agree on which team has the point(s) and it is later determined that a mistake has been made, all balls played are valid. If both teams have balls remaining, the team that does not have the closest ball to the palino rolls again. If all balls have been played, points are awarded based on the balls that are actually closest to the palino in accord with Rule XI.

XIII. PROTEST A protest will be considered valid only if the opposing Capo is notified at the time of the dispute (before the next frame begins) and the game is officially recognized as being played under protest. All protests must be submitted in writing to the Benicia Bocce League within 72 hours of the disputed game. That decision will be final.

XIV. FORFEITS If a team forfeits 20% of their games, they will be dropped from league play and the team Capo will be notified by mail. All games previously played will be removed from division scoring.

XV. RESCHEDULING GAMES Games may not be rescheduled unless both Capos agree. All rescheduled games must be pre- arranged with the league’s scheduling coordinator no later than one week after the originally scheduled date. If the City of Benicia determines that games must be canceled due to rain, those games will be rescheduled at the convenience of the teams, and as directed by the scheduling coordinator.

XVI. PLAYERS A. Additions to team rosters may be made until the designated deadline. Completed rosters must contain names, addresses and phone numbers of all players. Official team rosters become final on the third week of play. You can replace player vacancies. Any changes must be submitted by the team Capo in writing to the Benicia Bocce League to be valid.

B. No more than twelve (12) people may be on a roster and no less than six (6). A person can only play on one team in the open league. A team forfeits any game in which they play a non- roster player. The opposing team may not waive non-roster player forfeits.

C. If a team fields less than two players, the game is considered a forfeit. A two or three member team may play throwing only two balls per player. A 3rd or 4th player arriving late may enter the game after the completion of the frame.

BBL LEAGUE HANDBOOK - REVISED 2014 D. There is no minimum age requirement, however no more than ½ of the team may be under the age of 18 and at least one person in every game must be 18 years or older.

E. A team may make one substitution per game. A substitution may only be made between frames.

F. No player may play two consecutive games from the same end of the court.

G. Players need not alternate throws. Consecutive or alternating throws by teammates shall be at the option of the players.

H. In the interest of SAFETY, all participating players MUST wear flat-soled shoes.

XVII. ENTRY FEE The required entry fee must accompany the completed team roster prior to the established registration deadline. A Team Waiver Form must be signed by each player and turned in by the designated date.

XVIII. CONDUCT AND COURTESY A. Team Capos are responsible for the actions of their players.

B. If a player is standing in the playing half of the court while the opposing team is rolling and the opposing team requests that the player step aside, that request will be honored.

C. All bocce balls should remain on the court behind the throwing line and be visible to all players during the round

D. Only participating players will be allowed on the court while the game is in progress. Spectators are not allowed on the courts at anytime during regulation play.

E. Courtesy and respect should be displayed at all times. Profanity and unsportsmanlike conduct is not permitted. Violations may result in a warning by a BBL Director to the player and team Captain. A severe violation or violation after warning may result in the player’s expulsion by the BBL Board of Director from the game or match.

F. All trash, pop tops, cigarette butts, food, etc., are to be discarded in the appropriate containers.

G. Bicycle, skate boards, scooters and roller skates are prohibited on or around the courts.

H. No dogs allowed per Civic Center Park rules and regulation (City Code 6.16.030).

I. Beverages are not allowed at any time on playing surface.

J. No smoking within fenced area of bocce courts.

BBL LEAGUE HANDBOOK - REVISED 2014 OFFICIAL BBL SCORE ~ ALL PLAYERS “READ & HEED” In order for league standing to be posted and correct, official BBL Score Sheets must be submitted for each scheduled match immediately following the conclusion of the match. Completed score sheets are to be placed in the designated box provided at the storage shed.

Each team Capo is responsible for submitting a score sheet after each match. The score sheet must be completely filled out and legible. You must include the date of play, the designated night of play, and the team name and team number. Both Capos must sign confirming the final score. It is not the Scheduling Coordinator’s job to fill in missing blanks, to phone for scores or track down missing score sheets.

Although the winning team is responsible for submitting the completed (and signed) score sheet after each match, both teams’ Capos are ultimately responsible for missing score sheets.

PENALTIES WILL BE LEVIED FOR INCORRECT OR MISSING SCORE SHEETS

A. The Score Sheets are located n the Bocce Shed.

B. Incomplete Score Sheets: Both teams may lose one game (one game from the win column will be added to the loss column).

C. Missing Score Sheets: Both teams will have zero (0) games recorded for that date.

D. If a team FORFEITS a match for any reason other than an official BBL cancellation, the “winning” team must still submit a score sheet for the forfeited night of play. The forfeiting team’s signature is not required in this instance. NOTE: Rule XIV will be enforced.

E. Score Sheets are picked up daily, and league standings are compiled on the weekend and posted in the league showcase at the bocce courts on Monday.

If you have any questions on how to keep score, or how to properly complete the score sheet, please ask for help. The Board of Directors are available to help and will assist you with any concerns.

Enjoy a great year of bocce in the City of Benicia.

Board of Directors 2015 Benicia Bocce League

BBL LEAGUE HANDBOOK - REVISED 2014