About Boccia
What is Boccia?
Boccia (pronounced bot-cha) is the most inclusive sport you’ll find! It’s easy to play, but harder to master!
Boccia is a Paralympic sport with no Olympic equivalent. It’s a target ball sport which tests both muscle control and accuracy. From a seated position (and therefore ideal for wheelchair users) players propel balls to land close to a white marker ball – the jack. If you’re unable to grasp and propel a ball a ramp can be used.
It’s an indoor sport, played on a court roughly the same size as a badminton court. You can compete as an individual, in a pair, or as a team of three.
Boccia can be played by anyone regardless of age, gender, ability, or disability.
The game was originally designed for people with cerebral palsy, and is the only sport available to many severely disabled people.
To be eligible for our talent pathway or be a Paralympic boccia athlete you must be classified as BC1-4, which means severely physically disabled.
Boccia has since developed to include people with all disabilities, and we have a range of competitions open to people with any disability including visual impairments and learning disabilities.
Absolutely anyone can play boccia socially, including non-disabled people as long as they remain seated during play. The game is ideal for children and for older people with limited mobility.
The term “boccia” derives from the Italian word meaning “bowl” and on the continent bowls is often referred to as Bocce.
Boccia has roots in ancient Greece and Egypt and is thought to be one of the first games played by mankind. It is thought that during these times, large stones would have been thrown.
In 1984 boccia was introduced into the Paralympics. During the 1984 games 19 athletes, representing five countries, competed. Nowadays over 50 countries play boccia, making it the fastest growing disability sport in the world. All these countries are governed by the Boccia International Sports Federation (BISFed).
Boccia changes lives! Participating is proven to not only improve physical health, but also mental and emotional wellbeing.
For around half of our regular players, boccia is the only sport available to them due to the severity of their disabilities.
Paralympic boccia athlete, Louis Saunders, said:
“I wasn’t strong enough for wheelchair basketball, not fast enough for wheelchair racing, and not agile enough for wheelchair tennis. I love sport, I want to be the best and sadly I didn’t really have that chance, that opportunity, because of the nature of my disability. But that was before boccia, now I’ve been given a chance and I’ve made the most of it.”
Rules of the game
- All players must be seated during a game
- A game consists of a series of ends
- Singles & Pairs = 4 ends
- Teams = 6 ends
- An end consists of all 13 balls being propelled onto court (the jack, 6 red and 6 blue)
- Decided using a coin toss, the winning player/captain chooses to be red or blue
- Both sides must occupy a designated box on the court from where balls are propelled
- The red side always begins the first end by propelling the jack onto court
- In a pairs or a team match each player propels the jack onto court in turn
- In a singles match both players will alternate twice
- The player who propels the jack ball also propels their first coloured ball
- A player from the opposite side then propels their first coloured ball
- The side not closest to the jack plays until they get closer, or run out of balls
- The end is complete when all balls from both sides have been propelled
- One point is awarded for every ball of the same colour, which is closest to the jack
- Points scored each end are accumulated to give a final score.
Boccia England’s competitions will be held under the most current BISFed International Boccia Rules
How do i Play Boccia?
The basics of the game
From a seated position, players propel balls to land as close as possible to a white marker ball, known as the jack. Two sides compete as individuals, pairs or as a team of three over a set number of ends (four ends for individuals and pairs, and six for teams).
Each side plays six balls (red or blue) each end. After each end, the athlete, pair or team with the ball closest to the jack receives 1 point plus an additional point for each ball closer to the jack than their opponent’s. Points are accumulated over the course of a match to find a winner. Although simple to get started, the tactics of the sport offer both tension and excitement as the game plays out.
Balls can be rolled down a ramp, thrown or kicked. If a player is unable to release the ball with their hands, they can use assistive devices, such as a head pointer.
For more detail and further information, see our rules of the game section above.
What equipment do I need?
You can give boccia a go at home without any specialist equipment – you can use household items such as tennis balls or rolled up socks!
If you want to play a game, you’ll need a set of boccia balls, which consists of six red balls, six blue balls and one white jack ball.
For players who are unable to throw or kick, a ramp (assistive device) is required. A head pointer may also be used with a ramp.
Clubs or groups will also need officiating equipment, including a measure and a paddle (red/blue indicator).
This equipment is available in our online shop.
Boccia is played on a flat, smooth surface, usually indoors, with a court the size of a badminton court (12.5 x 6m). Most venues don’t have a boccia court laid out so you can use court tape to mark out the court. Please download our boccia court markings guide for more information.
Where can I play boccia?
There are boccia clubs all around the country and many schools and colleges are also embracing the sport.
We run a range of competitions around the country, for players with all disabilities.