NOTE: For definitional purposes, there will be three Seeding Rounds, followed by a double elimination
Bracket Round during which the winning team will be determined. Each of the three Seeding Rounds
consists of a Match (game) for each team. A Match will have some number of Frames in which each team
throws four balls (each Frame started by the pallino throw).

1. A team on the court has 4 players (2 stationed at each end of the court) with each player throwing 2 balls.
Players are not allowed to switch ends during a match. A team may have substitute (alternate) players identified
on their Entry Form, but with the exception of an injury, there will be no substitutions during a match. Members
can be added to a team at any time as long as the added members are not on another team.

2. A team must have one player designated as the team captain. The team captain participates in the coin toss
and assigns players to their position on the court for the match. The team captain must designate a player as an
“end captain” for the end opposite that of the captain. Only the team captain or an end captain may go on the
court for measurements. No other players may go beyond the foul line at any time during a match. No players
may go beyond the midline.

3. It is each team’s responsibility to know when and on which court they are playing. The four playing team
members must be present at the assigned court at the announcement of “Play Bocce.” A team forfeits the match
if they are not ready to begin play with four team members at the announcement of “Play Bocce.” Match forfeits
will be scored 12-0.

4. The order of teams assigned for the first Seeding Round is determined by the order that Entry forms were
received. Pairings in Seeding Rounds Two and Three are as laid out prior to receipt of entries. Seeding in the
Bracket Round will be based on wins during the Seeding Rounds, with a first tie breaker of total points scored
during the Seeding Rounds, with a second tie breaker of points scored against a team during the Seeding
Rounds, and a final tie breaker of a coin flip by the Tournament Director.

REGULATIONS GOVERNING PLAY:

5. A match will begin with the flip of a coin between the captains or other designated team members. The winner
of the coin flip has the first throw of the pallino and chooses the color of the team’s balls.

6. Players may step on but not over the foul line before releasing the pallino or a bocce ball.

7. If a player’s foot goes beyond the foul line before releasing a ball (bocce or pallino), they will receive one
warning from the opposing team captain. Subsequent fouls will result in nullifying the pallino throw or removal of
the thrown bocce ball from play.

8. The pallino and all balls will be thrown underhand from on or behind the foul line with both of the thrower’s feet
on the court. The pallino and all balls may be bounced off the sideboards and the backboard.

9. When thrown at the beginning of a frame, the pallino must end up across the center line, at least 12 inches
away from the sideboards, and before the foul line at the opposite end of the court. If a thrower fails to do this in
two attempts, the throw goes to other team (but not the first bocce ball throw).  If the other team fails to place the
pallino into play in two attempts, the pallino is placed approximately in the center of the court; that is midway
between the center line and the foul line at the opposite end of the court, and midway between the court sides.

10. If a player throws the pallino and/or first ball when other team should have thrown the pallino or first ball, the
balls are returned, and the frame starts over.

11. Once the pallino is in play, the pallino can be knocked anywhere on the court except back over the center
line or out of the court even if it returns to the court. In this case the frame ends without score, and play resumes
at opposite end, and the same team throws the pallino.

12. The initial pallino thrower always throws the first bocce ball, even with 2 failed attempts.

13. Each subsequent ball is thrown by the team that does NOT have the ball closest to the pallino. A team
whose ball ties the opponent’s closest ball must throw that ball again. The “IN” team only throws if opponents
have thrown all 4 balls. Team members can throw in any order.

14. If a team is unable to determine the IN ball, he/she may call for a measure at any time to determine the
closest ball. There is no measuring to determine the 2 nd IN ball while other balls remain to be played.

15. Scoring is finally determined at the end of a frame, by measurement, if necessary, no matter what was
declared or measured while a frame was in progress.

16. If a player throws the wrong color ball, it is replaced with a correct color ball after the ball comes to rest.

17. Interference: If a team’s legally thrown ball is interfered with while moving or by someone or something not
on the playing surface before the throw, the ball is returned to be thrown again. If possible, any balls moved by
this throw are reset to their approximate original position. If balls are sufficiently moved that the approximate
original positions cannot be determined, the frame is replayed. However, if the interference is caused by a team
member, the ball is removed from play.

18. Resting movement by opposing team: If a team’s legally thrown ball is moved (accidentally or intentionally)
from its resting position by an opposing player or referee before the points are determined and the end of the
frame is declared, it is reset to its approximate original position. If the ball is sufficiently moved that the
approximate original position cannot be determined, the offended team has the option to leave the balls as they
lay or replay the frame.

19. Resting movement by own team: If a team’s legally thrown ball is moved from its resting position
(accidentally or intentionally) by a team member, the ball is removed from play. .

20. Resting movement of Pallino: Movement of the pallino by either team will result in a dead frame and play will
restart at the opposite end. Unsportsmanlike conduct may result in a team’s disqualification or other sanction at
the discretion of the Tournament Director.

21. A bocce ball, for whatever reason, that goes out of the court, even if it returns to the court, is a dead ball and
is removed from play for that frame. If the Pallino goes out of the court, a dead frame is declared even if the
pallino returns to the court.

22. There is a 30 second time limit between throws, which allows enough time to request a measurement and
resume the game. A second violation of the 30 second time limit, by an individual player, after having received a
warning from the opposing team after the first violation, results in removal of the unplayed ball from the frame.

23. Footwear must be worn at all times.

STANDARD PENALTIES:

24. For the violation of any rule that requires the removal of a bocce ball from play, that ball is immediately
removed from play until that frame has been completed. The violation must be called and the ball removed
before the next ball is thrown. If the ball is not removed before the next ball is played, the ball remains in play for
the rest of the frame.

25.  If possible, any balls moved because of the action of the violation, balls are reset to their approximate
original position. If balls are sufficiently moved that the approximate original positions cannot be determined, the
opposing team has the option to leave the balls as they lay or replay the frame.

SCORING:

26. The official score for frame is determined after all 8 balls have been played and measured if necessary. One
point is awarded for each ball of a team that is closer to the pallino than the opponent’s closest ball (1 to 4
points).

27. The team that scores in the previous frame throws the pallino in the next frame and play continues as above.

28. If each team’s closest balls are tied, no score is made and play continues at the opposite end with the team
scoring the point(s) in the previous frame delivering the pallino.

29. All play prior to the Championship Match will be 12 points with a 35 minute time limit, and a total of 40
minutes between the start of matches. Frames in progress when the time limit is called, will be completed and
scored. The team that first scores 12 points, or is ahead at the end of timed play wins the match. If the score is
tied at the end of timed play, one more frame will be played to determine the winner and the final score.

30. The Championship Match will be untimed and to 16 points.

31. For each game, scores will be recorded on the score card. A score of more or less than 12 points will be
recorded if that is the score achieved. After each match, each team captain will sign the score card and turn it
into the Scoring Desk which will be courtside.

32. Teams will refer all questions and/or rule clarifications to the Tournament Director. All decisions made by the
Tournament Director are final.

33. Any discrepancies, conflicts in rules, or situations not covered by the rules will be judged by the Tournament
Director.

34. Any time necessary to administer these rules during play of a match will be within the match time limit. No
time will be added to the time limit due to administering these rules.

35. Weather conditions may require changes to how play is conducted as determined by the Tournament
Director. We intend to play through rain, but time will be suspended by the Tournament Director for
thunderstorms or other severe weather conditions.

36. Play will be on the courts assigned, do not request court changes.

The Founders Trophy is dedicated to the founders of the Bocce Classic and will display the previous winners of the tournament. It is resident in the John Pirelli Lodge.