Bocce

Excerpted from Wikipedia: Bocce (or Bocci, or Boccie) is a ball sport, the aim of which is to get large, heavy balls as close to the small "jack" as possible. Developed into its present form in Italy (where it is called Bocce, the plural of the Italian word boccia which means "bowl"). Bocce is traditionally played on natural soil or asphalt courts. A game can be conducted between two players, or two teams of two or four. A match is started by one side throwing a smaller ball, the jack (called a pallino, or a boccino in some areas), from one end of the court into a prescribed zone. The sides then take turns bowling. When each team as bowled all 4 balls, the team with the closest bocce ball to the jack is the only team that can score points in any frame. The scoring team receives one point for each of their balls that is closer to the jack than the closest ball of the other team. The length of a game varies, but is typically from 7 to 13 points. Players are permitted to throw the ball in the air using an underarm action. This is generally used to knock either the jack or another ball away to attain a more favorable position. Tactics can get quite complex when players have sufficient control over the bocce ball to throw or roll it accurately.

The definition fails to communicate how competitive and how much fun Bocce can be when played with family and friends. Good-natured bickering about each point, measurements to ensure points given to correct teams, and many complaints about the ground and audience are also part of the game.

We (Joe Sparrow's family) learned how to play Bocce from watching our Molinari aunts, uncles, and cousins during family get togethers. The photos are from one such gathering on Cape Cod for Frances Molinari & Joe Sparrow's 50th wedding anniversary. Our family continues the Bocce tradition at our July 4th family party. Even the younger generation, Frances and Joe's great-grandchildren, get into the action.

Does your family continue a similar tradition? Please join in the blog and let us know about it.