Penalties and Points in Bocce Games
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Penalties and Points in Bocce Games

Published by Larry Boress
Sep 24, 2025

Below are the penalties and points to be awarded under the Bocce Club Rules:


  • Foot Foul: A player may step on, but not be totally beyond, the white foot foul line before releasing the pallino or a bocce ball. 
    • If this foul is committed with a pallino, the pallino goes to the other team.
    • If this foul is committed with a bocce ball, the ball is removed from play, any balls hit are placed in their approximate original position by a judge and the same team bowls again.  

  • Pallino Foul: The pallino does not go past the center line or hits the back wall directly
    • It is a foul and the opponent will bowl the pallino.  

  • Bocce Ball Hits Backboard Directly:  A bocce ball hits the backboard without first touching a sideboard, another ball or the pallino.
    • It is a dead ball and is removed from the court. 
    • If this was the first ball thrown after the pallino, the same team bowls again because they have failed to put a target bocce ball close to the pallino. 

  • Ball Exiting Court: When the pallino or a ball leaves the court or hits the top of a wall or scoreboard or concrete wall, even if the ball falls back in, it has exited the court.
    • If the pallino exits the court on the initial throw to start a frame, the other team throws the pallino and no penalty points are awarded.
    • If the pallino or ball exits the court after the initial throw, 2 points go to the opposing team and frame ends, with the opposing team throwing the pallino the next frame

  • Touching or Moving a Ball Before a Frame Ends: 
    • An active or inactive player touches a ball after it has been rolled before the end of the frame.
      • The ball shall be replaced in its proper position by the Judge. 
      • The opposing team will be awarded one point for that frame AND the frame continues.
      • This does not apply to removing a dead ball or if a judge touches or moves ball.
    • An active or inactive player moves a ball that is to be measured before the measurement is made,
      • The ball shall be replaced in its proper position by the Judge
      • The opposing team is awarded one point AND the measurement continues.
    • An active or inactive player moves more than one ball other than a dead ball before the end of the frame.
      • 3 points are awarded to the opposing team and the frame ends. 
      • The opposing team throws the pallino the next frame. 

 

  • A team cannot get more than 4 points in a single frame from the other team

  • Ineligible Player: When a team plays a non-resident or non-paid player, that person is  ineligible to play 
    • The game the person played in is forfeited and the other team gets 12 points.

  • Throwing the Wrong Colored Ball:  A player throws a colored ball in place of the pallino on the first throw of a game or throws the wrong-colored ball during the game.
    • If a colored ball thrown instead of the opening pallino, the judge will return the ball and the same player is to throw the pallino. If a player throws the wrong-colored ball, it is replaced with the correct colored ball by the judge.
    • No penalty points are awarded. 

  • Throwing More than Two Balls: A bowler inadvertently bowls more than two balls in a frame, 
    • The third thrown ball is considered dead and is to be removed from the court. 
    • If the third ball strikes any stationary ball(s), the disturbed balls are placed in their approximate original position by the Judge.

  • Playing From the Same End Twice: Once play has begun, a player is identified who has bowled from the same side in the previous game.
    • The opposing team gets one point AND the frame is over,
    • The offending player must move to the other side of the court.  
    • In the Playoffs and Championship matches, if there is a third game, a player who played from one end the first game can play from that end in the third game.

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