Bocce
Updated: Sep 14
The Bocce courts are open for use by residents at all times except when there is league play. Equipment is in the shed by the shuffleboard courts. Use your key you received upon moving into Lions Head and please be sure to lock up when done. If you don’t have a key, go to the office during regular business hours to request one.
Fall bocce will begin September 19. Based on odd number of teams, one team will play two games back to back each week. Schedules will be available on Monday, September 14, in the clubhouse to pick up.
2026 Fall Bocce Guidelines
• There will be no fee for Fall Bocce.
• Open substitution every week. Please do your best to play 4 v 4.
• Season will start 9/19 and we will play through 10/31.
• We will conclude the season with a tournament, tentatively scheduled for 11/7.
All teams will be eligible for the tournament, with the matchups being randomly selected. The tournament will be a single elimination games, meaning if you win you advance.
• Teams will be responsible for reporting the weekly winners. Details to follow.
• The last teams to play each week will need to put everything away
• We will follow the same timing rules as the spring, so the games will move along.
Note the following:
Try to arrive ready to play at least 5 minutes before your scheduled start time.
Games will be played based on 15 points or 45 minutes. The game will end if a team gets to 15 and/or when the 45-minute timer runs out.
We have 2 new timers to keep the official time. Team captains will agree to start them as close to the start time as possible. Game ends when the timer runs out or one team scores 15 points.
• You must wear shoes to play, no bare feet allowed. We strongly discourage open toe sandals or flip flops as well.
• If your team(s) cannot play on a scheduled date and time, please reach out to the other team and try to reschedule. The rescheduled game must be rescheduled before next Saturday. Please contact Bob DeFeo (201) 953-1015 so he is aware of the schedule.
• When there is a need to measure and decide which color ball is closer to the pallino (yellow ball), please limit it to 1 person from each team on the court.
July 29 - Tonight we closed the 2026 Bocce season. Thank you to all of the participants who helped make this year a lot of fun. We closed the season with a thrilling championship game featuring the top two teams from the regular season battling back and forth. Congratulations to our #2 seed team- Dave, Sean, Frank and Gregg for their big win!
General Bocce Rules
Object of the Game
● The goal in bocce is to get your colored ball closest to the target “pallino” ball, (the small yellow ball).
● This might require simply rolling the ball toward the pallino, knocking an opponent’s ball out of the way, or precisely aiming your ball between the other balls in play without moving them.
● Always remember to have fun.
Team
● A team consists of four (4) members with two on each side of the court.
Start
● Captains decide who goes first and color. Coin toss (Optional).
● The pallino must go past the center white line.
● The pallino must be at least 12 inches from the side wall.
Scoring
● One point is awarded to the team whose ball(s) are closest to the pallino (max of 4 points), In the event a ball touches the pallino an additional point is awarded to the team whose ball is touching the pallino.
● If it cannot be determined by visual inspection which team’s ball is the closest, a measurement is to be done.
● Only one person from each team may be on the court at any time for measuring.
● The first team to score fifteen (15) points wins.
Court
● Shooter, ONLY, may cross the white foul line if he/she cannot see where the pallino is sitting.
Attire
● Comfortable clothing allowing for easy movement.
● Footwear should be comfortable, but slippers or any type of opened toed shoes are NOT permitted, as they do not offer sufficient protection.
Substitution
● It is the responsibility of each team player to notify the Captain if they are unable to play a scheduled game. That team is then responsible for finding a substitute.
● Substitutes must be extra players on the team or on the league substitute roster/list.
● Substitutions must be made at the beginning of the game.
● Only one substitution is permitted once the game starts.
● The same person may not throw two consecutive balls in a row.