Erasmus + Sport Programme Collaborative Partnerships Project 556971-EPP-1-2014-1-PL-SPO-SCP BOCCIA - Enhancing the quality of life of people with disabilities and their environment through Paralympic sport Boccia BOCCIA - description of the game* 1.HISTORY OF BOCCIA GAME Have you ever thought about the name origin? It is pretty interesting, derived from the Latin word bottia, meaning ball, and is pronounced bot-cha. This game has a rich story, it was originated long ago in Roman Empire. Boccia was developed in the early 1980 s when European countries found that there were a large number of athletes with disabilities who were unable to take advantage of sports like track and field, swimming, weight-lifting, and/or cycling because they had poor balance, poor muscle tone, and/or spastic movements which limited their success. Fortunately, Boccia was found to eliminate many of these setbacks. It was introduced to the Paralympic Games in 1984. Now is practiced in over 50 countries worldwide. 2. WHAT EXACTLY IT IS... Boccia is proven tool which activates disabled people, improves quality of their life and integrating with the community. Boccia is suitable for everyone, but has found great popularity among people with even the most severe physical disabilities (cerebral palsy or related neurological conditions involving a wheelchair). It challenges both body and mind and 1
provides spectrum of therapies. Boccia is an effective way to integrate physically disabled individuals with able-bodied individuals in sports clubs, NGO s, schools, rehabilitation centers, or the home. Boccia is a paralympic sport that tests muscle control and accuracy. Players propel balls to land close to a target ball. The balls can be rolled, thrown, kicked or released down. If a player is unable to throw or kick the ball, they can use a ramp. If players are unable to release the ball with their hands, they can use assistive devices head/hand pointer. Two sides compete as individuals, pairs or as a team of three over a set number of ends. Each side has six balls (red or blue) each end to try and score points. Points are accumulated over the course of a match to find a winner. The court dimensions : 12,5 meters by 6 meters. Sounds simple? It is to get started, but the tactics of the sport offer both tension and excitement as the game plays put. 3. CLASSIFICATION Players are divided into four classifications depending on their disability and functional ability. All players have impaired functional ability in all four limbs. BC1 Players in this class throw the ball with the hand or foot. They may compete with an assistant who stays outside of the competitor s playing box, to stabilize or adjust their playing chair and give the ball to the player when requested. BC2 Players in this class throw the ball with the hand. They are not eligible for assistance. 2
BC3 Players in this class have very severe locomotor dysfunction in all four extremities. Players in this class have no sustained grasp or release action and although they may have arm movement, they have insufficient range of movement to propel a Boccia ball onto the court. They may use an assistive device such as a ramp to deliver the ball. They may compete with an assistant; assistants must keep their back to the court and their eyes averted from play. BC4 Players in this class have severe locomotor dysfunction of all four extremities as well as poor trunk control. They can demonstrate sufficient dexterity to throw the ball onto the court. Players are not eligible for assistance. Types of competitions Individual (All) - Player competes versus an opponent of the same classification over six 'ends' Team (BC1 and BC2 combined) - Three players per team of which at least one must be a BC1. Contested over six 'ends' with each player having two balls per end Pair (BC3) - Two players per side over four ends with each player having three balls per end Pair (BC4) - Two players per side over four ends with each player having three balls per end 4. COURT AND EQUIPMENT Court The surface should be flat and smooth (e.g. polished concrete, wooden, natural or synthetic rubber.) The surface should be clean. The Court dimensions are 12.5m x 6m with the throwing area divided into six throwing boxes. All measurements of the boundary lines are measured to the inside of the relevant line. 3
Equipment A set of Boccia balls consists of six red, six blue, and one white Jack. Boccia balls used in sanctioned competitions must meet the criteria laid down by the BISFed 4
Assistive Devices such as ramps and pointers are used by athletes in the BC3. Competition wheelchairs should be as standard as possible. 5. BASIC PRINCIPLES The aim of the sport is to proper blue or red ball as near as is possible to a white target ball, call,, the jack. Each players, pairs or teams get 6 balls in each end. The most important rules: 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 into court In a pairs or 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 colored ball A player from the opposite side then propels their first colored 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 color, which is closest to the jack Points scored each end are accumulated to give a final score. The correct course of the match is guarded by the referee. 5
Scoring International rules : http://www.bisfed.com/about-boccia/rules/ 6
Erasmus + Sport Programme Collaborative Partnerships Project 556971-EPP-1-2014-1-PL-SPO-SCP BOCCIA - Enhancing the quality of life of people with disabilities and their environment through Paralympic sport Boccia * This publication reflects the views only of the author, and the Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained therein. 7