Bocce visit to Methuen, MA

Bocce courts at the Sons of Italy lodge in Methuen, MA

Sons of Italy Lodge #902 Methuen (459 Merrimack St., Methuen, MA 01844) opened their new facility in February 2013. The lodge includes 4 regulation-sized, indoor bocce courts and a popular restaurant/bar. The lodge hosted the 2015 US Bocce National Championships where over 150 elite bocce players from around the United States competed for a week.

Bocce court surface

Regulation bocce courts can be made of a variety of surfaces. The Sons of Italy courts are constructed of a maintenance-free resin surface that provides a fast but consistent roll. The court surface was professionally installed by Da Vinci Bocce out of Michigan. The lodge has hosted various US Bocce Federation events, as well as the Pan American Bocce Games.

Our host, Joe Quarterone demonstrates Volo and Raffa style shots.

A special thanks to our host Joe Quarterone for several enjoyable hours at this amazing bocce facility. Joe is a Board Member of the USBF and has competed internationally. He is a “bocce evangelist“. Note the elderly couple on the court to the left. They are skilled players who meet here every Saturday for hours of bocce fun and exercise.

Donna on a “roll”

Rich and Donna Maranto

Click the image to view a local Methuen news story about this amazing bocce facility.

"Bocce, sometimes anglicized as bocci, is a ball sport belonging to the boules family, closely related to British bowls and French pétanque, with a common ancestry from ancient games played in the Roman Empire. Developed into its present form in Italy (where it is called bocce, the plural of the Italian word boccia which means 'bowl' in the sport sense), it is played around Europe and also in overseas areas that have received Italian migrants, including Australia, North America, and South America (where it is known as bochas, or bolas criollas ('Criollo balls') in Venezuela, bocha in Brazil). Bocce was initially played among the Italian migrants but has slowly become more popular with their descendants and the wider community." From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

photo by Brecken Pool via flickr (CC)

There are "tournament rules" and there are "backyard rules". We play by what are called “open rules”. Basically, the smaller jack ball is thrown and then each team takes turns trying to roll their balls closest to it. Check out the video "How to Play Bocce" by Major League Bocce for a simple, entertaining explanation of the rules.
One of the reasons that we love the game is that Bocce can be played by all age groups and is wheelchair friendly – making it a sport that is open to just about everyone!