Frederick Bocce Updates…

FNP (9/15/18): City Notes: Bocce ball courts inching closer to reality…
FNP (8/29/18): Senior Living: The Great Equalizer
Frederick Magazine (August 2018): Insider Q&A – Speak Easy
FNP (6/24/18): City Notes: Talking bocce ball courts…
WDVM-TV (6/22/18): Aldermen approve plan to build bocce courts in Baker Park (video starts @ 1:00 min.)
FNP (6/6/18): Plans to add bocce ball courts to Baker Park rolling along

United States Bocce Federation

Bocce in the Media

Washingtonian: “A Pop-Up Bocce Bar Opens at the W Hotel“
WTOP: “How bocce in D.C. has grown into America’s next rec sport“
NPR: “Bocce Ball: From Old-World Sport To New-School Phenomenon“
The Baltimore Sun: “Bocce in Baltimore is a pastime for all ages“
Tosso.com: “Bocce Ball Is Making a Comeback“
Patch.com: “Fun Bocce Facts to Get You Excited About the Upcoming Championships“
Capital News Service (Video): “Maryland High School Students Close Out Bocce Season on a Roll“

Indoor Bocce Courts

Homeslyce – Mount Vernon: 336 N Charles St., Baltimore, MD 2120
La Scala Ristorante Italiano: 1012 Eastern Ave, Baltimore, MD 21202
Vendetta Bocce Bar & Tavern: 1212 H St NE, Washington, DC 20002
Pinstripes: 1064 Wisconsin Ave NW, Washington, DC 20007

Outdoor Bocce Courts

Shoe’s Cup and Cork: 17 N King St, Leesburg, VA 20176

Leagues

Joy of Bocce

Great photos of various bocce venues in the U.S.

"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!