The Ultimate Rule book
The Ultimate Rules were created by simply trying to figure out more ways to score points beyond the traditional rules. With every game we played, we encountered common scenarios where a rule could be created to score additional points.
We tried to make use of every situation so nothing was wasted. For example, we initially spent a great deal of time just walking to collect Bocce balls that ended up far away. So, we created ways to use these situations and score points. And so it begins:
For simplicity, the Ultimate Rules are written for a 2 player game. Only a few minor adjustments are made with 3 or 4 players.
Just a few definitions for words that you will hear throughout the scroll...
JACK CONTROL - player that creates the next shot by decided where the jack is thrown
PING - throwing the bocce ball and making contact with the Jack, each PING is worth a point
END - when all 4 bocce balls are thrown at the Jack and points are totalled
WASH - an End where no clear winner is decided and neither player scores a point
The Field
Ultimate Bocce is best played in a large size field where the variety of landscape can allow the game's unique qualities to shine. Find a school field or park area in your neighbourhood and Bocce it!
Point System
The game can be up to any number that the players decide. Even though we have played games up to 41 and 51 and even had one go up to 100, normally we choose either 21 or 31 depending on how much time we have and of course, sunlight.
The Rutt (Pre-game)
Ultimate Bocce begins with what we call The Rutt. This play decides who gets to throw out the FIRST JACK! We used to simply allocate First Jack to the player who won the last game but as you will see throughout these game rules, we saw an opportunity to add a unique play and start off the game with a little pizzazz...
The Rutt begins with the winning player from the last game deciding on a starting spot for the new game. He then drops the Jack at this spot which acts as the marker for the throwing location. The previous winner also selects a target in the field (not too far) and throws his first Bocce ball at the target area.
Player 2 then throws his first ball at Player 1's first ball attempting to get close as possible. Each of the player's next throw targets their OWN ball. The idea behind this is to get all 4 Bocce balls close together. The player who ends up closest to their own ball wins The Rutt and as a result gets First Jack to begin the game. In the pre-game Rutt, only Jack Control is up for grabs so if you make contact with your own Bocce ball, no points are awarded.
If no clear winner can be decided from the throwing location then the players move up to ascertain who is closest and the Jack is not thrown. If it is still too close to decide and deemed a tie, then both players RE-Rutt until a winner is decided.
However if it is clear who is closest, then that player gets Jack control to start the game. But HOLD ON: the winning player now gets to pick up the JACK and throw it at all 4 Bocce balls and get a head start on the scoring.
If the Jack makes contact with any of the Bocce balls, otherwise known as a PING, then one point is awarded per PING. These are called Rogue points (which will be explained in more detail later).
Game Play
Play begins with the player with Jack Control (Player 1) throwing the Jack into the field, literally anywhere. Player 1 goes first by throwing his first ball at the Jack. Once it comes to rest, he throws his second ball. Now this is different than traditional Bocce where players alternate the first 2 shots but we prefer the 2 ball system as you will see.
Player 2 then follows with his 2 throws. Once all 4 balls are thrown, the player with the bocce ball closest to the Jack scores a point and wins Jack Control for the next END. If one player has both balls closest to the Jack then 2 points are scored.
If any Bocce ball makes contact with the Jack at anytime during an End, then one point is awarded to the player who threw it, however hitting the Jack does not win Jack control. If a player hits the Jack but does not end up closest, he still gets a point for the PING.
The player who is closest to the Jack is awarded Jack Control for the next End and now decides where and how the next shot is played.
on the 8th day...ultimate bocce was created
The Leaner
If the End is complete and a ball is still in contact with the Jack, it is called a LEANER and collectively results in 3 points: 1 for the Ping, 1 for the Leaner and one for closest to the Jack.
The Challenge
Jack Control is the most valuable commodity in Ultimate Bocce. It allows you to create shots that fit your strengths and puts your opponent at a disadvantage. The Challenge was built around this element. In many scenarios, the player who does not win the Jack can steal it by ‘Challenging’ for Jack Control. We came up with this idea when Bocce balls ended up far out of play and we kept having to retreive them, then walk back to the Jack location. Well, instead of just walking all the way back, we might as well create some sort of play. Voila, the Challenge was born.
After all 4 balls are played and the End is counted but BEFORE any of the balls are picked up, the player who lost the End (player 2) can call for a Challenge. The Challenging player throws his furthest ball at the Jack again but must do so with their non-dominant hand. If the Jack is PINGED, then Player 2 has won the Challenge and steals Jack Control for the next end.
However, the Challenge must first be accepted by the opposing player (player 1) as it must be worthy of a Challenge and can’t be too easy. In addition, Player 1 can even dictate how the throw is done and increase the difficulty to his satisfaction, otherwise the challenge can be refused. If Player 2 misses then the Player 1 retains Jack Control but as a bonus, now gets to decide who throws FIRST on the next end which can be an advantage depending on what kind of shot Player 1 decides to dream up.
New Jack City
This play was created by trying to avoid walking a far distance to retrieve one Bocce ball that ended up far away from the Jack. Instead we turn that Bocce ball into the ‘New Jack’ and take aim at it. However, the player’s whose Bocce ball is the New Jack, will be left with only one Bocce ball and has to use the Jack as his second ball.
Most of the time this can be a big disadvantage depending on the shot required so try not to get yourself in this situation. This New Jack End begins at the spot where the Jack ended up on the previous End so it acts as a marker and is thrown last. As a result, the player with 2 bocce balls throws first. The same rules apply for this End as the player closest to the NEW JACK wins points and any PING on the New Jack also earns a point.
However, not all New Jacks have to be accepted by the other player as in some cases its a huge advantage to be throwing the Jack instead of a bocce ball. The New Jack End was designed to be a way of utilizing a bocce ball that ends up a long distance away from the current playing area so if it is obvious that throwing the Jack is a clear advantage then the New Jack can be refused and all balls are collected for a new End to begin.
The mid-game rutt, the rogue and single jack
The Rutt (Mid - Game)
The mid-game Rutt is a little different than the one used to decide First Jack.
In a scenario where both players have one ball each in a similar location far away from the Jack and the other 2 balls, a RUTT can be called. Before the Jack is picked up, its location becomes the marker from where the Rutt begins. Each player picks up their one ball close by and stands behind the Jack taking aim at their own ball off in the distance.
Since this is a new End, the player who won Jack Control on the last End goes first. The player closest to their own ball wins a point and Jack control. If you PING your own ball, a point is also awarded. If you PING your opponents ball, a point is also awarded. AND, if it can be determined that there is a clear winner without having to walk up to the bocce balls, then the winning player gets to pick up the jack and throw it at all 4 Bocce balls and a Ping on any ball is awarded a point. These mid-game PINGS on a bocce ball are called Rogue points
The Rogue
The ‘Rogue’ is when a Bocce ball becomes PINGABLE and scores a point when hit.
We discovered that there are spots during the game where a bocce ball can be targeted to gain points. It occurs in Single Jack, Rutt and DQB scenarios. (DQB = Disqualified Bocce Ball and will be explained in a few sections below.) We are always looking for different scenarios where something could be added to either score more points or use a situation to enhance the game play. The Rogue idea fit both these opportunities nicely.
Rogue Points are a really cool part of the game and can come from anywhere. For years we thought that only an opponents Bocce Ball could be a Rogue, but lately we opened up the Rogue to infinite possibilities. You can include random things in the field into an End giving them Rogue value. We've used drain covers, dirt patches, empty plastic bottles or even baseballs left behind in the field and mostly soccer goal posts which we always seem to hit... A popular one we use is the home plate on a baseball diamond. For example, we throw the Jack just past home plate and if the bocce ball rolls over it on the way to the Jack then we award a point.
Single Jack
This play comes at the completion of an end, after points are awarded and both players have one ball each far out of play. This play again was created to avoid walking all the way to pick up 2 balls out of play and walking back to the Jack. Instead this scenario presented an opportunity to make use out of the situation. The 2 Bocce balls close to the Jack are left alone, as well as the Jack itself. Both players go to the balls further away and only throw their one Bocce ball at the Jack, hence the name Single Jack.
Since the end is considered a new one, the player who was closest to the Jack on the LAST end goes first. In addition, the other 2 Bocce balls are still in play but only as a Rogue. They act as PING points so a point is awarded for hitting either bocce ball in play but ONLY if you also win Jack Control. In other words, if you hit one of the Bocce balls but end up further away than your opponents throw, you get nothing.
Note: Now it must sound like we are terrible players to be making all these rules for Bocce Balls ending up way out of play. But keep in mind, we are using huge fields and creating wild shots on top of hills, over fences, down asphalt paths... sometimes Bocce balls just don't go where you think they will...
The DQB, a rogue-to-win and some close calls
The Disqualified Bocce Ball (DQB)
Some Jacks can be thrown into challenging locations which will require skilled Bocce throws from both players. If the player with Jack Control wants a specific shot, then he must declare the shot before the any ball is thrown i.e.) must go over the goal post, or under the picnic table etc. A Bocce ball can be disqualified if the throw does not meet the requirements called by the player with Jack control. The DQB ball now becomes a Rogue but only for the opposing player as an additional target and not for the player who threw it.
Note: For a DQB ball to be valid as a Rogue, it must be still in the field of play. It doesn't make sense to aim at a Rogue Bocce ball that is no where near the Jack. As obviously, to be part of the End a Rogue DQB ball must occur by the player who throws first...As always however, the player with the Bocce ball closest to the Jack still wins a point and Jack control. If both players throw both balls DQB, then the End is a Wash and can be Re-Jacked.
Rogue-to-Win
In most situations we award Rogue points regardless of the outcome of the End. However we found a new opportunity within the game where you have to WIN Jack control to get the Rogue points.
We tend to use Rogues that are just as tough to hit as the Jack way off in the distance as a way of keeping those kind of points in the game. But in some cases we chose much easier Rogues targets to hit so that you have to win the Jack to get the Rogue Points. If the player with Jack Control creates a shot where you have to win the Jack in order to get Rogue points, he has to declare the End as a 'Rogue to Win' before any Bocce Ball is thrown. If your ball doesn't make contact with the Rogue, its a DQB. (and could become a Rogue itself...)
This kind of shot makes the End worth more so it can be used strategically to make up ground for someone who is behind in the score. The winning shot will at least get one for the Rogue and one for closest. AND, if you ping the Jack you can add another.
Note: if the one player hits the rogue target with both balls and is closest with both balls that is a 4 point End.
Close Calls
Unlike traditional Bocce, there are no measuring devices used in Ultimate. In our early years, we carried around a tape measure to decide on close calls. We even tried pacing off distances to declare a winner when we forgot the tape measure. Soon enough we spent more time measuring than playing so as the game evolved we tried to eliminate the need to measure and simplify these close calls.
We adopted the phrase 'If it's in doubt, it don't count.' So in a situation where both players have a ball that is in similar proximity to the Jack and both players agree there is no clear winner, then those 2 balls cancel each other out and the winner is decided based on the player with the closest second ball. In the rare scenario where there is no clear winner with either ball, the End is a WASH and is Re-Jacked.
The RE-Jack, the comebacker and the all powerful tombstone
RE-Jack
A Re-Jack is where an End is completed and no clear winner can be decided given there are either 2 ties or all 4 balls are DQB or end up too far away from the Jack to declare a reasonable winner. In this case the Jack can be re-thrown to a different spot, or the Jack can be left where it is and the players can go back to the original location and try again. We usually choose the latter option especially if its a challenging jack location and we are determined to throw at it until someone gets a point.
For example, there have been many times where the Jack gets caught up on the side of a hill and after 4 throws neither of us were close enough to deem worthy of a winner. So we decided to just throw at the Jack again but this time from wherever the Bocce balls ended up. This lead to us creating a secondary throw option, called the ComeBacker.
The ComeBacker
Quite simply, if all balls are thrown and a Booce ball comes back to the original throwing location (or close to it) and no points are awarded, then that ball can be re-thrown.
Like I mentioned above, when a Jack is located on the side of a hill, Bocce balls can have a tough time staying up there and tend to come back down the hill to the throwing location. So we saw another opportunity to keep throwing at it until someone either knocked the Jack down the hill or managed to ‘stick the landing’ and put a ball close enough to win the End. A challenging Jack can be a ton of fun to throw at until someone figures out how to score a point.
But we’ve also had Bocce balls picked up and returned to us by kids who didn’t know what we were doing, so…by rule….we threw them again!
The Tombstone
Some PINGS on the Jack are so tough to get that they are worth 2 points. The Tombstone is where you throw the Bocce Ball and it lands directly on top of the Jack which blasts it from its location.
Bocce balls don't bounce too much so in order to land on top of the Jack, a bocce has to make contact with it on the fly! Now that's difficult to do in Ultimate Bocce given the size of the field its played on. But if you're creative and the opportunity presents itself, a Tombstone is a great way to earn some points.
Besides, who knows where the Jack will end up after getting bombed by a Tombstone...
What? an extra ball? how does that work?
The Doppler*
This pivotal change in game play was created purely by fate...during this one particular game we discovered a golf ball just sitting alone in the field. So, as we usually do, we integrated it into the game. After a lengthy discussion and considering all kinds of options, we came up with a brilliant idea: We kept the golf ball and it would be added to the game from this point forward and would be an additional 1 point for any contact made with it by a Bocce Ball. And we dubbed it 'The Doppler'. Here's how it works.
The Jack is thrown first, and then the Doppler follows. The idea is to put the Doppler as close to the Jack as possible so that it has a better chance to make an impact on the End. The Doppler does not have an effect on winning Jack control but rather just an opportunity to get bonus points. If contact is made with the Doppler at any time during the End by a Bocce Ball then that player gets a point.
The player who is closest to the Jack not only wins Jack control but also wins Doppler control and gets to decide when, where and how the Doppler is played next. We found this new twist brought a whole new level of shot creating to the game.
The really cool part of this new rule is that The Doppler doesn't have to be played on every end. It is up to the player who has control of it to decide when he wants to use it. The Doppler stays with the player who won it last and only changes hands when it is lost during an End where it is played.
Additionally, If a Bocce Ball hits the Doppler but then the Doppler hits the Jack, then that player gets a 2 points through what we call the Connector. Simple logic: the more stuff you hit the more points you should get.
the Doppler leaner: If the End is complete and a Bocce Ball is still in contact with a doppler then 2 points are awarded: one for the Ping and one for the Lean.
The DoppleBanger
The idea is to get the Doppler as close to the Jack as possible. If the player throwing the Doppler actually hits the Jack, then 2 points are awarded for the Banger! However, not all Jack locations are worthy of a DoppleBanger.
If the player with Jack Control calls for a shot that player 2 deems the Jack location to be too close, then he can decline player 1 the Banger option due to proximity.
The Doppler can still be thrown by player one to get it involved in the End however it won't be worth any points if it hits the Jack.
Threshold
The Doppler can only be in played up to Threshold level then it is taken out of play completely allowing the game to be finished with just the Jack alone. If the game is to 31 then threshold level is 28. If the game is to 41 then threshold is to 38 (you get the idea). The first player to hit threshold level calls for the Doppler to be retired.
Grip it and Rip it
Doubles & Triples
Traditional Bocce has the players throwing each Bocce ball once during an End. However, since Ultimate Bocce is played on a much larger field we created the ‘Double’ and even the ‘Triple’ where the path to the Jack can be much more creative.
The Distance Double
The most basic and ‘straight forward’ Double is simply accomplished by throwing the Jack as far as you possibly can into the field. Depending on the terrain, the Jack should carry a distance where it should take at least 2 throws of each Bocce ball to get close. Try it out!
The Target Double
Try a target double where your first Bocce throw is not actually at the Jack but rather at a target area, then your second throw is at the Jack. For example. Throw the Jack somewhere into the field of play, then target 2 trees off in the distance that each Bocce ball must pass through, then your second shot goes at the Jack. If your first throw doesn’t meet the required target, it becomes DQB and now you’re only playing with one ball…
One of our favourites is facing a soccer goal 20 feet away and placing the Jack at our feet. Our first throw must go THROUGH the goal posts and our second must go back OVER the goal posts towards the Jack.
Target Doubles make the game very interesting by adding an entirely new level of creativity to the game. Use the entire field, anything and everything can be part of the game. Create wild shots that test every angle, every type of throw and every possibility. For anything that can happen….will happen in Ultimate Bocce.
For example…when you throw over the baseball backstop, under the park bench across the pathway, down the hill and ping the Jack from 50 feet away, that’s when you will truly experience what Ultimate Bocce is all about.
The kosa, the tunnel and the rolling rogue
The Kosa
Etiquette is at a premium in Ultimate Bocce and it all originated from simple beginnings. We often tried to pick up each others Bocce Balls to pass to each other but they are too big and awkward, so in order to make things simple we decided to abide by the phrase ‘Pick Up What’s Yours’
From there we got the idea to incorporate some etiquette into the game and created The Kosa which is the Swahili word for 'Mistake'. The Kosa is a penalty assessed when a player picks up a Jack that they didn’t earn by mistake, or throws a Bocce ball out of turn, or even throws the wrong Bocce ball... (Sounds unlikely right? It happens...especially after a few too many beverages...)
If a player picks up a Jack that they didn’t win and gets caught doing so the opposing player can call them on the KOSA! They now have to give one ball to the opposing player and play the next end with only one. They also have to throw that one ball with their non dominant hand and.... they have to go first. The player with Jack Control now has 3 Bocce balls and is in the Driver's Seat!
Be careful of the Kosa, it can certainly turn the game around…
The Tunnel
At any point in the game a player who holds Jack Control can call for The Tunnel. This is game play where Jack Control is now decided ONLY by Tombstoning the Jack.
In The Tunnel, the Jack is thrown to a reasonable yet still challenging distance and each player gets a shot at Tombstoning the Jack. If no one tombs the Jack with their first 2 throws then the players remain in The Tunnel and re-throw the Jack and keep repeating the End until someone Tombstones.
Jack Control and 2 points are awarded to the player who tombs the Jack. However if player 1 tombs the Jack and relocates it, Player 2 still gets a chance to tomb the Jack. If both players tomb the Jack then the Tunnel continues until one player emerges and seizes Jack Control.
In the Tunnel, it is the only time in Ultimate Bocce where players take ALTERNATING shots. We decided this given the closer Jack location to the players. It reduces the advantage of the first player throwing 2 balls before player 2.
The Doppler does not play in the Tunnel.
The Rolling Rogue
If a Bocce ball does not meet the requirements of the shot it becomes DQB (disqualified). However, while it is in motion it still has some potential game play in tact. If a DQB hits an opponents Ball then the opponent gets a point. And even more damaging, if a rolling DQB hits the Jack or Doppler, then that player loses a point. Mind your throws people!
The Carom Point
When a Bocce Ball is thrown and it causes multiple point worthy contacts, an extra point is rewarded. For example, if a players Bocce Ball hit the Jack and then the Jack hits that same players ball then they would get 3 points for collecting 2 separate pings with 1 throw:
1 - Bocce Ball hits Jack
2 - Jack hits same players other Bocce Ball
3 - Extra point given for multiple pings on one throw
The right of refusal and throwing styles
Right of Refusal
Having Jack Control is the best part of the game because that player gets to decide how the End is played. However, it is not a free-reign decision. The opposing player can oppose any shot that is proposed at any time if it provides too much advantage to player 1 or maybe its just a dumb shot... plain and simple.
Sometimes, players try too hard and actually put a Bocceball or Jack at risk. Damaging the bocce ball is frowned upon and creates a big disadvantage for the player having to play the rest of the game with part of a ball missing.
We call this the Right of Refusal in order to keep the shot making creative and worthy.
Throwing Styles
In Ultimate Bocce anything goes, so how about trying different ways to throw the Bocce balls?
The underhand toss is the most common, but what about Granny Style? Or Shot Put, or Grenade Launch, or how about a backwards 2 hand overhead toss? What about through the legs like a long snapper in football, behind the back or baseball throw? (careful tho, Bocce balls are heavy).
As you can see we even tried using our feet...We even played an entire game left-handed. Whatever you can think up, there will be a perfect situation to try it.
throwing location and extra ends
Throwing Location
Since Ultimate Bocce is always played in large fields and both players are usually standing next to or nearby when the Jack is thrown, players can simply throw from where they are. However, there can be situations where the player with Jack control designs a shot that requires one specific throwing location. It is also permitted for the second player to choose the throwing location of the first player if they feel that location is better for their shot. However, once a player chooses a spot for their first throw, they are not permitted to choose another location for their second. Both shots must occur from the same spot (unless that is the designed shot called by the player with Jack Control).
Extra Ends
Given the fact the both players can score points in the same End, there is the rare scenario of a tie at the end of a game. For example, It is possible for both players to be at 21 at the same time at the completion of an End. If that is the case then the game is extended to 22 and keeps going until a clear winner is decided. Or you can enact the 'gotta win by 2' rule. There are no ties in Ultimate Bocce.
So that's what they look like on the inside!
Broken or Lost Bocce ball
Bocce balls are tough, really tough, but even they can meet their match. Theres lots of stuff in the big parks that can wreak havoc on a Bocce Ball. Especially when we feel like living on the edge.
One of our favourite courses has asphalt walking paths winding through it which provides interesting opportunities but also some perilous landscape for a Bocce ball. This one particular throw hit the path the wrong way and split the bocce ball in half. It was tough to score points with the half ball but we gave it a go nonetheless. Like true sportsmen, we finished the game and glued it back together… and its still in use today.
Watch out for ... Hazards
I kid you not…we actually have to write this into the Rulebook because its happened to us more than once. As I’ve said before, anything can happen in Ultimate Bocce. We had a couple games where one of us had to play the remainder of a game only one Bocce ball.
If you play enough and learn to stretch the boundaries of the game like we have, using challenging Jack locations and formidable terrain, you too may even lose a ball...however unlikely, unless there is a sewer nearby where a Bocce Ball may find its way down…
charter Rules
Governing Elements to a Season
Ultimate Bocce is serious business! Just ask the 2 idiots who invented it.
Due to the level of competition, a number of spirited debates have occurred over the years which is to be expected in such professional ranks. The following information outlines the rules governing the Ultimate Bocce Recreational Game. These rules are set forth to absolve any dispute by the players as to the outcome of a game or season.
The Game
To determine the winner of a game a point total is agreed upon by the players. Most commonly a 21 or 31 score is the mark to achieve where a winner is declared. In some cases where the days are long and the weather is conducive the point total can be higher. However, if a game proceeds without a discussion then it will be assumed that the minimum score of 21 is the winning total. If a discussion occurs at some point before the score of 21 is hit and a new number is agreed upon then that number becomes the total.
Incomplete Games
Acts of God, weather stoppages, wives/girlfriends and other game play interruptions.
At what point during a game can there be an interruption and still have the game count in the standings? Given the point total of 21 is the minimum standard for a complete game, if 75% of the game is completed before an interruption occurs then the game will be regarded as legitimate and complete. Therefore if any player reaches the total of 16 points or more and the game suffers a forced stoppage then the game is considered complete and the player with the highest point total wins.
If the game is tied and the ability to continue is not an option due to the nature of the interruption (Basement flooding for example), then the game is declared a wash with no objections or alternative ideas tabled.
The Season
A Season in Ultimate Bocce needs only 1 game to determine a winner. The main obstacle that the Sport has experienced is in the event of a tie. For example, the 2017 season had much debate as both players were tied going into the fall. Another game was not played to break the tie before winter hit, so after months of passionate discussion with many factions outside the sport, it was decided in the best interest of the game to declare the season a tie.
**The 2019 Season also ended in a tie but it was decided that the championship be retained by the previous years winner.
It has since been decided by the 2 founding members of Ultimate Bocce that no future seasons shall end in a tie. Measures will be taken to break the tie and declare a winner so that the Sir Francis Drake Trophy can be presented at the end of every season.
Tie Breaker
Given the critical nature of the Tie Breaker idea which has dire implications that will determine an entire season, this event has not been discussed in detail as of yet. It will be tabled during the 2020 season in order to create enough compelling discussion so that a suitable solution can be found. To be continued...