Chances are you’ve either played or witnessed others enjoying bocce at the park: While it may look deceptively simple, it’s a sport that requires dexterity, concentration, and oftentimes teamwork.
All that and more will be on display in Paris, where athletes will be contesting boccia—the indoor Paralympic version of the outdoor game. It’s one of only two Paralympic sports that doesn’t have an Olympic counterpart, meaning you’ll only be able to catch it at the Paralympics.
But before you do, you’ll want to brush up on everything boccia, so you can follow along with all of the action. Here’s everything you need to know about this strategic ball sport.
When did boccia get started?
Many, many years ago. In fact, according to Paralympic.org, it may perhaps be “the earliest game ever played by mankind”—murals and engravings relating to the sport were found in Egyptian tomb excavations dating back to 5200 BC. In earliest iterations of the sport, which has roots in Greece and Egypt, players would throw large stones at a stone target. So it’s only fitting that its later name, “boccia,” derives from the Italian word meaning “bowl.”
Flash forward to boccia as we know it: Originally developed for those with cerebral palsy, boccia has been popularized around the world and is now played by people who have any kind of neurological impairment that affects motor function.
Boccia made its debut at the 1984 Paralympic Games in New York City, where a total of 19 athletes represented five different countries on the global stage. Forty years later, 124 athletes will compete across 11 medal events at the 2024 Paralympic Games in Paris.
How is boccia played?
There are several formats for boccia. Two teams compete against each other either as individuals, pairs, or teams of three. The first team gets six red balls, the other, six blue balls. The goal is to get the most of your color balls closest to the white ball, called the jack, so you can score the most points. At the same time, you want to keep your opponents’ balls as far away from the jack as possible.
The athletes compete in wheelchairs; there are four classes depending on their level of impairment:
- BC1 athletes play the ball with their hands or feet and have an assistant to help position the wheelchair.
- BC2 players throw without assistance.
- BC3 athletes may use a pointer—which can be held by mouth or attached to their helmet—to push the ball down a ramp onto the court, and may also receive support from an assistant.
- BC4 athletes are not eligible to have an assistant with them during competition.
How do you score and win in boccia?
The scoring system depends on the type of game (singles, doubles, or team).
Each athlete takes six shots with leather-like balls by the end of a round (also referred to as “ends”). When everyone has taken their shots, the referee measures the closest ball to the jack and awards a point to that player. If that player has other balls closer to the target than their opponent, they’ll receive an additional point for each one.
The match referee measures the balls during a preliminary round boccia match on day one of the Paris 2024 Summer Paralympic Games. (Photo by Michael Steele/Getty Images)
Michael Steele/Getty Images
The score accumulates throughout the match for a number of ends specified in the rules for each division. Individual competitions consist of four ends and six balls per player for each end. Doubles includes four ends and six balls per pair per end with each player receiving three shots. The team competition has six ends and six balls for each team per end (two per player).
Why is precision and strategy key?
In the game of boccia, it takes serious concentration and skill to land shots as close to the target as possible. But you don’t only have yours to worry about: If you threw a great shot that’s super close to the jack, your opponent can use their turn to knock your amazing throw out of the way, so theirs is now closer.
Athletes can also push their own balls closer to the jack to score more points, so having a clear strategy and mental tools to calm your nerves during each shot is important.
The court setup also makes for high-stakes moments. Athletes are situated right next to their opponents in throwing boxes when they take shots, so you’re feeling the pressure with every move.
Who to watch in boccia at the 2024 Paralympic Games
While there won’t be any Team USA athletes competing this year, there are still several stars to keep an eye on throughout the women’s tournament in Paris: Andreza Vitoria De Oliveira of Brazil is the reigning world champion in the BC1 category after winning the title at the last world championship in Rio de Janeiro; Claire Taggart of Great Britain won gold in the women’s BC2 category; and Leidy Chica of Colombia leads the women’s BC4 category after claiming gold.
When can you watch boccia at the Paralympics?
Very soon—it’ll be one of the first events on the program. Boccia kicks off on August 29 with the group matches in the individual tournaments. The finals will be hosted on August 31 through September 2, while the mixed doubles face off from September 3 through September 5. All competition will be held at the South Paris Arena, which hosted handball, volleyball, table tennis, and weightlifting events at the Olympic Games earlier this month.
For all the intel on how to watch the boccia at the Paralympics—including where you can stream it right at home—check out our complete guide.
SELF is your go-to source for all things Paralympics. Follow our coverage of the Paris Games here.
Related:
- Who and What to Watch For at the 2024 Paralympic Games
- If You’re Not Following the Perfectly Unserious Paralympics TikTok Account, You’re Missing Out
- Why Is Wheelchair Rubgy Nicknamed Murderball?
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