Boccia words · Intermediate

The words that make the commentary make sense. They build on the beginner words.

I · Intermediate · 38 words · Step 2 of 2

General terms

World Boccia

The international federation of boccia, formerly BISFed (the Boccia International Sports Federation), which publishes the rules that apply at all World Boccia sanctioned tournaments. Its English version is the official copy for any dispute.

Side

In the individual division a side is one athlete, in pairs two athletes and in teams three. Sport assistants, ramp operators and coaches are additional members of the side, though an SA or RO counts as part of the unit.

Court and equipment

Throwing line, V line and cross

The throwing line is the line behind which balls are propelled. The V line is the V across the court that the jack must cross completely to be in play, and the cross is the mark at the centre of the playing area.

See also: Jack

Target box

A 35 cm by 35 cm square at the cross, used for penalty balls. A penalty ball that stops inside it without touching the line scores a point.

Ball check

Before every match the balls are tested in the call room by roll test, ball inspection, circumference test and weight test, and again after the match. A failed ball is confiscated and the athlete gets a yellow card, a failed jack is replaced, and a side needs at least three coloured balls to start. Failing the post-match check means forfeiting the match.

See also: Jack

Ball tampering

Changing the surface or filling of a ball so it differs from the original, apart from normal wear and acceptable preparation. A three-person panel reviews a confiscated ball, with needle, friction and metal detection tests, and tampering means a red card, disqualification from the tournament and a report to the ethics commission.

Pointer

A device the athlete uses to push the ball from the ramp, of any length but in direct contact with the athlete, for example at the head, mouth, arm or leg, and with the ball. It may not be attached to the chair, ramp or anything else except the athlete during release, and strings and ribbons do not count.

Wheelchair (boccia)

Competitors must sit in a wheelchair, or in a scooter or cot with approval from classification. Except in BC3 the seat may be no higher than 66 cm. Postural supports such as pelvic straps are allowed if approved at classification, but nothing may guide the arm or leg to give an advantage.

Equipment check

At the start of a tournament wheelchairs, ramps, pointers, gloves, splints and communication devices are checked and stamped or stickered, including each section of a ramp. Gloves and splints need documented approval from a classifier. Equipment found out of compliance later means a yellow card.

Technical time-out

If equipment or a wheelchair breaks the referee stops the clock and the side gets a ten minute technical time-out to repair or replace it. A side may have only one technical time-out per match.

People on court

Ramp operator

The assistant of a BC3 athlete, recognised as an athlete, who works the ramp, chair and ball only as directed. The operator stays inside the athlete's throwing box, may not look into the playing area during an end, and may not touch the athlete or the pointer, or push or adjust the chair, while the ball is released.

Also called: RO
See also: Throwing box, Ramp, Pointer

Sport assistant

The assistant for BC1 athletes and BC4 foot players, who stands behind the athlete's throwing box and may enter it when directed. The assistant does the same tasks as a ramp operator except positioning a ramp.

Also called: SA
See also: Throwing box, Ramp, Ramp operator

Coach (boccia)

One coach per side may go into the warm-up area, call room and field of play, and during an end must sit in the designated area beside the score table. A coach's cards do not transfer to the side.

Captain (boccia)

In pairs and teams each side is led by a captain, who takes part in the coin toss, calls time-outs, acknowledges scoring, consults the referee in a dispute and signs the score sheet.

Before the match

Warm-up (boccia)

The warm-up area opens 95 minutes before the match and closes 40 minutes before it. On court each side warms up with six coloured balls and the jack in two minutes, both sides together in individual matches and one after the other in pairs and teams. A side that does not behave cooperatively is given a penalty ball.

Call room (boccia)

Where sides register between 35 and 20 minutes before the match, with all their equipment and balls and in the correct uniform colour. A side that is not there on time forfeits, and once registered nobody may leave without losing the right to take part. The coin toss and ball check happen here.

Coin toss (boccia)

Held in the call room, with the winning side choosing to play red or blue. Sides may gently examine the opponent's balls after the toss and before the ball check.

Playing an end

Releasing a ball

When a ball is released all the athlete's equipment, balls and belongings must be inside their own throwing box, with at least one buttock, or the abdomen if classification allows, on the seat. For a BC3 athlete the ball is released once it starts to roll down the ramp.

Playing the jack

The side playing red starts the first end and every odd end, and blue the even ones. The jack may be propelled only after the referee indicates it is that side's turn, and it must come to rest in the valid area for the jack.

See also: Jack

The ruleWho throws the jack in boccia?

Fouled jack

A jack that stops in the non-valid area, goes out of bounds, or is propelled by an athlete who commits a violation. The athlete due to propel the jack in the next end then propels it, in sequence until a jack is valid.

See also: Jack

Equidistant balls

If balls of different colours are the same distance from the jack and the equidistant balls are equal in number, the side that threw last plays again, and sides alternate. If the numbers are unequal, the side with fewer of them plays.

See also: Jack

Out of the way

All of a side's belongings are inside their own throwing box so they do not hinder the opponent, and in BC3 the ramp operator and equipment too. A first failure gets a verbal warning, a second a violation, and deliberate interference a penalty ball and yellow card.

Movement on court

A side may not prepare its next shot, orient the chair or ramp or roll the ball during the opponent's time. Athletes may line up from behind their throwing boxes with at least one wheel inside their own box. Nobody may leave the court without the referee's permission, and an athlete or ramp operator who does means a forfeit.

Dead ball and out of bounds

A ball is out of bounds if it touches or crosses the outer boundary lines, even if it re-enters the playing area. A coloured ball that is propelled or knocked out of bounds, removed by a referee after a violation, or not played in time becomes a dead ball and is put in the designated area.

Jack knocked out

A jack knocked out of the playing area or into the non-valid area is put back on the cross, or if a ball covers it as close as possible in front of the cross. If there are then no coloured balls on court, the side that knocked it out plays.

See also: Jack

Dropped ball

A ball that stays on or behind the throwing line, even in an opponent's box, may be replayed any number of times, with the time still running. A ball dropped before the athlete fully grasps it is returned to the athlete wherever it lands. A ball that enters the playing area is in play.

Disrupted end

An end in which balls are moved by contact from an athlete or referee, or by a ball played in a violation the referee fails to stop. The referee puts the balls back, respecting the undisturbed score. If that is not possible the end is restarted, with retracted balls staying out.

Communication (boccia)

No communication between athlete, sport assistant, ramp operator and coach during an end, except when an athlete asks the assistant to do a specific action, or for congratulation and encouragement after a shot. Nobody on court may receive electronic, vocal or signal communication from outside.

See also: Ramp, Ramp operator, Sport assistant

Scoring and ties

Time between ends

At most one minute, which starts when the referee picks up the jack and calls one minute. Sport assistants, ramp operators and coaches fetch the balls, the referee calls 15 seconds and then time, and balls not in the throwing boxes become dead balls.

Tie-break (boccia)

An extra end played if the score is tied, with the athletes staying in their original boxes. A coin toss decides who plays the first coloured ball, and if the tie-break is also level another is played with the other side starting. Points in a tie-break do not count in the match tally.

Colour indicator

The coloured paddle the referee uses to show which side, red or blue, plays next, and with the referee's fingers the score at the end of each end and the match.

Overhead cameras

At the World Championships and the Paralympic Games each court has an overhead camera, which referees use to put balls back in their exact positions. No other video is accepted as evidence in a dispute.

Violations and penalties

Retraction

The removal of a ball from the court as a result of a violation during its release, for example releasing before the colour is shown, a BC3 athlete not being the one who releases, a sport assistant or ramp operator touching the athlete, playing a coloured ball before the jack, or playing two balls at once.

See also: Jack, Ramp, Ramp operator, Sport assistant

Retraction and penalty ball

Both consequences together for releasing a ball while an athlete, assistant or equipment touches a line or the wrong part of the court, with the ramp overhanging the throwing line, without a buttock on the seat, with the seat above 66 cm, or while a teammate is returning from the playing area.

Yellow card (boccia)

A warning for the athlete or the whole unit with the assistant, for example for equipment or balls that fail checks, too many people or balls in the call room, or leaving the court without permission. A second yellow card in a competition bars the athlete from the match and means a forfeit, though they may play later matches.

Red card and disqualification (boccia)

Shown for unsporting behaviour such as deceiving the referee, competing with tampered balls or deliberately disrupting an end, for violent conduct, or for abusive language or gestures. It means immediate disqualification from the competition and forfeit of earlier results.

Forfeit (boccia)

Caused by breaking an opponent's balls or equipment unintentionally, failing the post-match ball check, an athlete or ramp operator leaving the court, or having fewer than three approved coloured balls. The opponent wins by the higher of 6-0 and the biggest points difference in that pool or knockout series.

See also: Ball check, Ramp, Ramp operator

Clarification and dispute

If a side thinks the referee overlooked something, the athlete or captain may ask for clarification with the clock stopped, and may request a ruling from the Head Referee, whose decision is final. No further protest is allowed.

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