What are boccia balls made of?
Officials' detail · The game · 2 of 2A set is six red, six blue and one white jack from a licensed maker, each about 275 g and 270 mm round. Balls are checked in the call room before and after each match. A ball failing before is taken with a yellow card; failing after forfeits the match. Tampering means a red card.
How it works
- Set: six red, six blue, one white.
- Weight: 275 g, give or take 12 g.
- Size: 270 mm round, give or take 8 mm.
- Maker: licensed, with the World Boccia logo.
- Pre-match check: roll, inspection, size, weight.
- Failed ball: taken, yellow card.
- Post-match failure: match forfeited.
- Tampering: red card, disqualification.
The glossary has the boccia balls, the ball check, the ball tampering, the call room (boccia), the yellow card (boccia) and the forfeit (boccia).
Tricky cases
A side has only two legal coloured balls. Can it start?
No. It needs at least three.
The jack fails the check. Yellow card?
No. It is replaced.
Can a side inspect the opponent's balls?
Gently, after the coin toss and before the check.
Who decides tampering?
A three-person panel.
Why the rule exists
Ball feel is the main tool in boccia, so changes to weight or filling would be an unfair edge. Checks after the match catch late changes.
Where it differs
| Where | What changes | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Pre-match failure | Yellow card | 8 |
| Post-match failure | Forfeit | 8, 16.12 |
| Tampering | Red card | 5.3 |
From the rule book
World Boccia, International Sport Rules 2025-2028 (version 1.2.1, April 2026), rules 5, 7, 8 and 16. Checked 14 October 2026. Official document: World Boccia International Sport Rules 2025-2028.