A Brief History of Bocce Ball

Bocce is among the oldest sports in the world. If you want to learn more about it, this article will walk you through the long and fascinating history of bocce ball.

Have you ever thought about the history of bocce while playing this fun and competitive sport? I don’t know about you, but I am always curious about how things work and where they come from – including bocce. I just find it fascinating that someone a very long time ago played the same sport as me.

My curiosity led me into the fascinating history of bocce ball. In this article, I will share what I have found with you. Who knows, you might be able to learn a thing or two and impress your friends with these historical facts.

Early History of Bocce Ball

History tells us that bocce ball dates back to roughly 5200 BC. This is according to the findings of English scientist Sir Francis Petrial. He discovered a painting in an Egyptian tomb of a couple of boys playing the sport.

Back then, bocce was a crude sport. Individuals played bocce by using rocks and even coconuts to toss towards the target.

Around 600 BC, bocce spread throughout Ancient Greece and eventually passed on to Ancient Rome. The ancient sport quickly became popular with both the nobles and the masses during the Roman Empire rule. Perhaps the most notable bocce player during this era was Roman emperor Caesar Augustus.

Many historians believe that the present form of bocce ball has its origins during this period. Players started to replace rocks and coconuts with plain wooden balls. Some individuals add nails to fortify their bocce balls. However, they found out that these balls got deformed quickly due to repetitive contact with hard court surfaces.

Bocce ball before the 1800’s

Bocce ball has undergone major developments during the reign of the House of Savoy Dynasty, which spans from 1003 to 1860 AD. Many artworks, notably paintings, began to appear to portray the modernized version of the sport.

However, bocce rose and fell in popularity throughout time. In 1319, the sport became exclusive to a select few. Individuals of lower nobility were prohibited from playing bocce because rulers felt it distracted them from tasks considered more pressing at the time like more important tasks, like training with weaponry for war or hunting.

Bocce ball since the 1800’s & Giuseppe Garibaldi

Fortunately, bocce experienced a resurgence in popularity in the late 19th century. During this time, Italian revolutionary Giuseppe Garibaldi made bocce game a national sport of Italy. At the same time, he unified and nationalized the country.

This historical event finally led to the first Bocce Olympiad conducted in Athens, Greece, in 1896. Bocce ball has been considered an international sport since then.

Today, bocce is the third most played sport around the world. Players can watch or join several international competitions like the World Bocce League and World Corporate Games regulated by the United States Bocce Federation. Individuals can also buy a bocce ball set that includes metal balls or composite balls to play bocce.

When you consider the long history of bocce, it comes as no surprise that the sport is recognized by and called various names. Some variations with similarities to bocce include lawn bowling, pétanque, and skittles. Bocce has also been subject to several rule changes over time. However, the main objective of the basic rules were unchanged—toss your ball as close to the pallino ball as possible.

Origins of Bocce Ball Names

The origin of bocce ball comes from the Latin word “bottia,” which means “boss.” It is the term that has stuck around ever since the arrival of bocce in ancient Greece.

However, Italians also played a role in shaping the name of bocce ball. The word “bocce” stems from the Italian word “boccia.” It translates to “ball” in the English language.

Another name for bocce is the Italian word “volo,” meaning “to fly.” It accurately depicts the action of how you throw the bocce balls in the air toward the goal.

You might have also heard about the word “pallino.” This term refers to the smaller ball that acts as the target for other larger bocce balls in the game. However, the widely accepted word “jack” became an alternative for pallino in the United States.

Who Popularized Playing Bocce Ball?

As previously mentioned, bocce ball did not always enjoy popularity due to its inconsistent rules and regulations. 

Fortunately, Giuseppe Garibaldi popularized it by making it a national sport in Italy. Since then, bocce ball started to gain exposure.

It all began in 1896 when the first Bocce Olympia was played in Athens, Greece. After that, several institutions were developed to oversee and regulate the sport on an international level. Some of these are the Confédération Mondiale des Sports de Boules (CSMB) and the Fédération Internationale de Boules (FIB).

Bocce ball became popular in America after almost a century. Today, the United States has World Bocce League. It organizes multiple bocce ball events and provides all players with all the essentials. Read more about the best bocce players in the world.

Conclusion

Bocce ball has a long history dating back to ancient times. It used to be a crude game of throwing rocks at each other. Then, it eventually became a fun and competitive game of tossing wooden balls to a target. Today, bocce ball is a popular sport enjoyed by everyone of all ages and skill levels. Casual players can enjoy the game in their backyard, while professionals can join international competitions. 

Hopefully, this brief history rundown made you appreciate the sport for what it is today. It is undeniable that bocce is now embedded into our culture. Hence, it has quickly become one of the most popular sports today. If you want to learn more about bocce and similar sports like pétanque, check out these great books about bocce.

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