Understanding the Dimensions of a Bocce Court
One of the best things about bocce is that players don’t need an official court for casual play. However, some owners like their sporting activities to be more official and choose to prepare a clean court to play on without distractions and dirt. In this article, we’ll discuss the differences between official and backyard bocce court sizes and the most common dimensions casual courts have.
Official bocce courts
According to the US Bocce Federation, the court must be precisely 86.92 feet long and 13.12 feet wide. This court configuration needs to be adhered to for official competitive matches.
Bocce courts also have a single foul line on each half for pointing and shooting, located 13’ from each back wall. The only other marked line is the centerline.
Casual courts
While the official court size offers the most competitive environment, casual play allows for a wider variety of court sizes. Installing a bocce court in the backyard typically limits one of the dimensions by the yard’s size. Traditionally, backyard courts are 60 feet long and 12 feet wide because most city plots are 60 feet wide.
The pointing and shooting lines can also be different compared to traditional courts and possibly separated. However, the most common court design includes a single line on each side 10 feet from the end line.
Owners who don’t have enough room for a 60-foot-long court can opt for a smaller court so long the center and foul lines are established and marked.
Indoor courts are typically even smaller than backyard courts. The tiniest courts usually measure only 22-by-6 feet.
Court surface
Bocce courts don’t have a set surface requirement, and US courts see the greatest variation in surfaces. Common surfaces include clay, packed dirt, carpet, and grass. New bocce courts even have poured liquid surfaces that allow for smooth, fast-paced play.
Curbing and backboards
A proper bocce court has backboards and sideboards that players can use to bounce balls off of during play for more strategic options. The most common curbing options for backyard courts are concrete and weather-resistant wood. The crucial element of constructing a curb is to ensure it is firmly anchored into the ground and won’t move when the ball strikes it. Curbs are usually at least six inches tall to contain balls within the court during matches.
Concrete curbs also require a bumper board to protect the balls from impact damage. The board can be made of plastic, wood, or hard rubber that doesn’t absorb impacts.
Enclosed courts also need proper water drainage systems. The most common way to drain water is by installing a series of weep holes around the court perimeter. These holes should be no more than ¼ of an inch above the surface to drain water effectively.
Bocce courts should be watered and cleaned regularly to remove debris and moisten the playing surface.
If you have more questions about bocce courts, contact a local court construction service.
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