Bocce ball is enjoying a renewed sense of interest which is great because it is not only a fun game, it's great exercise and provides another fantastic way to accessorize yards with activity areas of value that are easy for everyone to enjoy.
Though, in the US, there are no published standards for the
size of a bocce ball court - you can review more details at the USBF - United
States Bocce Federation at www.bocce.com.
A bocce ball court, built to accommodate
most casual play could be built at 12 feet wide and 60 feet long. Edge
height is important to maintain so the balls don't jump the edge - no less
than 4 inches from the top of the finished court surfaces.
Edges serve as
bumpers for the balls and are often used to play off of so they should be
covered in a 1/4 inch thick rubber runner material to help cushion the ball
against the hard surface.
Lines can be applied to the surfaces by using specifically made paints that will adhere to synthetic grass surface fibers. General spray paints will not adhere and will require re-application on a regular basis. Marks should also be continued up or over the edges of the court to help see them from the far side of the court.
Drainage is critical to the long-term use and low maintenance of a bocce court.
If constructed using concrete with solid walls, weep holes must be added to the base of the edges where they meet with the floor of the court. Weep holes will allow water from rain fall to slip out of the edges of the court and drain away. Standing water in a court can create challenges for many turf surface materials over time.
Non-infilled turf is often used on concrete base courts. Infilled products can also be used on concrete basins, however, the water may move infill and infill materials may drain away out of the weep holes creating a long-term, chronic maintenance item.
Infilled turf materials can be used on soil base courts. It is important to note that the typical material used for bocce where it was first played, in Sicily , is crushed oyster shells. On the mainland of Italy , courts were typically made from compactable materials such as decomposed granites or other soft, fine crushed materials. Infilled turf may create too soft of a surface for the response looked for by players. Using high stitch counts and short yarn fiber length products, such as putting green turf and reducing the amount of spongy infill products such as crumbed rubber will help to create the best response, mimicking crushed oyster shells.
Infilled turf should be rolled using a water-filled landscape roller. Polyester rollers usually have rounded sides and cannot get deep into the outer edges of the courts. These 90 degree edges are often used by players to bank shots during the game. The metal water-filled roller is preferred due to it's nice, sharply defined sides.
Expect infilled turf fibers to matt down with use. Surfaces that use infill materials containing rubber will find that the greater the use of the court the faster the surfaces will matt and become harder, faster and less bouncy. Never use rubber infill alone—always mix with a minimum ratio of 60/40 blend of silica sand and rubber if a blended infill is used.
Heavily used commercial and recreational facilities' courts should budget for quarterly or bi-monthly grooming and the possible replacement of turf surfaces every 5-7 years for nylon yarn materials and every 7-10 years for polyethylene and polypropylene yarn materials.
Sun exposure should be considered in higher elevations due to potential UV damage. Many nylon products should be retreated with UV protectors to insure a long, fade-free life.
To build a full-sized, tournament ready court, simply follow the building guide provided. You can use regular spray paints for lines, however, special formula paints are required for the best wear. |
