How to Build a Bocce Ball Court

As an Italian American, there were three things that you did not grow up without having an intimate knowledge of. One: The sound of Frank Sinatra’s voice. Two: The smell of homemade pasta sauce on a Sunday morning and finally, the thrill of playing bocce with your family. Bocce is a fantastic game of skill that is finally gaining in popularity in the United States. It has spread beyond the Mediterranean culture and it can spread to court near you.

Things You'll Need

• An area that will accommodate a 100ft x13 ft court
• Treated lumber
• Concrete or metal posts
• Shovel for digging
• Red, white, blue paint
• Crushed stones (pea gravel)
• Crushed limestone
• Clay material similar to that used on Tennis courts

Instructions

1. Choose a plot of land. Although the international regulation court size is 91ft(L) by 13ft(W), According to the United States Bocce Federation, the average bocce court is 75-100 feet in length and 10-13 in width. Obviously the size of your court will be dependant upon the size of the plot of land you have available. Most people can accommodate a court that is 60ft X10ft which is perfectly acceptable for levels of play.

2. Construct the sideboards and backboards. The sideboards and backboards must extend at least 6 to 12 inches above the playing surface. This is obvious as it keeps the balls from hopping out of the court. They should be constructed using rigid treated lumber, a minimum of 2 inches thick.

3. Reinforce the sideboards and backboards. To reinforce the perimeters, it is best to do so using either concrete, recessed concrete blocks or 4x4 posts spaced a maximum 3 feet apart.

4. Dig the drain holes. Drain holes must be provided to prevent standing water on the court. Dig holes to allow water to drain in case of rain.

5. Paint the markings. Like hockey, bocce has marking to determine foul lines and center lines. If desired, the sideboards and backboards may be painted white, with red marking to easy visibility. The proper markings are simple vertical lines two inches in width. For the center line you may use blue. Wait for the paint to dry before creating the surface of the court.

6. Construct the playing surface. The court must be constructed similar to standard tennis courts with a minimum three inch base of layered crushed stone on a compacted sub-base. Most bocce courts use pea gravel. After that is laid down, add three inches of crushed limestone which will enable proper water drainage. Finally add three inches of a clay type material compacted for a hard, smooth, level surface. It is important that the top surface be kept as level as possible and kept treated with a fine grade of loose topping clay which can be brushed to smooth the court. Now level, the entire surface using a rigid rake or broom. Do not worry if your court’s clay surface cracks. It means that the court is stabilizing itself. Eventually the cracking will diminish and stop.

Tips & Warnings

• At first the court's clay surface will crack. Roll it and broom it several times

Resources

• Read this Article in Spanish
• US Bocce Federation