Boccia for Power Wheelchair Users

The Paralympic Games are a tremendous testament to both human ingenuity and perseverance. The creativity that goes into adapting some sports for people with disabilities is awe-inspiring. So is the effort and training that Paralympic athletes undergo to compete at such a high level.

But everyday people who live with a disability or with limited mobility may feel left out. Sure, Paralympic basketball is great for people who are physically able to wheel their chair around with speed and precision. Yet, there are other sports more suited for people who use an electric wheelchair. Take boccia, for example. This fun and enjoyable sport can be played by people of all ability levels and those who use power wheelchairs.

What Is Boccia?

Boccia, also called bocce (or, less accurately, bocce ball), is a ball-throwing/rolling sport. It descended from an ancient Roman game with similar principles and is popular today in many places. It’s played professionally throughout Italy, France, and Spain. The game is competitive and exciting. And, it can easily be adapted for power chair users.

How Is Boccia Played?

All you need in order to play is a flat playing surface (grass or turf, typically; professionals may play on clay) and a set of bocce balls. Boccia can be played in teams of one, two, or four. The object is to end each round with at least one of your team’s balls closer to the goal.

Gameplay

The game is played using two separate white balls, called pallinos, and four red and four green balls, called bocce. The game starts with one player throwing or rolling out a pallino. Then players take turns rolling balls of their team’s color toward the pallino. (The order of rolling changes slightly in tournament-style play.) Players can knock any ball on the playing field, including the pallino, with any throw. This adds an exciting dimension to the game, as players can literally move the goalpost itself in a round.

Scoring

Once all 8 balls have been rolled, it’s time to score the round. The team with the ball closest to the pallino scores, one point per ball that’s closer than the opposing team’s ball. If the scoring team has two balls closer than the opposing team’s closest ball, they score two points. The maximum score in a round, therefore, is four points.

How Is Boccia Adapted for Power Wheelchair Users?

Boccia for electric wheelchair users was first included in the 1984 Paralympic games, and it follows a formal set of rules which have been adapted. With the proper assistive devices (including a power chair), anyone can play boccia regardless of ability. The game follows the same track described above. The only differences are as follows.

Player Positioning and Classification:

In common play, positioning is unimportant. Any flat surface can be turned into a court. In regulation play, players must throw or roll from their designated boxes, and scoring must happen in the designated scoring area.

There are four classes of play, each with its own adaptations.

• BC1: players propel the ball with hand or foot. Assistants may hand players their balls.
• BC2: Players receive no human assistance on the field.
• BC3: Players use ramps to roll balls onto the court. Some may use an assistant to position the ramp via verbal instruction.
• BC4: This category includes others with severely limited function.

Other than these adjustments listed above, play proceeds just like standard boccia.

Boccia is a fantastic game that can be enjoyed with friends and family, regardless of ability level. Give it a try today!