A Game for All

Bocce is a game that has always brought people together—whether on ancient Egyptian sand, a Roman courtyard, or in Station Park in Sea Girt, New Jersey. Its roots stretch back nearly 5,000 years, when Egyptians first began tossing polished stones toward a target, a pastime depicted in artwork from that era. The game later traveled to Greece around 800 BC and then to the Roman Empire, where it was enjoyed by both nobility and commoners.

In the 19th century, Italian revolutionary Giuseppe Garibaldi helped popularize Bocce as a national pastime. Italian immigrant communities carried the tradition to the United States, where the game became a fixture at social gatherings and community events. Today, Bocce remains one of the world’s most accessible sports—simple to learn, social, and welcoming to players of all ages and abilities.

How to Play Bocce

The basics are simple. A Bocce court is long and narrow—about 13 feet wide and up to 90 feet long—with a low 8” barrier along the sides. The surface may be sand, astro turf, grass, or cement. The game uses eight large balls (four red and four green) and a small white target ball called the Pallina or Jack.

The goal is to roll your team’s balls closer to the Pallina than your opponents do. Points are scored after each round of throws, and the first team to reach 12 points wins. Teams of 2, 4, 6, or 8 can play.

Bocce in Sea Girt

Today, this ancient game has found a lively and enthusiastic home in Sea Girt. This modern chapter began when Sea Girt Recreation sent out a survey asking residents whether they would be interested in a town Bocce court. The response was overwhelming. A site in Station Park was selected, and Sea Girt Pubic Works excavated the site and constructed a surrounding border. Environmental Landscape Design, ELD, donated their services to lay down and level a crushed stone base. Finally, volunteers from the Sea Girt Fire Company and Sea Girt Recreation installed an interlocking court system and covered it with a turf playing surface.

Once the court was completed, several co-ed groups emerged, including husbands and wives and families who enjoy playing. There is a team of female players in the league, the Bocce Bellas, who, according to Donna Finn, “play for fun and the enjoyment of meeting new people in a relaxing way to be outdoors. Other than the balls, no special equipment is needed, and we can dress casually and comfortably.” Beyond organized leagues, spontaneous pick-up games are a regular sight.

Larry White says that “Ray’s Café on Washington Boulevard is a hub for local Bocce players. A group of approximately 15 players, ranging from their early 30s to well over 70, go over to the Bocce court to throw a few Bocce balls nearly every day.” The group stays connected through a text thread to see who is available to play. Even with only one court, no one seems to mind waiting their turn—Bocce is, after all, a social sport, where good-natured teasing and friendly competition are part of the charm.

According to player Paul Cerami, “The group plays every day in summer and whenever weather permits in winter. On windy autumn days, we simply blow leaves off the court to play. Last summer we had fun with a tournament of eight father/daughter teams on Father’s Day weekend. We also held three individual double- elimination tournaments last summer.”

For a game born five millennia ago, Bocce is at home in Sea Girt—on summer days, breezy autumn afternoons, under the glow of phone flashlights at dusk, and in the laughter of neighbors who gather simply to play. Its ancient roots continue to thrive, promising many more years of community, camaraderie, and fun.

Judith Jones-Abrosini is a Sea Girt resident, member of the Holly Club of Sea Girt and author of the “Sisterhood of Diabetes.”