BOCCIA
DISABILITIES CATERED FOR BY SPORT:
Severely physically disabled. Cerebral Palsy (CP) and Non-CP. It is a game designed specifically for athletes with a disability affecting loco-motor function.
HOW DOES THE SPORT WORK:
Boccia (pronounced ‘Bot-cha’) sees athletes throw, kick or use a ramp to propel a ball onto the court with the aim of getting closest to a ‘jack’ ball.
It is played indoors on a court similar in size to a badminton court.
Rules: The aim of the game is to get closer to the jack than your opponent.
The jack ball is white and is thrown first. One side has six red balls and the other has six blue balls.
The balls are leather containing plastic granules so they don’t bounce but will still roll.
The side whose ball is not closest to the jack throws until they get a ball closest or until they run out of balls.
Once all the balls have been thrown one side receives points for every ball they have closer to the jack than their opponent’s closest ball.
PARALYMPIC REPRESENTATION:
Boccia was introduced as a Paralympic sport in 1984 when 19 athletes represented five different countries. Now, boccia is practised in more than 75 countries worldwide with 116 athletes competing at the next Games.
CONTACT PERSON IN SOUTH AFRICA IF YOU ARE INTERESTED:
Zelma Basson
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