Most everyone would agree that throwing a ball is fun. And they also would probably agree that throwing it in the company of friends and neighbors is really cool.
Enter Bocce (the Italian word for ball). This “ball” game originated in Italy and has been exported all over the world. It allows one to throw a lot of balls for fun and recreation, whether you’re a teenager, middle-ager, or senior, and whether you’re in a wheelchair or able-bodied. The game guarantees you will enjoy it whether you’re a skilled champion or a “newbie,” as bocce players refer to new or inexperienced players.
In bocce, you don’t have to throw the ball 90 miles an hour, as in baseball. You don’t have to throw it to a running receiver, as in football. You don’t have to throw it into a fish net attached to a rim, as in basketball. You don’t have to kick or shoot it into a goal, as in soccer, lacrosse, or hockey. All you have to do is place it closer to a target ball than your opponent does.
Bocce is one of the fastest growing sports in the world and is very, very big in Sun City. In fact, the Bocce Club is the largest activity organization in the community. The club has about 700 members. They opened their 2012 summer season, their 14th in Huntley, on June 4.
Bocce points are scored by placing a ball closest to a small target ball, called a jack. Two-person teams play up to three games in each session. They may lob, toss, roll, or ricochet four-pound balls down a 76-foot course to place their color balls closer to the pallina, or jack, than their opponents. Playing areas can easily be mapped out on a beach or backyard for just as much fun.
So what’s so popular about this game? According to Rosemary McKinney, vice president of the Sun City Bocce club, it’s the game’s universal appeal, its leisurely pace, friendly environment, and very low cost.
“Almost anyone can play. We are handicap-accessible at our courts, so people in wheelchairs can play. All you do is roll a ball, and most people enjoy it whether they win a lot of games or not,” she said. “We charge dues of $5 each per season, and we have enough courts so many people can play at once; they don’t have to wait.”
An example of the game’s universal appeal is that John Arneson, whose ancestors are Scandinavian, is in his fourth year as club president.
“In America, the game is played by people of all ethnic and cultural backgrounds, and that’s also true here in Sun City,” McKinney said. “The sport has become very popular with seniors because it’s not strenuous and it offers an opportunity for a lot of camaraderie and meeting and making new friends. Our August tournament sparks a lot of our competitive instincts, and it is linked to our regular season, where a team’s scores qualify it for tournament participation.”
The bocce leagues play in four sessions at 9:30 a.m., 12:30 p.m., 3:30 p.m., and 6:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday. Other leagues play at 9:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. on Fridays. While it is large, the club never ceases to expand in controlled fashion.
“We welcomed about 16 new members for our current season, and we look for new members at the Charter Club and Fitness expos every spring,” McKinney said.
Other current officers are Janice Diebold, secretary; and Bernie Kloep, treasurer.
Want to get busy? Very, very busy?
Imagine scheduling and coordinating games, leagues, and tournaments for this club each week June through August. Actually, they have several “schedulers,” so the workload is shared.
Charles Citrano, N.3, is one of three original founders of the club. The startup provides more evidence of this sport’s popularity.
“We had more than 200 people initially, and we played informally at the courts starting in the summer of 1999,” Citrano said. “Cynthia O’Connor, Lifestyles director, said we should form a club, elect officers, and plan activities. So we did. I was one of the original officers, along with Frank Geib, who still lives here, and Jay Verlotta, who moved to Arizona a few years ago. I told newcomers that I could teach them how to play in 10 minutes. The scoring is easy to understand, and the game has a lot of sociability. As time went on, we grew fast. There were times when we developed lotteries to let new-member applicants in, to deal with the demand.
“I’m Italian, but I didn’t play bocce until 1999, when I came to Sun City,” Citrano added.
So be careful, Sun Citians. If you mosey over to the courts, the game will probably hook you and reel you in quickly. It’s that contagious.
