Bocce
Spring/Summer (March through June)
Email Contact:
db5515585@msn.com
Overview:
Bocce is an Italian game. The basic principle of the sport is to roll a bocce ball closest to the target ball, which is called a palina. Bocce as a Special Olympics sport provides people with special needs the opportunity to have social contact, develop physically and to gain self-confidence. Next to soccer and golf, bocce is the third most participated sport in the world.
Equipment:
SOMD-SMC supplies uniform shirts along with the other necessary equipment needed to perform the bocce events. Athletes can purchase or bring their own shorts or slacks but needs to check with the head coach prior to purchasing equipment
Uniform Requirements:
SOMD-SMC will provide athletes with uniforms but they are only worn for qualifiers and state competition. Athletes should also be wearing athletic clothes (examples: shorts or khaki pants, uniform shirt and hat while playing in the sun). NO JEANS!
Practice Overview:
Bocce is an Italian game. The basic principle of the sport is to roll a bocce ball closest to the target ball, which is called a palina. Bocce as a Special Olympics sport provides people with special needs the opportunity to have social contact, develop physically and to gain self-confidence. Next to soccer and golf, bocce is the third most participated sport in the world.
Training:
N/A
Location:
Chancellor’s Run Park near the playground, 21905 Chancellors Run Rd, Great Mills, MD 20634
Timing:
Thursdays from 5:30PM to 6:30PM, starting early April and each week through the Thursday prior to Summer Games. No practice on the day of the Spring Games, as this is one of the qualifiers
Activities:
Practice begins with warm up excersises.
Eligibility for State Competition:
There are a required number of qualifiers needed to attend the state competition. Some of those can be the required qualifiers announced throughout the season. Each athlete must also attend at least 8 practice sessions to be qualified to compete at the State competition. The athletes and families will receive notification of all qualifiers.
State Competition:
Summer Games is the state competition for the Bocce Program. Summer Games are held at Towson University – Burdick Fields at Towson, MD 21204 on the first weekend of June annually.
Participation in Other SOMD-SMC Sports:
Bocce athletes are not allowed to participate in other SOMD-SMC sports during the summer (Summer Games) season due to regulations posted for SOMD-SMC.
Athlete Participation Contract:
Not Required.
Housing Requirements for State Competition:
Athletes participating in Summer Games will be housed for up to two nights in dormitories at Towson University along with chaperones and the coaching staff, at a ratio of 3 athletes per chaperone/coach.
Other Considerations:
None.
Volunteers:
We always need help for a successful season. We are a 100% volunteer coaching and management staff. Parents who wish to help, please register as volunteers. (See information at the bottom of this page).
Only registered SOMD-SMC athletes and registered volunteers are allowed in the training area. Parents and spectators who are not registered as volunteers MUST watch from outside the training area.
Anyone with an intellectual disability age 7 and older are invited to become a Special Olympics athlete. ATHETES MUST BE AGE 8 PRIOR TO BEING ALLOWED TO COMPLETE. Athletes age 7 are allowed to train with the other athletes but just cannot compete.
All athletes/volunteers must sign up for sport training prior to attending practice. Please sign up online as soon as possible so that we can make plans for coaching needs.