ABOUT BOCCIA
Today Boccia is a played competitively at national and international level by athletes who require a wheelchair because of their disability.
BOCCIA IS A PRECISION BALL GAME
SIMILAR TO BOCCA BOWLS AND PETANQE
The word ‘Boccia’ is derived from the Italian word meaning to bowl, and this family of sports is probably the earliest game ever played by mankind – carvings of egyptian figures throwing stones have been recorded as early as 5200 BC.
WORLD BOCCIA SPORT CLASSES
FOR COMPETITION PURPOSES, ATHLETES ARE CLASSIFIED INTO ONE OF FOUR CLASSIFICATIONS
TO ENSURE COMPETITION IS FAIR AND EQUAL, ALL PARALYMPIC SPORTS HAVE A SYSTEM IN PLACE WHICH ENSURES THAT WINNING IS DETERMINED BY SKILL, FITNESS, POWER, ENDURANCE, TACTICAL ABILITY AND MENTAL FOCUS, THE SAME FACTORS THAT ACCOUNT FOR SUCCESS IN SPORT FOR ABLE BODIED ATHLETES.
BC1
Players in this class throw the ball with the hand or foot. They may compete with an assistant who stays outside of the competitor’s playing box, to stabilize or adjust their playing chair and give the ball to the player when requested.
BC2
Players in this class throw the ball with the hand. They are not eligible for assistance.
BC3
Players in this class have very severe locomotor dysfunction in all four extremities. Players in this class have no sustained grasp or release action and although they may have arm movement, they have insufficient range of movement to propel a Boccia ball onto the court. They may use an assistive device such as a ramp to deliver the ball. They may compete with an assistant; assistants must keep their back to the court and their eyes averted from play.
BC4
Players in this class have severe locomotor dysfunction of all four extremities as well as poor trunk control. They can demonstrate sufficient dexterity to throw the ball onto the court. Players are not eligible for assistance.