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Boccia was practised for many years as a leisure activity before being introduced at the New York 1984 Paralympic Games as a competitive sport. It is one of the two Paralympic sports that do not have an Olympic counterpart (goalball being the other).
Boccia is a game of strategy and accuracy that was originally designed to be played by people with cerebral palsy. Now, the sport includes athletes with impairments that affect motor skills.
The sport is played on a flat, smooth surface, where players must throw or roll coloured balls as close as possible to a white target ball, known as the “jack”. The player, pair or team with the most balls near the jack is the winner.
In boccia, players compete in singles, pairs and teams events. To start an end, one side will throw the jack. They will then throw their first ball trying to get it as close as possible. The other side then attempts to throw their ball closer. After that, the side whose ball is not closest to the jack throws the next ball. Once all balls have been played, points are awarded. The side that is closest to the jack receives a point for every ball they have nearer than their opponent’s closest ball. The individual and pair matches consist of four ends, while team matches have six ends. After each end, the athlete, pair or team with the ball closest to the jack receive one point, and an additional point for every ball that is closer to the jack than their opponent’s. Boccia is played indoor on a court similar in size to badminton. Players are positioned at one end in throwing boxes and can throw the jack anywhere on court over the ‘V’ line. A boccia ball is made of leather and are filled with plastic granules so they do not bounce and are easy to grip. There are six red and six blue balls to indicate which team is playing, and one white ball called the ‘jack’.
Events
Events
Rules and Equipment
Documents:
| Hypertonia | Impaired Muscle Power |
| Ataxia | Limb Deficiency |
| Athetosis | Impaired Passive Range of Movement |
Boccia is split into four classes, BC1-4, where all players compete in wheelchairs due to severe coordination impairment affecting both legs and arms. A BC5 class has been introduced for national competitions only.
For illustrated explanation please click on the button below.
Players with a physical disability compete in four sport classes:
| BC1 |
| Athletes who are diagnosed with a neurological impairment affecting the central nervous system (CNS) (ie. spastic hypertonic quadriplegia, athetosis, severe ataxia). They have severe activity limitations affecting their legs, arms and trunk, and typically depend on a powered wheelchair.
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 |
| Athletes who are diagnosed with a neurological impairment affecting the CNS, (ie. spastic hypertonic quadriplegia, dyskinesia (athetosis/dystonia) or ataxia). The players have better trunk and arm function than those in class BC1. The abilities of their arms and hands often allow them to throw the ball overhead and underhand and with a variety of grasps.
Players in this class throw the ball with the hand. They are not eligible for assistance. |
| BC3 |
| Athletes who are diagnosed with a neurological impairment affecting the CNS or an impairment of non-cerebral origin who have significant limitations in arm and leg functions, and poor or no trunk control.
Players in this class have very severe locomotor dysfunction in all four extremities with 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 |
| Athletes who are diagnosed with an impairment of non-neurological origin NOT affecting the CNS and who do not present with Tonal chance or spasticity as their primary impairment.
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. |
| BC5 |
| Athletes who are diagnosed with a neurological impairment affecting the CNS or an impairment of non-cerebral origin but do not meet the minimal criteria for BC2 or BC4.
This class is valid only for national competition. |
To be eligible to apply for a national classification, athletes must:
Athletes who do not meet the list of criteria above may still be evaluated by the classifiers by prior arrangement. However, he/she will only receive a provisional class in order to facilitate them to compete this year.
This list includes active athletes who have been classified at national and/or international level. Click here to access the Masterlist
Boccia Ireland is the National Governing Body for boccia in Ireland. If you wish to get involved in boccia, please access the National Governing Body link below.
| Governing Body | |
| National | Boccia Ireland |
| International | Boccia International Sports Federation (BISFed) |
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