Boccia - an overview and history of the sport
Overview
The game of boccia is a specialised disability sport that requires players to throw or release balls towards a designated target ball, which is called a jack. The name 鈥榖occia鈥 can be traced back to the Latin word 'bottia', meaning 'ball'
This tactical game is played by two sides and in different formats. It can be competed by individuals, pairs, or as a team and requires an accumulation of points to find the winner. In order to ensure parity amongst players, a classification system is used to group players into levels of impairment. To score points, players can roll, throw, or kick a ball at the target, and if this is not possible, players can use specialised ramps and assistive devices like head or hand pointers.
History
The origins of boccia can be found in Ancient Greece. However it was quiet a different kind of game with players hurling large stones at a target.
The game has since developed across the world and, although originally designed for people with severe cerebral palsy, it now includes athletes with other severe disabilities. It is played by over 50 countries worldwide.
In 1984 boccia was included in the Paralympic Games and is currently only one of two sports that are not played at the Olympic Games, the other being goalball.