BOCCIA
OVERVIEW & OBJECTIVE
Boccia is a Paralympic target sport, similar to curling, where the goal is to propel your balls closer to the target ball than your opponent.
BOCCIA COURT
Players can play individually, in pairs or as teams. Players must be seated when throwing.
EQUIPMENT
OFFICIAL
Equipment
Red and blue boccia balls
White target ball (“the jack”)
Wood floor
Ramp (if required)
ALTERNATIVE
Equipment
Red and blue bean bags
Target bean bag, hoop or bowling pin
Any floor that allows a bean bag or ball to slide/roll
Anything that can propel a bean bag or ball forward
SPACE Adaptations
Allow for standing or sitting when playing.
Reduce distance of the targets.
Use a smaller or larger court depending on players’ abilities and comfort.
Clearly mark boundaries with bright tape or cones, so they’re easy to see.
TASK Adaptations
Simplify the goal at first: focus on rolling to a target rather than aiming for points.
Allow students time to practice without limitations. E.g. Throw at the target vs throw at the target 10 times.
Allow players to roll, push, or drop the ball in any way they can.
Focus on personal accuracy goals, not just competition.
Break down tasks into smaller, achievable parts.
Allow for variety in gameplay and expectations.
Photo courtesy of Défi Sportif Altergo © Patrick Beauchemin
EQUIPMENT Adaptations
Lighter or softer balls.
Different coloured balls/bean bags for visual clarity.
Provide ramp or alternative for those needing support.
Larger targets when needed.
Use brightly coloured tape as visual aid on target.
Use sound to signal location of target.
Photo courtesy of Défi Sportif Altergo © Patrick Beauchemin
PEOPLE Adaptations
Allow assistance when necessary from peers or EA’s.
Provide opportunity for everyone to experience different roles, such as ramp assistant, referee, coach, score keeper, etc.
Implement buddy system/peer tutoring.
Encourage support by attendant (assist with set up of ramp, positioning of chair, set up with ball, and ball retrieval) where needed. The attendant cannot watch the game (back must be to field of play) but can assist the player.
Photo courtesy of Défi Sportif Altergo © Patrick Beauchemin
TEACHING CUES FOR MOVEMENT SKILLS
GET READY
GRIP & BALL HOLD
AIM
CONTROL & STRATEGIZE
THROW & RELEASE
GET READY
Sit tall in a chair or wheelchair.
Feet flat (or balanced in chair).
Eyes on the target (the jack ball).
*If needed, ramp should be placed in front of the student.*
GRIP & BALL HOLD
Hold the ball gently with a loose grip.
Fingers underneath, thumb on top, cradle the ball in your hand, not your fingertips.
Palm up– keep your hand open and facing upward before the throw.
Relax your grip hold it firmly but without squeezing too hard.
Photo courtesy of Défi Sportif Altergo © Patrick Beauchemin
AIM
Keep eyes on the target by focusing on where you want the ball to stop.
Point with your hand by aligning your throwing arm or pointer finger toward the target.
Line up your body with shoulders, hips, and feet, facing the direction of the throw.
Photo courtesy of Défi Sportif Altergo © Patrick Beauchemin
CONTROL & STRATEGIZE
Use gentle power, not too hard.
Use strategy by thinking about blocking or getting close to the jack.
Focus on accuracy, not just strength.
Photo courtesy of Défi Sportif Altergo © Patrick Beauchemin
THROW & RELEASE
Keep a balanced stance or sitting position.
Eyes on the target by looking where you want the ball to stop.
Fingers under, thumb on top, hand position – cradle the ball, don’t squeeze.
Arm back slow to prepare smoothly, no rush.
Step or sit and swing - step with the opposite foot while swinging forward if standing.
Release low and slow and follow through with hand pointing at target.
Photo courtesy of Défi Sportif Altergo © Patrick Beauchemin
ACTIVITIES & SKILL DEVELOPMENT
MOVE & BALANCE
PARTNER PASSING
CLASSIC TARGETS
PROTECT THE GNOME
BEACH BALL FUN
MOVE & BALANCE
Give each student a piece of equipment to balance on their body.
Have students move around the space while keeping ball/item off of the floor.
If it drops, pick it up and place it back on your body.
PARTNER PASSING
Place students in partners and have them facing one another.
Practice propelling a bean bag using different ways (overhand, underhand, shot put) and using different body parts (elbow, foot, hand, etc.).
For those using ramps, try different angles and heights.
CLASSIC TARGETS
Spread targets around the play space.
Students line up and on your call throw their items to hit a target.
Progress the activity by calling out specific targets (blue hula hoop, red dot, etc.).
PROTECT THE GNOME
Create teams of students and give them a number of items to throw.
After placing a target in the play space, the first team throws their items to create a barrier around the target.
The second team then throws their items to knock down the target.
If the figurine falls, team #2 is the winning team. If the figurine remains in place, team #1 wins. Repeat the exercise by reversing the roles of the teams.
BEACH BALL FUN
Each partner group will have one beach ball, a hula hoop, and 3 boccia balls or bean bags each.
Each partner finds an area and places their beach ball in their hula hoop and creates a line to throw from.
“On Go” the students try to hit the beach ball and push it out of the hula hoop.
Students work together to come up with an efficient strategy.
Try moving the hula hoops further away for added difficulty.
ADDITIONAL LEARNING
REFERENCES
Boccia Bratz Program Workbook. Ontario Cerebral Palsy Sports Association.
Activity Sheets. Boccia Canada & Association québécoise des sports pour paralytiques cérébraux (AQSPC). Retrieved May 1, 2025. Activity Sheets - Boccia Canada
Inclusion of Students of All Abilities in School-Based Physical Activity Experiences. PHE Canada. 2023. Retrieved May 15, 2025. School-Based Physical Activity Experiences for Students of All Abilities | PHE Canada.
