Bocce

Boccia Canada Resources
SOO Resources
SOI Resources

Return to Sport – Bocce

Updated July 8th, 2021

Club Guidelines:   

  • Athletes who are unable to follow verbal instructions regarding physical distancing or who require “physical manipulation / hand over hand” instruction to complete drills are recommended to continue with virtual training or general fitness training. 
  • Where in person training is not an option, consider virtual training or general fitness training sessions.  Both are great alternatives and will allow coaches the opportunity to maintain contact with their athletes. 

Before and After Practice: 

  1. Athletes will wash hands before and after training session. 
  2. Athletes should arrive at the facility dressed for practice.
  3. Coaches are to create and share training plans ahead of training session.
  4. It is recommended that coaches use pea less whistles.
  5. Stagger activity times between different groups to create a 15 minute buffer between sessions and avoid an overlap of participants in any one area.
  6. Do not loiter in the parking lot.  Get in, Train, Get out.
  7. Physical Distancing (2m or 6ft).
  8. Personal / Equipment bags can be placed 2m / 6ft apart in a designated location on the field. Cones/pylons will be placed on the ground to mark where each athlete should store their items.
  9. Participants should walk a continuous path to their bocce court, no stopping or congregating along the way.
  10. Athletes will wear their face masks when they enter the facility and will continue to wear their face masks while not engaged in physical activity.  Coaches/volunteers will wear face masks throughout the training session.
  11. Disinfect all bocce equipment before and after each training session.
  12. Only one person should install/dismantle the portable bocce court system (if applicable).
  13. Portable bocce courts (If applicable) are to be set up 4 m apart to ensure physical distancing around courts.
  14. Facilities that have permanent bocce courts, court assignment should allow for alternating courts to be used.  Clearly identify the courts not being used.
  15. Athletes are to be assigned to a court for the entire training session. Maintain restrictions on the number of athletes using each court (max. 4 per court) 

During Practice 

  1. Must not exceed the maximum gathering size as outlined by the Ontario Roadmap to Reopening Plan (https://covid-19.ontario.ca/public-health-measures )

  2. Maximum gathering size includes all athletes, coaches, volunteers, support persons and spectators/parents. It is the coach’s discretion whether spectators are permitted into the training session to ensure physical distancing can be maintained.

  3. Physical distancing of 2m or 6ft must be maintained by ALL participants at ALL TIMES.

  4. All “non-essential” contacts should be avoided (handshakes, high 5’s, etc.).

  5. All skill instructions must be verbal. There will be no “hand over hand” skill instruction.

  6. Structure activities to maximize physical distancing.

  7. Use hand sanitizer after each frame.

  8. Bocce balls to be pre-assigned to each individual. Player’s balls need to be identified so athletes always play with the same balls. No ball sharing. If balls need to be shared, they must be cleaned by a volunteer between each use by a different player.

  9. Players only touch their own ball. They shall do so only when instructed by a coach.

  10. Disinfect and dry bocce balls after each frame due to possibility of cross contamination with opponent’s ball.

  11. Pallina needs to be disinfected between each throw. Alternatively, it can be thrown by a volunteer but it must be the same volunteer all the time for the duration of the program.

  12. When not delivering the ball, team members should wait behind the court and maintain physical distancing of 2m/6ft. When it is their turn to deliver a ball, they will walk into the court, pick up their assigned ball and make the delivery.

  13. At the end of the frame, the coach will use their foot to move all the balls to their respective sides and set them up in order of play as preparation for the next frame.

  14. The coach will record the score on a piece of paper rather than touching the scoreboard.

  15. If an athlete requires an assistant to train it is recommended that the assistant be someone from the same household. If the athlete unable to bring someone from their household, the assistant must be the same person each week. The assistant will wear PPE while working with the athlete, all assistants will go through the same daily screening check.

  16. Bring your own water bottles clearly labelled with your name – do not use public water fountains.

  17. Coaches should not share handheld equipment such clipboards, white board markers, etc. Recommend coaches each have their own personal whiteboard kit to use as a visual aid for coaching.

Training Tips: 

  • Be creative with the structure of your practice times by using a combination of in person training, virtual training and general fitness training. 
  • Train the same hours but this will be a mix of in person and virtual/fitness. 
  • Make it clear that there is no penalty for missing a training session and that if an athlete, or any member of their family does not feel well, they should stay at home. 

 

Competition 

  1. Competition will follow Return to Competition protocols. 

 

Each sport venue may have their own COVID-19 restrictions.  Please follow the instructions of the staff.