| Min number of participants | 2 |
| Age | 5+ yrs. |
| Safety support by adult | Not required |
| Min duration | 30 min. |
| Cost | None (Free) |
| Environment | Outdoor |
Roll heavy resin balls as close as possible to a small target ball called the pallino, using spin, force, or precision to displace opponents' balls while your team's cluster closest to the jack scores — bocce is Italy's great social game, equally at home on a manicured court or a gravel path in any park.
One player throws the small target ball (the pallino) down the court to start the round. Players or teams then take turns rolling their larger bocce balls, trying to land as close to the pallino as possible, either by rolling smoothly along the ground or lofting the ball to land near the target. You may also aim to knock an opponent's ball away from the pallino or to knock the pallino itself into a better position for you. After all balls are thrown, only the team with the closest ball scores points — one point for each of their balls that is closer to the pallino than the opponent's closest ball. Play continues for a set number of rounds or until a team reaches a target score, with the losing team from the previous round throwing the pallino to start the next one.
Take turns throwing metal boules to land as close as possible to a small wooden cochonnet on gravel or dirt — pétanque is France's favourite leisurely competition, played anywhere a flat surface can be found and endlessly sociable.
Drive coloured wooden balls through a sequence of hoops using a long-handled mallet, using cannons to send rivals out of position while routing your own ball around the lawn — croquet rewards strategic thinking and delicate touch in a genteel outdoor game with a famously competitive underbelly.
