Family Play Date: Setting up a Bocce Tournament

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Quaker Oats for IZEA. All opinions are 100% mine.

It’s no secret that we love games around here. Especially games that involve the whole family (or multiple families). One of our favorite outside games is Bocce. It’s easy enough for kids and adults to be able to compete against each other.

We were very excited to score a new Bocce set when Quaker Chewy sent us a Family Play Date Kit (info on what’s included and how to enter to win a kit of your own at the bottom of this post).

We knew just who to invite to this family play date and thanks to the play date kit we were ready to go when they showed up. With the weather as beautiful as it is, outside fun is perfect!

How to Play Bocce

There are two different types of Bocce sets. Some have heavy balls and some have light balls. We have (and like) the lighter set. It makes throwing the balls easier (and safer) when the backyard is full of people.

Setting up for Bocce is pretty simple.

• Ever player gets 2-4 Bocce balls of the same color. It will be depend on your set.
• Pick a throw line and mark it. We’ve used jump-ropes, a dip in the grass or a chalk point on the fence. Get creative.
• Clear an area to be the playing zone. It’s okay if there are obstacles, sometimes that can even make it more fun. Note: You don’t want any pets or people in the area you will be throwing. It could be dangerous. 🙂
• Decide who will go first. Rock, Paper, Scissors? Hee hee.
• There is also a little white ball called a Pallino.
• A score pad can be helpful but isn’t necessary.

Playing Bocce is pretty simple too!

• The first player will throw the Pallino into the playing area. They will then throw one of their Bocce balls as close to the Pallino as they can.
• The second player takes their turn throwing one of their balls into the playing area, as close to the Pallino as possible.
• The player with the Bocce ball farthest from the Pallino takes a turn. This repeats until they are the closest to the Pallino or they run out of balls.
• Play goes back and forth. The person who does not have the closest Bocce ball throws. The round ends when all balls have been thrown.

Scoring Bocce is the tricky part … just kidding!

• The Bocce ball closest to the Pallino scores a point. Any of that players balls that fall between the closest ball of the other player and the Pallino scores a point. (For example, if there are 3 red balls closer to the Pallino than any green balls. That player scores 3 points.)
• Play starts over and continues until one player scores 6 points.

Tips:

• After the first round, the person who has scored points will throw the Pallino.
• Decide how to measure distance. We use footsteps to gauge who is closer, but if you have a really competitive family a measuring tape might be a good idea.

How to Make it a Bocce Tournament

Turning Bocce into a full on tournament is the best way to let everyone participate when you have a house full of friends. Even the ones who are cooking or tending to little ones can get involved.

Setting up a Tournament

• Find something big to write on. Use chalk on the sidewalk or markers on a big piece of easel paper.
• Write down each players name.
• Start playing. Two players go at a time.
• Rotate who plays who until each player has played against every other player.
• Each time a player wins they get a tally mark under their name.
• The player with the most wins at the end of the tournament is the champion!!! (and deserves an extra Quaker® Chewy® Granola Bars).

Not only did we get to enjoy a great game of Bocce, we also had some fun with bubbles and kicked around the soccer ball. After wearing out the kids (and adults) we took a quick break and refueled with some Quaker Chewy Granola Bars. Each bar contains 8 grams of whole grains and come in delectably fun flavors like Chocolate Chip, S’mores and Oatmeal Raisin. YUM!

2 Ways to Win!

1. Enter to win your own Family Play Date Kit, just like the one pictured above. Share your favorite way to play as a family in the comment section! 

One comment per person. US residents only. Winner will be chosen at random on Monday June 8, 2015.

Quaker is providing the prizes for this program at no cost to me. This program is not administered or sponsored by Quaker or its affiliates, but solely by A Mom with a Lesson Plan.

2. To help inspire families’ playtime together and fuel fun, Quaker is inviting parents to participate in its Keep Playing! With Chewy promotion for a chance to win $25,000 to make over their family’s play space. To enter, parents are encouraged to submit a photo of their family’s favorite play space and share how they would like to see that space made over and why.

Now through June 13, 2015, you can visit www.ChewyKeepPlaying.com to enter for a chance to win a $25,000 grand prize to make over your favorite family play space. Plus, you will find weekly chances to win a $500 gift card. No purchase necessary. See www.ChewyKeepPlaying.com for official rules.

Note: Chewy Granola Bars may contain traces of peanuts and tree nuts. As a playdate host, please be sure to inform your guests in case of food allergies.