There are three leagues that play on specific days. Your team would play one match per week. A match is made up of 3 games to 7 points per game. We can accommodate up to 16 teams per league.

 

League spots are in high demand, so get your team on the waiting list early. Click here to add your name to our waiting list.

 

Registration

• The fee for the Burlington Bocce Club Doubles Leagues is $40 for a team. The fees go towards medals, court maintenance, equipment, and the end of season picnic.
   
• Only those with current Bocce Club Memberships may play in a league. 
   
• Team Registrations due by May 15 and the season runs into September.

 

A Typical Bocce Match

• AM Leagues: Show up between 9:00 and 9:30 am. Matches begin at 9:30 am.
• PM Leagues: Show up between 5:45 and 6:00 pm. Matches begin at 6:00 pm.
• Rescheduled games must start within 15 minutes of agreed upon start time.
   
• Prep courts – get the balls out, set up pegs, broom the court, check for court pebbles.
   
• Flip coin; winner chooses ball color and has pallino power.
   
• An “up-and-back” practice round is customary before going live; get familiar with the court. Wish each other good bocce!
   
• The coin toss winner begins play by throwing the pallino.
   
• Games are to 7 points; you play three games per match.
   
• The winning team is responsible for emailing their league director and telling them the results within 24 hours. “Hi Jeff, the Ballerz beat the Unicorns 2 matches to 1.” 
   
• Return equipment/broom and make sure they are secured before leaving.

 

Contact List

• Teams are provided with a contact list with phone numbers and emails for everyone in the league; if you need to get in touch with another team, check the contact list.
   

Match Play

• Matches are three games long, each played to seven points. All three games must be played.
   
• League standings will be based on match wins (best 2 out of 3). End-of-season tie break will be determined by most game wins, followed by head-to-head record.
   
• The winning team is responsible for sending the match results to the league director. If you don’t send your results, you will not get credit for your win.

 

Rules

• Official Burlington Bocce Club rules are posted at the courts and on our website.
   
• Teams can be between two and five players. Substitutions are allowed between games. We also allow one substitution during a game, but it must occur between frames.
   
• If you are unable to make your scheduled match, use the league contact list to notify your opponent’s contact person a MINIMUM of 1 hour before the match and wait for confirmation. Also don’t assume your match is canceled due to rain, always confirm.
   
• Three no-shows will result in a forfeit of your season. Reschedules do not count as no-shows. If a team’s season is forfeited, every past or future match with that team is eliminated from everyone’s schedule along with any results from matches already played.
   
• NEW RULE FOR 2024, UPDATED FOR 2025: If your teammate(s) is (are) unable to play a match and you are down to one player, you may invite one "guest" player to play that match with you. This person can be a non-club member or a club member who is not on a team in your own league, but it cannot be a person who plays on another team in your own league. This "guest rule" can be used twice per season for each team. (This is in place of the previous 3-ball rule which has been discontinued.) If you choose this option, your opponent must accept. You do not have to use this option; you can still cancel if you prefer. 
   
• RULE CLARIFICATION: When taking your turn during a game, you may carry only one ball with you. All other balls must remain in the rack.
   
• Changes to team members can happen for 6 weeks of play. After that, please reach out to the league director for approval of team member changes.

 

Locking up the equipment

• Make sure that the last teams of the night secure all the equipment and check the locks to ensure they are closed. This includes making sure the courts lights are turned off!
   
• ALWAYS lock the brooms when you return them to the shed wall. Be sure to spin the lock dial so it does not stay in the opening combo!
   

Parking

Parking is a commodity at Oakledge. The fees to park inside Oakledge are as follows:

• Metered parking in Oakledge is $2/hour from sunrise to sunset
• Season Parking Passes are available at this website: https://enjoyburlington.com/resources/parking-passes-rates/
• Green Mountain Passport (Vermonters 62+ and Vets) are $3 (for lifetime parking pass) and are available at your local town office

Winning

• The top three teams at the end of the season will be awarded bocce medals
   
• The end-of-season, all-league picnic and barbecue will include a tournament between the top teams in Red, Green, and Blue Leagues. All teams are encouraged to attend!