The Waterbury Democrat., 1939-05-26
PLAY OF BOCCE TO GET BOOST
 OVER COUNTRY
National Recreation Body Asks League Rules Used
 in Niles, 0.
BY CHARLES P. MCMAHON United Press Staff Correspondent

Limited Press Staff Correspondent)
 Niles, O., May 26 = The Niles City Bocce League, the only league in the United States playing under stand ardized rules and under city super vision, has been invited by the Na- tional Recreation commission to submit its playing rules, court meas urements, and other regulations for study by the commission.
 The league, which was organized on its second season with 16 teams in February of 1888, has embarked on its second season with 16 teams divided into two leagues-the Amer ican and National.
 An attempt is being made to stand ardize the rules of the ancient Ro- man game and place them in oper- ation in other leagues throughout the United States. The Niles league was commended as the best organ ized and operated league in the country.
 Olu NOmau Oame
 Bocce is an old Roman game played with wooden balls that rec- ords indicate was popular before the time of Emperor Nero. Records reveal that Nero's estate had ter- races where games of bocce were played.
 The game is played with four men on each team. The object of the game is to score points by hav- ing a small wooden ball, which is bowled, to remain closest to the 'pallino" or object ball. It is pos sible to score from one to four points.
 The game is begun by a player of one team rolling the pallino, which means little ball", along the ground to the other end of the court. The court is built definite specifications and the pallino must remain within boundary lines to be legal toss.
 The same player then rolls his ball as near to the pallino as he can, without making contact. A player of the opposing team rolls next and attempts to get his ball closer to the pallino than his op- ponent. If he succeeds, then the second player on the first side rolls again and tries to get still closer. If, however, he fails to get closer, the same team must con- tinue rolling until it is nearer the pallino.
 In the event that one of the players gets so close that his op- ponents cannot beat him the "boccer" is called upon. Bocce means, literally, tohit", and that is what he attempts. He tries to send his ball flying through the air and hit the pallino or his op- ponent's ball.
 Boccer Is the Slugger
 The boccer, the cleanup man of bocce, is comparable to baseball teams heaviest hitter or the one who bats fourth in the lineup.
 His teammates have a chance to roll in close if he knocks the pal lino away with his toss. If he hits his opponents ball away, his mates still have chance to get in close.
 When all the players have rolled, the points are counted. Each ball which a team has re- maining closer to the pallino than the nearest of an opponent counts a point. A great deal of skill is re- quired to learn the proper method of rolling close to the pallino.
 The Bagnoli Club won the 1888 city title with a 4 to edge in games in the play-offs with the East End A. c. and received large trophy.
 The Niles Bocce league is under the supervision of the city recre- ation service, which has selected neutral board of arbitration with full power to make decSiions in any disputes. Under city supervi- sion they were protected from rules being set up for the satisfac- tion of any one group. Members of the arbitration board ore not affil- lated with any team.