10 reasons to play boccia
/Are you watching the Paralympic Games and thinking you’d like to give boccia a try?
With clubs up and down the country, it’s not difficult to get started.
Here are 10 reasons why you should love boccia!
1. It can be played pretty much anywhere
As long as you have a flat space, it can be pretty much played anywhere – indoors, outdoors, school yard, leisure centre, living room – you get the gist! Bring some masking tape and mark out your court – et voila! You have a court. Ok, so it might not be up to Paralympic standards but it really doesn’t matter. The important thing is to play and enjoy!
2. Anyone can play
You can be young or old, disabled or non-disabled to play boccia. To play at Paralympic level, there are four classifications. BC1, BC2 and BC4 all throw the ball but the BC3s play with a ramp, a ramp assistant and a head pointer.
3. Because it’s good for you
Just take it from us. Paralympian Sally Kidson, who lives with the condition Spinal Muscular Atrophy, says: “Playing a sport like boccia can benefit your everyday life. I believe playing boccia helps me manage fatigue and other everyday issues.”
sally kidson is a BC3 boccia player
4. Because it’s easy for beginners
It is a straightforward sport which is a big help for beginners when they get started. One side has six red balls. The other has six blue balls. The aim of the game is to get your balls closer to the white jack ball than your opponent. Find out more how to play boccia.
5. But it’s harder than it looks
Don’t be fooled. It is harder than it looks. It’s a game of huge precision and control. As skills improve, the tactics of the sport offer both tension and excitement. The balls are of different weights and designs to do different jobs – one might roll carefully, another might destroy the current court set-up.
“Every match is different, every ball thrown can change a match,” says Paralympian Stephen McGuire.
6. Because it’s the fastest growing Paralympic sport
And that means the sport is getting bigger and better with clubs and leagues cropping up all over the place. It’s a great way to meet friends and be social. Just get in touch with Boccia England, Disability Sport NI, Disability Sport Wales or Scottish Disability Sport to find your nearest boccia club.
7. You can play with your friends
You can play individually but you can play in teams and pairs too – so, if team sports are more your thing, give it a go!
8. Because if you’re really good at it, you can play at the highest levels
Boccia made its first appearance at the Paralympic Games in New York in 1984 and it is now a firm fixture! There are also World Championships every two years as well as a whole host of other World Boccia competitions right across the globe. So just think, you could be competing for World titles and medals one day!
the BC1/2 Team win silver at the world championships
9. Because there is a role for everyone
If you prefer not to play, there are still lots of ways to be involved in the sport. The sport is always on the lookout for top sports assistants, coaches, officials, timekeepers and classifiers.
10. Because YOU could be a Paralympian
We are looking for to grow our sport and find the next generation of Paralympians.
Physically, we are looking for people who are QUADRIPLEGIC, as a result of:
· IMPAIRED MUSCLE POWER
· IMPAIRED PASSIVE RANGE OF MOVEMENT
· LIMB DEFICIENCY
· HYPERTONIA
· ATAXIA
· ATHETOSIS
But we are also looking for creative problem solvers with the determination and drive to achieve at the very highest levels.
Could YOU play boccia at the Los Angeles Games in 2028?
