This article originally appeared in the April 2013 USBF Western Sector Newsletter.

There was a tournament held recently that was advertised as back wall dead.  After the tournament one of the participants asked me by telephone: “Why are some open tournaments back wall dead and some are back wall live?”

 I thought that this player’s question was a valid item for this column!

In order to answer the question a little history lesson is needed.  There are two basic forms of bocce played in the rest of the world if lawn bowling and petanque are excluded.  One form of the game is known as Boule Lyonese and commonly called volo in the United States.  Volo is common in France, Northern Italy and most of Europe.  The other game is Punto, Raffa, Volo and commonly called raffa in the United States.  This game is also played in Europe and especially in mid to southern Italy.  Both of these games are also played in many countries all over the world.  Both of these games are similar in concept but have slightly different rules.  For the purpose of this discussion the main rule difference is that in volo, balls hitting the end of the court after a shot or long lag are dead and removed from play.  In raffa, after a valid shot, all balls that hit the end or back wall are still in play or live after a valid shot.  Also in raffa, balls that hit the back wall after a lag without hitting another ball are dead and removed from play just as in volo.

In the United States we give credit for bringing bocce to our shores to the Italian immigrants who settled in various parts of our country in the 1800’s and early 1900’s.  A more relaxed form of the game developed over time and later became known as open bocce.  Naturally, the back wall question had to be resolved for open play.  It is a given that players who came from Northern Italy and were familiar with the volo form of the game insisted that the ball was dead if a ball touched the back wall.  Many Italians settled in the Bay Area and central parts of California and the open form of the game developed with the understanding that if a ball strikes the back wall it is dead and removed from play.  In other parts of the country Italians who were familiar with the raffa form of the game introduced bocce and the back wall was considered in play or live after a valid shot.

As time went on and the game of open became more popular, rules were developed by the USBF for the game of open.  The game was played in most parts of the country with the back wall live after hitting another ball and this was the rule included in the National Open Rules prepared by the federation.  Players in the west objected to this and continued to play with a dead back wall.  The Western Sector of the USBF produced a set of rules stating that a ball striking the back wall dead.  At national championships however, all open bocce games were played with the live back wall.

Many of us in the west learned the game with a dead back wall and most leagues and tournaments used this rule in the west.  As more players were introduced to the game of open bocce in the recent past, there became concern that open bocce should have a consistent set of rules.  There was a lot of discussion among players but the desire to unify the sport across the United States prevailed. About five or six years ago the Western Sector Board voted to adopt the USBF National Rules and the Western Sector Open rules were retired.  All Western Sector open championship tournaments now use the live back wall.

The change to a live back wall was traumatic for some.  There are pros and cons for each style of play.  Some found it hard to adjust to a live back wall.  Some said it favored the shooter.  Others said it favored the lagger.   As time went on the live back wall became the standard that everyone is now familiar with.  Most new players learn to play this way now and they are secure in knowing that if they play in other parts of the country such as the east or mid-west the game is now played nationally with a consistent set of rules.

There are some clubs that still favor the old rule and their tournaments are conducted using the dead back wall rule.  Some clubs in the eastern part of the United States play the game with a back wall live even if the ball does not strike another ball!  They lag by shooting into the back wall and their ball bounces back to make the point.  This is their prerogative and they are within their rights to use “House Rules” at their clubs.  Players are informed prior to entering tournaments and know in advance how the game will be played.  In the long run it is more important to play the game and enjoy the experience than to argue about whether the back wall stays dead or awakens to come alive!