Boccia (Open Games)

The following age categories are eligible to compete in this event:

Each borough is permitted to have a minimum of 3 participants and a maximum of 9 participants to field a team.

This competition is a pan-disability event. Teams must be made up of players with severe learning disabilities, physical impairments or profound and multiple impairments, in particular wheelchair users. Visually Impaired (VI) players please see rules of play 6.4.3. The competition is open to young people who fall under BC 1-8 of the Boccia Classifications outlined here.

Young people with a mild learning disability or hearing-impaired players are  not eligible for this event unless they also have an impairment outlined above or in the Boccia England classification guide.

See eligible impairment groups below:

The closing date for boroughs to submit their squads is;

17:00,Friday 2^nd February 2024

All competitors must be entered by a council staff member, or nominated team manager in advance of the deadline listed.

Competitors/parents should be aware that the closing date listed is for borough’s to submit their squad. It is advised you make contact to confirm your entry in advance of this deadline.

Use the ‘Contact Your Borough’ search bar below to find the relevant contact for your team. Please type the name of the borough instead of using post code e.g. Bexley.

Click on the link below for a PDF version of the rules:

LYG24 Open Boccia Rules

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Full Rules & Regulations

BOC 1 The London Youth Games ParaGames Boccia Competition will be run in accordance with Boccia England rules.

BOC 1.1 Should any rules listed below contradict those outlined by Boccia England, these rules will supersede those.

BOC 1.2 It will be at the sole discretion of the Competition Director as to the application of these rules, and any subsequent decision made as a result will be final.

BOC 2 Age Category

BOC 2.1 The following age groups and respective date of births will apply to the London Youth Games ParaGames Boccia Competition:

BOC 2.2 It is the responsibility of competitors/parents/team managers/local authority staff to ensure all competitors details are entered correctly at the time of submission, and that they are eligible to compete for their borough under the London Youth Games Games Rules, and in accordance with the age groups outlined for the competition.

BOC 2.2.1 In the instance a competitor is found to be ineligible, they will be disqualified from the competition entirely, and the borough will receive a points penalty as per the Games Rules.

BOC3 Disability Criteria

BOC 3.1 Young people that fall into any of the Boccia England Classifications (BC 1-8) are eligible to participate in this competition and with LYG Impairment Groups G1-4(excluding G3A), as below

BOC 3.2 Competitors are not permitted to enter this competition if they are ineligible. No exceptions will be made.

BOC 3.2.1 It is the responsibility of competitors/parents/team managers/local authority staff to ensure all competitors details are entered correctly at the time of submission, and that they are eligible to compete for their borough under the London Youth Games Games Rules, and in accordance with the eligible criteria outlined for the competition.

BOC 3.2.2 In the instance a competitor is found to be ineligible, the team will be disqualified from the competition entirely, and the borough will receive a points penalty as per the Games Rules.

BOC 4 Squad Size Boroughs are permitted to enter a minimum of 3 competitors and a maximum of 9 competitors.

BOC 4.1 Boroughs are permitted to bring all 9 competitors entered to the event on the day however only 3 will be able to play per end. Teams may rotate players between ends.

BOC 5 Kit & Equipment

BOC 5.1 Leather Handi Life Boccia balls (standard or superior) will be provided by London Youth Games.

BOC 5.2 Assistive Devices are permitted under the following rules;

BOC 5.2.1 The assistant holding the device must face towards the player, and away from the field of play.

BOC 5.2.2 The assistant may not communicate with their player or any other team member and must always remain inside the marked ‘player’s box’, otherwise a foul is committed.

BOC 5.2.2.1 One warning per team will be given to an assistant that is felt to be directing play or placing the device themselves rather than following instructions from the player. After this, any further occurrences will result in these players shots not being counted in the end.

BOC 5.2.3 There must be one enabler assigned for each player needing an assistant.

The player must direct the assistant where to place the device and the player must release the ball themselves.

BOC 5.2.3 A player’s device must be seen to make a clear swing both ways before throwing any ball

BOC 5.2.4 Visually Impaired players, about to play the ball will be allowed to have the referee tap the paddle to indicate where the jack ball is. No mechanical aids i.e. bells / hooters will be allowed. It is the captain’s duty to give feedback when asked for by the player.

BOC 5.2.5 VI players are also eligible to play with an assistant and a VI grid, please see Visually Impaired Boccia | Boccia England Limited

BOC 6 Competition Format

BOC 6.1 Round robin format into knockouts/play off for final positions.

BOC 6.1.1 No seeding. Groups will be allocated at random.

BOC 6.1.2 Number of groups and group sizes will be subject to entry numbers.

BOC 7 Sport Rules The objective of Boccia is to try and position your team’s balls as close to the target ball (jack) as possible. A game consists of two sides, the red side and the blue side.

BOC 7.1 Each team is made of 3 players with 2 balls each.

BOC 7.1.1 Team colours are decided using a coin toss; the winning captain chooses to be red or blue.

BOC 7.1.2 All competitors must be seated and remain seated for the entirety of an end.

BOC 7.2 Teams will play 6 balls per side. The London Youth Games competition will consist of teams to compete over three ends per match.

BOC 7.2.1 An ‘end’ is when all 13 balls (1 white Jack, 6 blue, 6 red) balls have been played.

BOC 7.2.2 The end is scored by awarding one point for every ball of the same colour closer to the jack than the nearest opposing coloured ball.

BOC 7.2.3 After all ends have been completed the winning side is the team with the highest accumulative score from both ends.

BOC 7.2.4 LYG and the Competition Director reserve the right to adapt the number of ends per match dependent on entries. Any change to BOC 6.2 will be communicated pre-event via email, or at the Team Manager briefing before competition commences.

BOC 7.3 Tie Break No draws are permitted. In the instance that there is a draw at the end of a match then a tie break end will be played.

BOC 7.3.1 Each team has a maximum of 3 balls (1 per person max) playoff with the jack being placed on the ‘replaced jack cross’ in the middle of the court. Played out as normal game. A coin toss again decides who plays the first coloured ball. This is repeated until a clear winner is identified.

BOC 8 Scoring Points will be awarded for each match to give a borough’s overall placing in the round robin stage of the competition.

BOC 8.1 The following points will be awarded at the round robin stage:

Teams will score the number of points they score in each match.

Teams will be awarded 3 points for a win, 0 points for a loss.

BOC 8.1.1 Group positions are ranked on:

• Competition points
• Highest end points (teams balls for)
• Points difference (teams balls for minus other teams balls against).

BOC 8.1.2 In the instance a tie break is required for the competition to progress after BOC 8.1.1 has been applied, a tie break as per BOC 6.3 shall take place between the respective teams.

BOC 8.2 Final Jubilee Positions A boroughs overall ranking will be determined by their round robin finishing rank, or stage of the knockout at which the borough was knocked out.

BOC 9 Medals & Trophies

BOC 9.1 Overall Borough Teams who receive the top final respective positions will be awarded medals. Gold, silver and bronze medals will be awarded.

On the day of the event, Team Managers must sign in their teams with LYG at the assigned registration desk between 10:00 – 10:45

Venue: Lee Valley Hockey and Tennis Centre

Address:  Eton Manor, Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, Leadmill Ln, London E20 3AD

Phone: 0300 003 0614

Website: https://www.better.org.uk/leisure-centre/lee-valley/hockey-and-tennis-centre 

The cafe will not be open on the day of the event. There is a vending machine that sells cold drinks and snacks. Please bring any refreshments you need for the day with you.

Both are available at the venue. However, we strongly recommend coming changed ready for the activity.

Parking: There is parking onsite. Please use the overflow car park which has been assigned to our event.

Tubes and Trains: Closest station is Leyton, followed by an 17 min walk.

Buses: W15 and 308 (Spitalfields Market stop).

Accessible parking bays, Accessible changing room with an accessible shower. There is a hoist in the accessible toilet and an accessible shower.

There will also be a quiet room available for any young people that may need to use it.

https://www.londonyouthgames.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/LSS30-08-LYG-2024-Qualifier-Competitions-and-Hub-Finals-RA-V4.pdf

https://www.londonyouthgames.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/LYG-Safeguarding-Children-and-Young-People-Policy-Nov22F.pdf

https://www.londonyouthgames.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/LYG-Code-of-Conduct-V1.pdf

https://www.londonyouthgames.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/LYG-Media-Policy.pdf