Rules and Regulations: Boccia (Open)

Download the PDF below:

LYG26 Open Boccia Rules

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EVENT OVERVIEW

East Competition: Wednesday 25^th February 2026 at Lee Valley Hockey & Tennis Centre, E20 3AD

West Competition: Thursday 26^th February 2026 at Harrow Leisure Centre, HA3 5BD

Approx. Timings: Registration: 10:00, Competition 10:45 – 14:30

Contact: emma@londonyouthgames.org

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Entry Information

 Squad Entry Deadline: Wednesday 11^th February 2026

Squad Nomination and on the Day Size: Minimum – 3 & Maximum – 9

Competitions: Mixed Gender

Event Allocations will be sent out by 31^st September 2025.

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Eligibility Criteria

 The competition is open to young people who fall under BC 1-8 of the Boccia England Classification Guide.

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

In line, with Boccia England, all young people in the following impairment groups are eligible to participate:

 Age Categories:

 Substitutions:  

Each borough is permitted two substitutions, so long as the maximum squad size on the day is not exceeded. All substitution details must be provided at registration on the day of the event.

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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 discretion of LYG personnel and 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 3 Eligibility

BOC 3.1 It is the responsibility of BTO’s and Team Managers 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 3.2 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.

BOC 3.3 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:

Please note young people whose prime and only disability is mild leaning disability ( MLD)-G5 or hearing impaired-G3A are not eligible to compete.

BOC 3.4 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 5.2.4 A player’s device must be seen to make a clear swing both ways before throwing any ball

BOC 5.2.5 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 5.2.6 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 higher 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

• 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 the above rules have been applied, a tie break as per BOC 6.3 shall take place between the respective teams.

BOC 8.2 Final Jubilee Positions

BOC 8.2.1 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 8.2.2 Jubilee points will be awarded at East and West events.

BOC 8.2.3 The finalists at each event will be invited to play in a Boccia finals showdown on Friday 3^rd July. Medals will be awarded accordingly-but no Jubilee points.

BOC 9 Medals & Trophies

             BOC 9.1 Medals and trophies will be awarded to the overall winner and top 3 positions at each East and West events.