Bocce, aka… Italian Lawn Bowling, is Enjoyed Worldwide Still Today and is One of the Oldest Yard Games.

People spell it boccie, bocci, or bocce, depending on which part of the state they’re from.  Around these parts, it’s spelled bocce.

Bocce is a sport closely related to ancient games played in the Roman Empire that developed into its present form in Italy.  The Italians have played bocce for centuries and it’s one of the oldest games known to mankind. 

The size of the bocce is 3 ½” to 5”.  The boccino is about 2 ½”.  No lead-filled or metal ball is allowed in a tournament. In Italy, they play in a court, here in Collinsville, we play cross country.

The first bocce ball tournament held in the United States occurred in Springfield, IL in August 1939. The first Collinsville Italian Fest was organized by Joe Ashmann and held on Columbus Day, October 1984. That year, the bocce tournament was held where the Collinsville Memorial Library parking lot stands today.  The teams competing for a first and second place got caught in a thunderstorm but continued to play.  It turned cold that October and everyone was on the porch of Ciuferi’s Funeral Home.  Joe Ashmann brought a big pot of chili down, which went over well.

The tournament was held there for two years.  In the third year, the tournament moved to the Jung Brothers Pontiac lot. Rain delayed the tournament the fourth year, but it was held the following week at the American Legion. The tournament then moved to the high-rise home on Aurora Street, until the tournament outgrew that site and was relocated to Woodland Park for a couple of years. The games finally ended up in Glidden Park, where they are still held today.