Event Information
Booking
- This is an Inclusive Borough Championships level event.
- If an event reaches capacity, schools will be placed on a waiting list and advised accordingly.
- MSSP will contact schools if places become available in the lead up to the event.
Event Eligibility
- Pupils with SEND should be prioritised by schools when selecting a squad.
- To progress to the London Youth Games: ‘All competitors should have an identified additional need or disability.’
- Specific SEND inclusivity details on how we approach each of our inclusive festivals and competitions can be found via our Inclusion page on this site.
- School squads should be well prepared and have time to practise with the competition rules before attending this event.
- There will also be Inclusive Multi-Skill events being delivered this year.
- Please consider the most appropriate event for your pupils to attend before registering.
Team Eligibility
- Age: KS2 (Year 3/4/5/6)
- Squad size: Maximum of 5, minimum of 3 in a squad.
- Mixed gender event. Teams are required to enter at least 1 member of opposite gender.
- There must be at least one 1 member of opposite gender on court at all times.
Kit & Equipment
- Players of the same school should wear the same colour tops/bibs.
- No jewellery permitted.
- All children must wear appropriate footwear.
Rules
- Boccia is a game similar to bowls where each team’s objective is to try and position their balls as close to the target ball (jack) as possible. A game consists of two sides, the red side and the blue side. Each team is made of 3 players with 2 balls.
- 3 on court at any time (minimum 1 girl + 1 boy).
- Group games played at two ends (dependent on time available). Finals played at three ends (dependent on time available).
- All players must be seated during the game.
- The ball can be propelled by rolling, throwing or kicking. A ramp may be used to help children when rolling.
- The red side always propels the jack in the first end.
- The jack ball is white and is thrown first. The jack ball must cross the ‘V’ line to be in play.
- The player who propels the jack ball also propels their team’s first coloured ball.
- A player from the opposite side then propels their first coloured ball.
- The side furthest from the jack plays until they get closest or run out of balls.
- The end is complete when all balls from both sides have been propelled.
- One point is awarded for every ball of the same colour which is closest to the jack.
- The blue side then starts the second end.
- After both ends have been completed the winning side is the team with the higher accumulative score from both ends. If the scores are equal during group stages a draw is given. If scores are equal during knockout stages a tiebreak end is played.
- A tie break end – 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 jack ball.
Competition Format
- Points awarded are: 3 for a win, 1 for a draw and 0 for a loss.
- Group placing determined by: points accrued, score difference, points scored, head to head result (if 2 teams).
Draw Format
- First stage is round robin groups. Final group standings will be determined from results. Winners of the groups will take top seed of their group, 2nd take 2nd seed of their group, etc.
- All teams will progress to a second stage of competition according to their placement in the first round, with the format to be determined by the number of schools entered.
Awards and Results
Awards
- Winners: GOLD medal, certificates and Trophy.
- Runners Up: SILVER medal and certificates.
- 3rd Place: BRONZE medal and certificates.
- REFSPECT winners – Certificate.
- Participation certificates will be presented to all participants.
Results
- Results and event report will be available on the news webpage within 24 hours of the event ending.
Progression Pathway
- The winner (or highest placed eligible team) will represent Merton at the London Youth Games. All details TBC.
- To progress to the London Youth Games: ‘Young people that fall into any of the Boccia England Classifications (BC 1-8) are eligible to participate in this competition.’
Staffing and Spectators
Spectators will not be permitted entry to any school or private bookings at sports facilities. Primary schools must inform parents in advance when inviting students to take part. All staff attending the event must have enhanced DBS clearance and have been fully vetted by their primary school. DBS numbers, full name and school will be required in advance by the host school.
NGB Info
For supporting Boccia in your school please visit: https://bocciaengland.org.uk/
MSSP Duty of Care
At Merton School Sport Partnership, the safety, wellbeing and inclusion of every participant is our highest priority. Our Duty of Care framework outlines the measures we take to ensure all events are safe, enjoyable and accessible, covering key areas including safeguarding, health and safety, equality, diversity and inclusion, risk assessments, medical provision, codes of conduct, photography and data protection.
We ask all schools, staff, volunteers and participants to familiarise themselves with these expectations before attending MSSP events.
For full details, please download the MSSP Duty of Care document or visit the relevant section of our website HERE for further guidance, policies and event information.