What you need to know about boccia

While many people don’t even know how to pronounce boccia (note to self: it rhymes with gotcha), it is the fastest-growing disability sport in the world. A Paralympic sport with no Olympic counterpart, it is a game of strategy and accuracy.  

And Britain is home to some of the best boccia players in the world. The GB squad returned home from the World Boccia Championships in Rio last December with a gold and two silvers and is on track to perform well at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games.

But you don’t have to be a Paralympian to enjoy boccia…

Similar to boules, players must throw, roll or kick coloured balls as close as possible to a white target ball, known as the “jack.”  

Testing muscle control, strategy and accuracy, you can compete as an individual, pairs or as a team of three over a set number of ends. Each side has six balls (red or blue) each end to try and score points. Points are accumulated over the course of a match to find a winner. 

It is a straightforward sport which is a big help for beginners when they get started. But don’t be fooled, it is harder than it looks. It’s a game of huge precision and control. As skills improve, the tactics of the sport offer both tension and excitement. The balls are of different weights and designs to do different jobs—one might roll carefully while another might destroy the current court set-up. 

“Every match is different, every ball thrown can change a match,” says Stephen McGuire from Lanarkshire. And he should know. He is the defending European Champion. 

Anyone can play boccia. David Smith OBE is the reigning Paralympic champion and when he isn’t training or competing internationally, he runs a community club in Swansea.

David Smith at the 2022 World Championships in Rio

He says, “It’s the most inclusive sport on the planet! Non disabled people can compete alongside people with disabilities which makes it a great sport to be played in schools. For those that can’t throw or kick a ball, a player can use a ramp and be joined on court by a ramp assistant. They can also wear a head pointer to propel the ball.” 

The sport was originally created for people with cerebral palsy but has widened and evolved to include many other conditions. While boccia can be played and enjoyed by all at club level, and that includes non-disabled people, elite competitors must have impairments in all four limbs.  

Playing boccia is hugely beneficial. Fiona Muirhead has recently joined the Boccia UK squad and says that playing has improved her condition. “I have muscular dystrophy and I started out by playing curling but the cold conditions really didn’t suit me. They suggested I try the local boccia club and not only have I travelled to various countries playing at top competitions, but the training and playing has really stabilised my condition.” 

Scott McCowan has recently retired from international competition after a hugely successful 16-year career which has seen him compete at three Paralympic Games. He has Duchenne’s Muscular Dystrophy and says, “Often people think they can’t play a sport because of their disability. Sometimes there is a nervousness in case it worsens a condition. But really people should play as soon as possible. Boccia keeps me active and fit which is crucial for my quality of life. And in terms of mental wellbeing, the sociable side of the sport is fantastic and it can help boost confidence and self-esteem too.” 

Britain will be expected to field a strong team of boccia players across the four different categories: BC1, BC2, BC3 and BC4. 

The results from December’s World Championships in Rio certainly augur well for Great Britain as they returned home with a gold and two silvers. It was the first time that the squad appeared in three World Championships finals while Claire Taggart made history by becoming the first female to win the BC2 women’s World Championship title after World Boccia introduced separate male and female individual competitions. 

Claire Taggart at the 2022 World Championships in Rio

Meanwhile, David Smith OBE—the most successful British boccia player of all time—will be vying for his third consecutive Paralympic title in Paris. 

There are clubs and leagues cropping up across the UK. Just get in touch with the following organisations to find out where your nearest boccia club is. 

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