Boccia
Boccia was practised for many years as a leisure activity before being introduced at the New York 1984 Paralympics as a competitive sport. It is one of only two Paralympic sports that do not have an Olympic counterpart, alongside Goalball.
Boccia is a sport for disabled athletes where the nature of impairment has a major impact on motor skills and functional ability. Boccia is a target ball sport belonging to the same family as pétanque and bowls. The game of strategy and accuracy was originally designed to be played by people with cerebral palsy. Now, the sport includes athletes with impairments that affect motor skills across four classification groups.
Photo © Disability Sport Wales / Riley Sports Photography. Tom Martin, Disability Sport Wales Boccia Coordinator, lines up a shot at insport Series: Para Sport Festival
Get Involved
Boccia activity may be happening in your local authority. You can refer to the club finder to find a club near you.
Disability Sport Wales has created Boccia resource cards containing nine activities and games that can be played at home or at a sports facility.
For more information about coaching and volunteering, please Contact Us.
Competitive Pathways
There are pathways that lead to:
Paralympic Games
World Championships
European ChampionshipsTo find out what your potential is and and for guidance in competitive pathways, please complete the Disability Sport Wales #inspireform.
Eligibility for Boccia as competed at World Championships and Paralympic Games
To compete in Boccia in a Paralympic pathway, a person must have an eligible impairment type. The eligible impairment types for Boccia are:
- Impaired muscle power
- Athetosis
- Impaired passive range of movement
- Hypertonia
- Limb deficiency
- Ataxia
BC1
Cerebral
BC1 athletes have severe activity limitations affecting their legs, arms and trunk, and typically dependent on a powered wheelchair.
BC1 athletes have impairment affecting all four limbs and their trunk. An athlete may be classified into BC1 Class if they have restricted or involuntary movement in their arms, severley affecting their range, control and grip, as well as significant impairment in trunk control. They may propel the ball with their hand or foot.
BC1 athletes may have an assistant to steady their chair, or give the ball to the althete when requested.
BC2
Cerebral
BC2 players have better trunk and arm function than those in class BC1. The abilities of their arms and hands often allow them to throw the ball overhand and underhand and with a variety of grasps. BC2 players release the ball with their hands, and are not eligible for assistance.
BC3
Cerebral and non-cerebral
BC3 class athletes have significant limitations in arm and leg functions, and poor or no trunk control. They are unable to consistently grasp or release the ball and are unable to propel the ball consistently into the field of play and allowed to use a ramp with the help of a Sport Assistant. The Sport Assistant will position the ramp as requested by the player. The athlete will use a pointer, attached to their head, held in their mouth, or held in their hand to release the ball down the ramp.
BC4
Non-cerebral
The BC4 class contains players with non-cerebral impairments that also impact their co-ordination. They may be a wheelchair user, and their impairment likely affects their grip and/or strength.
