The Day of Games – Leagues, Gear, Awesome times.

INCLUDED IN YOUR CROQUET SET –
6 – Croquet Balls (6 colors)
6 – Mallets
9 – Wickets
2 – Can Coolers (koozie’s)
1 – Bottle Opener

BASICS –
Smack your croquet ball under the wickets in order and into the posts. Least amount of strokes possible.

AREA OF PLAY –
Croquet can be played anywhere – Park, Backyard, Alleyway; pretty much any open area. It is not recommended that you use this set indoors, but feel free to play wherever you like. Just stick to the “Basics” and only hit your croquet balls under the wickets and at the stakes. Do not swing the mallets at anything else or throw the balls at anything else.  Beware of others while playing.

CROQUET LAYOUT–
The standard 9-wicket croquet layout is pictured to the right.  However, you can place the 9 inner wickets in any locations you like.  Boundaries need to be established, out of bounds balls go back on the boundary.

CROQUET RULES PER THE DAY OF GAMES –
There are various ways to play Croquet and many ways to keep score. This is the Day of Games way. The rules below describe games played one team vs. another team (or 1 person vs. 1 person, up 6 people (or teams) playing at once).

a) Determine who goes first, second, third, etc.

b) Player 1places first ball in between first stake and first wicket, then begins the game.  Each player will start exactly the same way by placing the ball in between first stake and wicket and striking with mallet.

c) If the ball passes through both wickets, the player receives two bonus strokes. Generally, bonus strokes do not accumulate – only the last bonus strokes earned are allowed (the exception being the two wickets at the starting or turning stakes). Bonus strokes are awarded for going under a wicket, for striking a stake, or for hitting another ball (this is called roqueting and you get 2 extra strokes).

d) Roqueting – If a player roquets there are four options.
1) Take 2 bonus strokes from where the players ball lands.
2) Place the players ball a single mallet head’s length away from the ball hit and take 2 strokes.
3) Place ball  next to the ball hit. Then hit own ball so that it moves both balls.  Then take another shot.
4) Place own ball side by side with the struck ball. Then placing foot on own ball strike it so as to move the other ball without moving own.   Then take another shot.

e) A player can only roquet once per turn unless the player goes through a wicket or hits the turning stake.

f) If another moves another player’s ball through a wicket or causes it to hit a stake, the wicket or stake is scored, but no bonus strokes are awarded.

First team to go through all wickets and hit the final stake – wins!

The last bottle opener you will ever need to take tailgating.  The Bocce Bottle Opener is an all-in-one masterpiece for Bocce Beer enthusiasts.  This thing comes with 3 feet of tape measure so you can see who is closer to the Pallino, it opens bottles with ease, it’s a keychain, AND it includes a flashlight for those night-bocce sessions.  The Day of Games includes this piece of sporting goods equipment with all bocce purchases.

For non-Bocce purchases, there is the standard bottle opener.  Sleek silver design, this keychain bottle opener fits right in your pocket.  Is this as cool as the sandal bottle opener, or ring bottle opener, or credit card bottle opener?… probably not.  But The Day of Games bottle opener comes free with all gear purchases!

INCLUDED IN BOCCE SETS –

8 – Bocce balls (2 different designs)
1 – Pallino (jack)
2 – Can Coolers (koozie’s)
1 – Bottle Opener / Tape Measure

BASICS –
Toss/Roll/Bounce/Heave/Fling/Throw big balls (Bocce) at the little ball (Pallino). Closer is better.

AREA OF PLAY –
Bocce can be played anywhere – Beach, Park, Backyard, Alleyway; pretty much any open area. It is not recommended that you use this set indoors, but feel free to play wherever you like. Just stick to the “Basics” and only throw Bocce Balls at the Pallino. Do not throw bocce balls at anything else.

COURT SIZE (optional) –
Most people just play Bocce in any open area.  The Pallino is tossed and then the Bocce balls follow. If you are interested in building your own official backyard Bocce course, then the dimensions are as follows:
13 foot box, then a 65 foot rectangle, then another 13 foot box.
There are boundary walls typically created around the entire court.

BOCCE BALL RULES PER THE DAY OF GAMES –
There are various ways to play Bocce and many ways to keep score. This is the Day of Games way. Bocce can be played 1vs.1, 2vs.2, 3vs.3, 4vs.4 or even 5+vs.5+ (if you have enough bocce balls).  The rules below describe games played one team vs. another team.  This can be 1vs.1, 2vs.2, or 4vs.4. If you would like to play Bocce Ball with more than 2 teams the rules are very similar but each person gets their own balls to play with rather than partnering up with a teammate.  The rest of the rules are the same with regard to scoring, order, and how to play bocce.

Playing in an open area:
1) Decide which team will toss first.
2) This team will create a line in the playing field and this will act as the foul line. Nobody is allowed to walk past this line until all the Bocce balls are thrown.  If someone crosses the foul line this will result in a negative point! (optional rule)
3) Team drawing the line will toss the Pallino into the field of play
4) This same team will act first and throw a Bocce ball at the Pallino. Teams then alternate throws.
5) Once all the Bocce balls have been thrown the scoring of this round takes place. Only one team is allowed to score in each round. A point is awarded for each ball that is closer to the Pallino than the closest ball of the opponents.
6) Optional Rule – Award 2 points to any ball that is touching the Pallino.
7) The game can be played to 11, 21, or any number you come up with. Win by 2 points.

Playing in a court with boundary walls: Same rules apply as above with these additions -
8 ) The Pallino cannot hit the back wall on its initial toss.  It is allowed to hit the back wall during game play.
9 ) Thrown Bocce balls cannot hit the back wall.  This is considered out of boundaries and the ball is dead.

Bocce Leagues for your enjoyment.

TO PLAY BOCCE BALL!

not really.

but The Day of Games is willing to host a bocce match between Bernie Madoff (who we recently discovered plays bocce in prison) and Tiger.

Who will win this battle of the downtrodden?

TAILGATE GAMES: You NEED them!

Football - If you are heading to a football game, this will get you in the right mindset.  NFL games are great, college games are awesome, but what about the little football game you can play while waiting for your meat to finish up on the grill. 2 hand touch, tackle, whatever.  Just play football before watching football.

Cornhole (Bags) – Throw the bean bag into the hole.  Too damn easy.  If it’s so easy why doesn’t the bag go in every time!?  Cornhole is amazing at tailgates because its something children can play, drunk college kids can stumble through, and even grandpa tailgater can join the fun.  Most home-made sets are 2ft x 4ft but there are also short-board cornhole sets that are lighter and easier to transport.  The cornhole bags each weigh about 1 pound and are filled with whole-kernel corn.  Cornhole games can get intense due to the scorekeeping, so be prepared to battle.

Bocce - Heave big ball at little ball.  Well, the big balls are called Bocce Balls and the little white one is called a Pallino.  Bocce games are great at tailgates since it’s so easy to play bocce with one hand, and hold your beer with the other.  A good tailgate set is probably a lighter version so that it doens’t hit anyone in the legs and inflict some damage.  100mm Bocce Balls are a good size.  Don’t tailgate today without a bocce set in your vehicle.

Horseshoes - Tough for crowded tailgates, but if you are on a nice spread out lawn… set up the shoes!  Horseshoes is one of the ultimate leisure sports so it has to be played at tailgates when possible.  Keep your horseshoe throws under control and keep an eye on the stakes.  Don’t set this game up near drunk people who may fall over into the field of play.  Enjoy a horseshoe game the next time you go tailgating.

Ladder Toss - What a great tailgate game.  It has a zillion names (ladder balls, hillbilly horseshoes, hillbilly golf, testicle toss, lasso golf, redneck golf, dingle balls, chinese golf, monkey golf, monkey balls, beer nuts, and even a trademarked version – ladder golf).  Many people have followed “build your own ladder toss” instructions and have created some pretty good sets.  The tough part is generally the golf balls to create the Bolas.  Ladder Toss is great at tailgates because it is a relatively new tailgate game so people love coming over and giving it a shot, or at least watching your game.  If you enjoy an audience and exploring new lawn games – give ladder toss a try.

Beersbee - Another new-comer to the tailgate scene.  This game also has a few names (Beersbee, beersbie, frisnock, beerzbee, beer frisbee).  It is pretty simple to play, all you need is a frisbee (ultimate disc) and a couple of sticks.  If you want an official set you can buy one here of course.  Otherwise you just place some cans on some sticks and try to knock them over.  I don’t want to get into the beersbee rules here, so you will have to read all about it another time.  Perfect tailgate game to play!  The ultimate disc can be used outside of the beersbee game just to toss around and have a great time.  It can also be played all over the tailgate area and it fits nicely in the back of your shirt so you can just waltz right in the stadium.  Try and hide a football in your shirt and you will understand!

Beer Pong - The old beer pong tailgating is starting to migrate from the college ranks up to the pro-tailgating scene.  Cups, beer pong balls, a beer pong table and beer.  So easy.  No excuses as to why you don’t have beer pong at your tailgate.  Beer Pong tables are now foldable!  They fit right in the backseat of any car, not just trucks or SUV’s, ANY car.  An 8ft table will fold up to 2 ft.  Amazing.  Where has the foldable beer pong table been my whole life!?  Well, I am glad it’s here now and beer pong tailgating is officially here to stay. You don’t need any beer pong rules, just throw the little beer pong ball into the cups.  Drink.  Repeat.

Koozies and Openers - I know koozies (can coolers) and bottle openers are not a tailgate game, but you need to be able to open drinks and then keep them cold while you are playing games… so get them!  Or better yet… koozies and an opener come FREE with every Day of Games purchase of game gear.  So you are set. Lucky DOG.

The Bocce Ball designs are getting slapped on the packaging right now!  Why would you buy another bocce set after laying your eyes on this sleek set.  We know you won’t be thirsty while playing, so all of our gear comes with koozies and a bottle opener.  Enjoy!

Buying a new bocce set?

Are you in your 20’s or 30’s and looking for an alternative to the local kickball leagues?  There is a new leisure sports league coming to town.  Hang out, meet people, and enjoy some beers. 
The DogDaze Sports Leagues offer tailgate games – stuff that everyone can play.  Ever wanted to join a Cornhole League? Bocce League? Horseshoes League? Or just enjoy a rec-league that is a little mellower than your soccer league, basketball league, and softball league? DogDaze offers the best leisure sports around and then partners with bars to host drink specials.  Play ALL the tailgate games, not just one.  The games change each week so you’ll always have a great time with a new game. Join the rec-league solo or sign up with a team.

You can be competitive, relaxed, or just come chill and meet some good people.

7-week recreation leagues are coming to San Diego rec leagues, Los Angelesrec leagues, San Francisco rec leagues, Portland rec leagues, Seattle rec leagues, Dallas rec leagues, Miami rec leagues, Chicago rec leagues, Denver rec leagues, New York rec leagues, and many more cities.

Play at a park or beach for an hour or so.
Head to a nearby bar and enjoy some beers and cocktails.
Repeat for 7 weeks.
Meet, Mingle and Compete!