Bocce ball is relaxed way to socialize with others
Bocce ball enthusiasts have found a home in Houston — joining leagues that allow them to strategize and socialize during weekly matches.
Major League Bocce meets on Tuesdays at the Brooklyn Athletic Club, 601 Richmond Ave. in Midtown, and Wednesdays at Cottonwood, 3422 N Shepherd Drive near the Heights.
There are three seasons a year and each lasts eight weeks.
Participants pay $60 each to sign up and receive food and drink specials at the bar, a tshirt and access to end-of-the season party, as well as eight weeks of social outings at the bocce course.
Memorial resident Will Haley brought the sport league to the Houston area.
He was looking for a way to meet and connect with new people, when he noticed that a friend had joined Major League Bocce in Dallas. He was intrigued by the casual atmosphere of a group that meets to play a sport while snacking and having drinks at a bar.
The overall goal of bocce ball is to toss the ball as close to a target as possible, according to the bocce ball webpage backyardbrigade.com.
“I’ve always loved horse shoes, washers and tailgates games,” he said. “I like to socialize, hangout and drink beer; so I became interested in starting a bocce group in Houston.”
Haley had never heard of bocce until attending his 10year college reunion. He had rented a house in Wimberley with a few friends and there was a bocce ball court on the
property.
“We were all like, ‘What is this?’ ” Haley said.
We looked it up and started a tournament. We had a lot of fun. It’s an easy game to learn.”
Confident that he could teach the sport to others, he started the first league in 2013 with the help of Racheal Preston, managing partner of Major League Bocce.
She helped found the group, starting with the creation of the D. C. Bocce League in 2014.
“We were sitting around drinking some beers,” Preston said.
“We wanted to start something that would have the benefits of kickball and give us an excuse to be silly.”
The group started in Washington D.C. in 2004 with 60 people signing up for the first season.
“Word of mouth traveled about how much fun we were having,” Preston said.
“We grew in D.C. until 2011, adding locations. Then we expanded to Philadelphia, and we started adding cities every year after that.”
Now Major League Bocce is starting its fifth season in Houston.
There are usually 10 to 14 teams per season, each made up of five to nine people.
Games last about 45 minutes, and the players generally stay late to socialize.
Haley said half of the players have never tried the game before.
“I ask them, ‘Who’s never played before?’ ” he said.
“Tons of hands shoot up. I tell them the rules and within 15 minutes, they’re pros.”
He believes that bocce is an ideal alternative to kickball or softball.
“It’s much more low impact,” he said.
“It’s a very social atmosphere. Everyone has fun and no one is here to relive their high school glory days.”
Preston said that the nature of the game makes it an easy way to meet people.
“The best thing about bocce is that it’s very social,” she said.
“It’s a game where you stand with your team and your opponents. There’s always something to discuss.
“It’s a natural conversation starter.”
Preston added that the game appeals to players of all types.
“It’s accessible to anybody,” she said. “You meet all kinds of people playing, not just those with a certain athletic ability.
“You get people who are competitive and also people who have never played sports before.”
Haley said he has already made a number of friends through the league.
“I look forward to it every week,” he said. “I love it. I’m not the best bocce ball player in the world, but I’m just there having a good time.”
He recommends the league to newcomers to Houston who are looking for a way to meet people.
“If you like playing a sport that you can hold a beer while competing, then this is a great game,” he said.
“It’s a nice mix of people too.”
Preston hopes the bocce community in Houston will continue to grow and that the league will pop up in other locations around the city.
“In Houston, we have a really good returning crew of people coming out every season,” she said.
““I believe there’s a huge potential to have four or five locations in the area.
“We get new people all the time. It’s definitely a great night out.”