The game of bocce, which originated in Italy and has been around since the Roman Empire, is one of the oldest lawn bowling games. These men are playing the game in Twentieth Century Park in Garfield, N.J.
Bocce is played in an area about 12 feet wide and 60 feet long. Wood or metal balls, each weighing about one pound, are used. A smaller ball called the jack, or pallino, is used as a target. The object of the game is to toss or roll balls as close to the jack as possible. The game begins when one member of a team throws the jack into the game. Then each team member throws a ball toward the jack. Each ball that is closer to the jack than the nearest ball of the opposing team scores one point.
In Twentieth Century Park, a little Italian community has its own area where most of the members meet every day. They play bocce, cards and chess or just watch others play. All were born in Italy, except for a handful of Italian background who were born in the United States. All are retired.
Every third week the players and their families have a picnic . Even in the winter, when they have to shovel snow from the court, these retired senior citizens go to the park to play bocce. Together they take care of the court.
Through bocce, these men have created bonds of friendship and devotion to the game that have lasted for decades. All of them seem to be in great physical and psychological health with a lot of energy to play, watch and argue.
Sun Yi, Nerissa Villaluna and Marcela Kepicova photographed the Garfield bocce players for Nick Kline’s class at Rutgers-Newark. Posted January 2006.
