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COSTS:Bocce sets range in price from $30 and up. There is no fee to join local associations.•

RULES: The sport is played with one small ball, called a pallino, and eight larger bocce balls — four for each team. The pallino is tossed first and becomes the target. Each bocce ball is thrown with the object to get each ball as close to the pallino as possible.The team with the ball closest to the pallino at the end of the round gets the point. If it has two balls closer than the nearest opposing ball, it gets two points, etc.A coin toss determines which team tosses the pallino first. The team scoring the point throws the pallino to begin the next round. Games are generally played to nine, 12 or 15 points.•

INFO: www.bocce.org•

FAMOUS COMPETITORS:Robert Barone (1941-95) attained international status as a result of numerous tournament victories. Galileo, Leonardo da Vinci, Queen Elizabeth, Sir Francis Drake and George Washington also played.