Our six weeks of practice and dedication on the bocce courts paid off at the 2010 Special Olympics Summer Games at Vanderbilt.  In the morning competition, Team 1 (Arthur Howard and Cheree Finchum) and Team 2 (Vinnie and Grandpa Vinnie Agosta) both received Gold medals for the single team competition. Team 3 (Phil Brown and Steven Magner) received a Silver medal and Team 4 (Ben and Michael Porchakin) received a Bronze medal. Later in the afternoon they were grouped into two teams of four (Vinnie, Vinnie, Ben & Michael and Cheree, Arthur, Phil & Steven) and both teams won Gold medals!  It was a VERY hot day but everyone had a lot of fun and exhibited great sportsmanship.  A few dance moves were demonstrated on the courts at times also.

 

Bocce is a sport that is easy to learn and a little like bowling. You have the option of partnering up with other L.E.A.R.N. athletes or a friend/family member to become a unified team. We will start back up next Spring. I hope you come out and check out the fun and take a roll.

 

Keep reading your L.E.A.R.N. newsletter for more information about bocce and other sports/activities available to our athletes.

 

Diane Salmonson

Bocce Coach

 

 

L.E.A.R.N. BOCCE Court Dedication Ceremony

August 15, 2009

 

 

L.E.A.R.N. BOCCE Court Dedication Ceremony

Click here to read the DNJ article...

 

2009 Bocce Ball Team

 

L.E.A.R.N. Builds & Donates BOCCE Courts To Murfreesboro Parks & Recreation

 

On June 12, 2009, a very special group of L.E.A.R.N. volunteers got together at the SportsCom at McKnight Park in Murfreesboro to begin working on the construction of two new BOCCE Courts. It took two Saturdays and a lot of post holes to dig before the project was completed on June 19 ^th but what a great job well done by all. Many thanks go to all the families, kids and friends who helped with the construction of the Courts.  

This was a tremendous accomplishment by all who participated and gave of their time and efforts to make it happen. This project was first conceived by L.E.A.R.N. as one of many proposals presented to OIAM (Operation In As Much). OIAM is an annual event in Murfreesboro where nonprofit organizations like L.E.A.R.N. are asked to submit a project they would like to do for the community.

A very special thanks goes to the following people and businesses who helped L.E.A.R.N. complete the Project, Bill Bickford from St. Rose for his leadership and expertise in the design and engineering of the project, to LOWES Lumber, who helped provide the materials for the project and to Bart Fite, Lanny Goodwin and the City of Murfreesboro for their support of the project.

See all of the Bocce Court project at the L.E.A.R.N. Photo Gallery

 

Bocce is a game of skill and strategy. The object is for one team to get as many of their balls (boccia) closer to the pallina (the smallest ball) than the opposing team's closest ball.

There may be anywhere from two to four to eight players on a team. Each player is given two balls. Each player must then take turns rolling (lagging) the ball toward the pallina ball (also known as the jack, cue, beebee etc.), which has already been thrown onto the field. The players are given points for the balls rolled closest to the pallina ball. Players may also throw on the fly (volo), striking the ball to move the point ball. Balls, including the pallina, may also be displaced by the balls of other players.                                                                                                                                                                       
Special Olympics athletes can also participate in Unified Sports® bocce competition. Special Olympics Unified Sports is a program that combines Special Olympics athletes and athletes without intellectual disabilities (partners) on sports teams for training and competition.

In Unified Sports bocce, a doubles team would consist of one Special Olympics athlete and one partner; a team would consist of two Special Olympics athletes and two partners.

As in all Special Olympics sports, athletes are grouped in competition divisions according to ability level, age and gender.

Bocce Facts
Bocce is one of Special Olympics' newer sports, having been introduced at the World Games level for the first time in 1995.
The 2003 Special Olympics World Summer Games hosted 180 bocce athletes from 39 Special Olympics Programs.
As of the 2005 Special Olympics Athlete Participation Report, 90,884 Special Olympics athletes compete in bocce.
Bocce Events
Singles (one player per team)
Doubles (two players per team)
Team Competition (four players per team)
Unified Sports Bocce Doubles (two players per team)
Unified Sports Bocce Team (four players per team)

• 100% of all donations LEARN receives go directly towards the programs and services provided giving it a 100% Program Efficiency Rating for a nonprofit organization. There are no management or salary fees associated with the organization. L.E.A.R.N. receives no funds from the government, which makes our fundraising efforts crucial to the organization’s success.

   

  The success of the L.E.A.R.N. group largely depends on the contributions made by our supporters and volunteers.

  If you like to help people you have come to the right place. We have a large variety of volunteer activities, including sports training, fund raising, competition planning, etc.

  Experience the joy and satisfaction from knowing you've made a difference in someone's life.

  BECOME A L.E.A.R.N. SPONSOR

  

  Click banner to download form, Free Adobe reader required 

Volunteers are a vital part of our community. Volunteers contribute time, wisdom and unique talents which help to make our community stronger and further our mission of supporting the independence and inclusion of people with special needs.

 

For more information regarding L.E.A.R.N., please contact us.