New Boccia Club in Bolton

Richard_Scope

CP Networker, Carla is starting a new Boccia club in her home town of BOLTON. If you, or anyone you may know, would be interested in going along on a Friday afternoon to play or even to try the game - please click the link and join her new Facebook group, Bolton Boccia

egister

Why is this game promoted among disabled people around the world?

Jimm_Scope

https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/comment/911939#Comment_911939

It is a sport that was specifically designed for people who have severely affected motor skills. So that is in part why it's promoted among disability groups. It doesn't mean you need to be disabled to play it of course, just it's designed for it to be very accessible to people who have a disability that affects their motor function/skills that can make most sports very difficult to take part in. 🙂

egister

https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/comment/911941#Comment_911941

Yes, but this does not explain the synchronism of the propaganda of this sport in different countries of the world.

Jimm_Scope

https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/comment/912289#Comment_912289

It's a major sport in the Paralympics, being one of two that is unique to the Paralympics and isn't a direct adaptation from a sport in the Olympics….. and the Paralympics just happened.

egister

Boccia has been contested at the Summer Paralympics since the 1984 Games in New York City and Stoke Mandeville.

Welli

Hi and thanks to Richard for posting and starting this chat here on Scope.

I am the founder of Bolton Boccia Club which meets at Horwich Sports Centre BL6 5PY. Friday's 2.30-3.30 for those living with physical disabilities.

I am also a player and a qualified coach and referee with Safeguarding certificates and DBS. I have been playing for several years now and am currently a BC6 classification ranked 6th in the UK and came 4th in Poland last year.

I have searched the internet regarding the contesting of Boccia as an olympic sport and cannot see any reference to this being the case. The reason why the sport of Boccia is being promoted is because their is no other sport to date that is so inclusive as Boccia.

If you are not able to propel the ball a player can use their feet. If you cannot hold the ball, the player can use a pointer which is strapped to their head and then rolls the ball down a ramp. Some players can also use a ramp if they have very weak arms and hand. It appears that other sports do not have the ability to accommodate a player in this way because of the way in which other sports are played.

Yes one does not need to be disabled to play Boccia, however, to enter competitions with Boccia England the National Governing Body (NGB) and Paralympics, one would have to have a physical disability, however, Paralympic athletes are only eligible to enter the games if they are classified a BC1-BC4 and meet the entry requirements with regards to competitions leading up to the games. Boccia England embrace all classifications in their competitions around the country.

Boccia is unique and can is played literally by all.

I hope that this has explained some of the questions here and I am sorry that I have not been able to get back to you all sooner. Trying to get a sport off the ground can take a lot of ones time :).

If any of you have any further questions and curious about Boccia, live in and around Bolton, please pop in and see what it is all about, get the feel of the game and see if it is for you.

Thanks for your time.

Carla

Jimm_Scope

Thank you @Welli, that did help clear up a few things I didn't know about it. I've liked similar games in the past, if there's a boccia club not far from me I'll try visiting it

Welli

Hi Jimm_Scope,

Thanks for your reply. Just to let you know and those interested in Boccia, I should have mentioned that if you access Boccia England website and go to their page Find a club, it will list all the clubs within the UK. Just click here and follow the websites' direction https://www.bocciaengland.org.uk/ . If you have any problems please get back to me and I will try and assist.

If anybody has further questions regarding Boccia please let me know here. Now I know this page is live and active I will endeavour to keep in touch with you all.