Competitions Update

Competition Programme

Stage 2 Inter Club activity – can take place from 19th July 2021

Inter club competition can take place as outlined by the Back to Boccia Roadmap.

From this date ‘Inter club competition between two clubs can take place’.

Stage 3 Local/Regional and Pathway activity – from 20th August 2021

A small number of local/regional competitions will take place with restrictions.
A return to Pathway activity with restrictions.

National Boccia League

Expressions of interest will open for the National Boccia League in September 2021. We will then decide based on that interest whether the league is viable for the 2021/2022 season. All teams that paid an entry fee into the 2019/2020 league season will have their entry fee carried forward to the 2021/2022 season.

Super League

The eight Super League teams that took part in the partly completed 2019/2020 season will continue their campaigns to become Super League champions. Super League team managers will be contacted shortly with a proposal.

*NEW* Individuals league – Boccia England will pilot a new free individual’s league. Expressions of interest for this will open in October 2021. More information to follow.

*NEW* Local ‘Back to Boccia’ competitions – Boccia England will support local organisers to deliver competitive opportunities in their regional area. Look out for one in your area! Information on where these are taking place and how to enter will be shared in October 2021.

*NEW* ‘Back to Boccia’ Pathway competition – Boccia England will be delivering an individual’s competition on 18th and 19th September 2021 at EIS-Sheffield. This competition will be for BC1-4 pathway players and invites will be sent out by the 30th of July 2021.

Boccia England Schools Programme - Boccia England had hoped to be preparing for its thirteenth year of organising the Schools’ Competition Programme. Unfortunately, we will be unable to fund a Schools’ Competition Programme for the 2021/2022 academic year. Our long-term aim is to bring back a school’s programme for the 2022/2023 academic year, but this will be dependent on funding and resources. Why not check out our *new* ‘Virtually Boccia’ programme that has been engaging schools using online weekly challenges.

Stage 4 Modified Boccia England competitions – Spring 2022 TBC

A limited number of regional and national modified competitions will be available.

The BE Cup and Heathcoat Cup

The traditional BE Cup and Heathcoat Cup competitions will not take place in the 2021/2022 season. Instead Boccia England will create a limited number of modified ‘Back to Boccia’ competitions which will take place between February and July 2022. We will release details on these competitions in October 2021.

Stage 5 Return to BE competition programme – September 2022

A return to the full BE competition programme is expected for the 2022/2023 season.

Classification

Boccia England are planning to offer classification opportunities in 2021/2022 season.

Outstanding National Classification Reviews.

Back in October 2019 we released a classification update. The update outlined that any player with a confirmed national status would need to be reviewed under new international guidelines. If you were notified about needing a National Classification review and haven’t uploaded your medical diagnosis form onto your Boccia Base account please do this AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. If you need any help with this, please contact [email protected] or call 0115 9678455.

Over the last year we have been conducting a full review of our classification policy, processes and paperwork. We have some exciting new guidance for all very soon so watch this space!

Rankings

In May 2020 Boccia England confirmed on its website that the Boccia England Rankings Lists would be frozen and would not be updated due to the remainder of the 2019/2020 being cancelled. We would like to clearly set out an explanation for the rationale for this decision by the Competition Review Group in light of recent concerns raised by players. Please click here to read the statement.

Latest

Back to Boccia Cup Round-Up

‘Boccia Was Back’ over the weekend with our first competition in 18 months.
2021/22 Membership Update

To support our members and to reflect the ongoing restriction of activity and impact of Covid-19, a discount has been applied to the price of the 2021-2022 membership.
At Home Winter Wonderwheels!

We’re very excited to invite you to take part in the perfect mission to keep you super-charged this autumn – At Home Winter Wonderwheels powered by Marvel! This month-long challenge (5 November to 5 December) is super flexible and you don’t even have to leave your neighbourhood! So get those masks and capes ready!
Winter Wonderwheels!

SUPERHEROES & SIDEKICKS WANTED! Enter the Winter Wonderwheels event at Dorney Lake, Windsor, on 5th December 2021. Anyone can join the fun as long as at least one person per team considers themselves to have a disability (of any kind).

Back to Boccia Roadmap

The document below sets out Boccia England’s proposed return to play steps as we look forward to getting back on court and restarting all boccia activity in time.
Club and Group Guidance

The Boccia England club and group guidance sets out the measures needed to be in place to return to the court safely
Back to Boccia - FAQs

Please find some of the frequently asked questions and answers here.
Courses Guidance

The Boccia England course guidance sets out the measures in place to return to face to face education and training.
Back to Boccia Survey

We are keen to keep in contact with boccia players and volunteers to understand their feelings about the restrictions and a return to boccia when the time is right. We plan to run the survey every 5 weeks to see how people’s experiences are changing and to help us continue to safely manage the return to boccia.
Online Support

With the Back to Boccia guidance published, we have a Back to Boccia webinar, drop in sessions and the Boccia England ReActivate Training platform.
Further support

Further support and resources.

What is boccia?

Boccia is a Paralympic target sport, similar to bowls, which is played indoors by disabled players. Currently the fastest growing disability sport in the world, propelling balls to land as close as possible to a marker ball is the aim of the game and having originated in ancient Greece and Egypt, the sport is now played in over 50 countries worldwide.
Find a club

Find your nearest boccia club here.
Rules of the game

An overview of the rules of boccia
Introduction to boccia
Back to Boccia Cup

The Back to Boccia Cup is our first competition post-pandemic that will see some of the top BC1-4 players competing across 2 days in Sheffield.
Boccia England Competitions update

We are excited to return to competition. Read on to see our update and what we have planned!
Visually Impaired Boccia

A basic guide on how to play boccia when visually impaired using VI grids
Back to Boccia Roadmap

The document below sets out Boccia England’s proposed return to play steps as we look forward to getting back on court and restarting all boccia activity in time.
Staff

A who's who guide to our small staff team.
National Boccia Day 2021

Monday 27th September is National Boccia Day! Here you will find all the information about the day and how you can get involved.

Safeguarding

We have achieved the Child Protection in Sport Units Advanced Safeguarding Standard to ensure we provide a framework for all those involved in our sport to help them create a safe sporting environment for children and young people and protect them from harm. Read more

Cotswold Crusaders and the Rainbow Cup!

Anna and Archie Eaton tell us why Cotswold Crusaders have been enjoying the Rainbow Cup and how it has brought the club together during Covid-19 when they can't meet to train. Read more