By Mark Abromaitis
THE ERICKSON TRIBUNE

It’s a competitive game of skill. Its history goes back thousands of years.

 Egyptian Pharohs played it in the shadows of the pyramids. Greek and Roman emperors played to pass the time, keeping themselves physically coordinated and mentally sharp.

The game is bocce ball. Perhaps you’ve seen it being played on the campus at Ann’s Choice. A favorite outdoor sport of people who live there, the game has recently moved inside too.

Indoor Bocce Club organizer Russ Neiger says that the new group of  approximately 80 players grew from the popularity of the Outdoor Bocce Club that saw participants numbering over a hundred.

“We have so many good players here. I simply figured, why can’t we play it  indoors too?” Neiger says. “Why not make the game available to everyone?”

It’s all about the equipment
“It’s a game of skill, and it’s good for you both physically— the tossing of the balls—and mentally—anticipating your opponent’s moves,” Neiger says.

But bringing the game indoors was tougher than expected. The biggest hurdle for the club was adapting the game to an indoor environment.

The game consists of pitching large, hard bocce balls at a smaller pallino ball. Those closest to the target ball earn points. The game is usually played on gritty ground or in some instances, grass.

But the heavy, solid ball  proved to be an obstacle for the club. “I spoke with the administration at Ann’s Choice and I showed that it could be rolled gently without damaging the floors.” Neiger explains. “But they asked what would happen if someone accidentally dropped it.”

The softer side of bocce
There had to be an indoor answer. Then Neiger discovered a company that manufactured a water-filled bocce ball that would be more suited to indoor play. The club was in business.