There is a difference of opinion regarding the origin of bocce in history. Some sources trace its origin to ancient Egypt as early as 5000 BC; others consider that it started in ancient Greece in the 6th century BC. But the origin of bocce and its modern version can be traced most reliably to ancient Rome at around 264 BC. It continued to be played in Rome until 1319 when, due to its immense popularity, it was banned by Emperor Charles IV of Rome. The Roman Emperor was worried that the more friendly and peaceful playing style of bocce and its growing popularity may oust other sports of a more military nature. However, the ban was lifted several years later when French health experts declared bocce as a useful sport for rheumatic patients.

From Italy, bocce spread across Europe and today it is also very popular in North America and some South American countries. By its nature, it is a precision sport and is played on courts made of oyster shells, asphalt, or just soil. Bocce can be played between two players or two teams consisting of 2 to 4 players. The two sides roll bronze or plastic balls toward another but smaller ball, called the jack, already fixed at a point on the court. The side that places most balls nearest to the jack gets more points and is regarded as the winner. In many places, the team that first scores 13 points wins the game, though this minimum winning score varies from place to place.

The sport of bocce is not reserved for a particular place or some special type of ground. Any place where adequate space is available is suitable for playing bocce and in history it has been played in streets, squares, fields, alleys, and so on. Men from all walks of life enjoyed playing it and this is still the case in many regions. Sir Francis Drake, the famous English Admiral of the Elizabethan period, is said to be playing bocce when the news of the approaching Spanish Armada reached him. Upon receiving the news, Sir Drake is said to have continued with the game till its end before tending to his measures against the Armada.

Two main qualities account for the attraction of bocce and its widespread popularity: the athletic quality and the social aspect of the sport. The athletic quality of bocce lies in a certain level of strength and stamina required for the players. The game of bocce brings into use most of the body muscles, particularly those of the limbs (arms and legs) and chest. Bocce also has a notable social aspect in that it allows players of all ages and social classes to interact via the sport. There is no strict pigeonholing of players into naïve and expert or young and old. Bocce is, therefore, more than a sport. It is a healthy and social activity of making good friends.

The athletic quality of bocce demands physical health and practice on behalf of the players. It is a sport that involves controlled and properly coordinated movements of the muscles. The social aspect of bocce, on the other hand, requires openness of the mind to interact with people from all age categories and different social backgrounds.