Following completion of construction of the bocce ball play area at Posse Grounds Park, signups are now open for the inaugural season of the Sedona Parks and Recreation Department’s Bocce Ball League

“We’re excited to show off our new courts out there and we’re looking forward to hosting something new and exciting for our community,” Athletics and Aquatics Supervisor Carmen Brashier said, and explained that some additional improvements to the courts are in the works. “We have foul linemarkers that we’re getting made and we’re going to get a bulletin display case put up there. There’s still a bit of landscaping that we’re going to take care of. There’s a rock path that leads back there and just cleaning it up so that it’s easier to get back there.”

Resident bocce enthusiasts Dave Fowler and Danusia Szumowski have started a “Sedona Bocce League at Posse Grounds Park” Facebook group to organize fellow fans and helped spearhead the formation of the league.

“We want to create a format that includes people of all ages,” Fowler said. “The goal is to have fun, and then like any sport, you have teams and meet other people. [The league] is about developing relationships and having fun. There’s certainly going to be competition but it will be a friendly competition. It’s all about camaraderie and having fun and getting to know people both on your team better and members from other teams.”

Bocce ball is a game that combines elements of lawn bowling with a shuffleboard-style scoring system.

“You’ll learn fast because the rules are simple,” Fowler said. “You’ll have a lot more fun than you’ve ever imagined. It’s a great game. It’s the type of game in which you can talk and relax, and also have fun and be competitive all at the same time. But there’s a lot of standing around and watching other teams play when you’re not rolling, and you get a chance to strike up conversations and develop friends and relationships over the course of the season.”

“Captains may register with a team between four and 12 players,” the city of Sedona stated in a press release. “Team registration costs $85. Participants must be ages 12 and up. Bocce equipment will be included. Games will take place on Fridays at 6:15 p.m. beginning in late May. League guarantees eight games with a playoffs and championship tournament at the end of the season.”

The registration fees will go to the Parks and Recreation general fund, with some of the money raised going back into the program to provide t-shirts for the post-season champions and awards.

“We might add additional days if we have more interest,” Brashier said. “But games are pretty long because they take about two and a half hours … it’s more of a social game.”

The time dedicated to team practices per week will vary by team and court availability. The department is working on scheduling open play bocce hours and Brashier anticipates they will finalize that schedule next month.

“We’re just getting started,” Fowler said. “The whole idea here is to start getting interest and letting people know there’s a league. We’ll probably evolve. Our goals are to just start with a Friday night league and then grow from there to other nights as more and more people and more and more teams sign on.”

Online registration for the league is available at sedonaaz.gov/sports. Questions about the league may be directed to Brashier at (928) 282-7098 or cbrashier@sedonaaz.gov.