Bocce has been played in Italy for thousands of years, its a combination of skill, sport and conversation making it a winner from Roman times to the present. Now Major League Bocce is here in Philadelphia, and you can join up to partake in the challenge and fun.

Philly Major League Bocce offers weekly games played between multi-person teams. The game is not difficult; just about any age (21 and over) and gender person who can palm a ball can have fun playing. Plus, unlike most other social sports, you stand on the same side of the court as your opponents, so socializing is the norm — what better way to distract your adversary than by making them laugh?

For the upcoming spring 2013 season, players can choose to play in one of the four divisions, as follows:

• Tuesdays in Northern Liberties at Libery Lands Park
• Wednesdays in University City at Penn Park
• Thursdays in South Philly at Jefferson Square
• Thursdays in Northeast Philly at Cafe Michaelangelo

Games are played for up to an hour. Afterwards, players head to their sponsor bar — within walking distance from the park — to enjoy discounted pints of Dogfish Head, the League’s official sponsor beer, plus specials on food.

You can sign up for the nine-week division (week of April 16 through week of June 11) by paying $50 per person, which brings you:

• six weeks of regular season play
• three weeks of playoffs
• a team t-shirt
• discounted beer and food at the bar
• weekly prizes and giveaways
• chance to win a VIP trip to the Dogfish Head brewery in Milton, DE
• free end of season party

At the end of the season, a champion team is crowned, and gets to name a charity of their choice to receive a sizeable donation.

You can register either by 1) creating a whole new team (you need at least five people to complete the roster); 2) join an existing team (you’ll need the team password from your captain); or 3) register without a team and you’ll be placed by the organizers. The registration page is here.

Major League Bocce has been in Philadelphia for five seasons, since the fall of 2011, after being started in Washington, D.C. in 2004 by a few enthusiastic friends. Now there are leagues all up and down the East Coast. Chat with friends and meet new people, develop hand-eye coordination and drink discounted Dogfish Head beer? Win-win-win.