The age-old game of bocce has been a staple in Italy for as far back as anyone can remember. It was common to see Italians playing on courts in quaint towns of their native land as they tested their mettle against the “pallina” — or the bocce ball. Fast forward to today’s “bocce boom” and young adults are playing Italy’s hottest sport on our shores.

We had a chance to catch up with bocce guru Lou Tobacco, president and CEO of Monsignor Farrell High School, a former assemblyman and former associate executive director of community and government affairs for Staten Island University Hospital, Northwell Health.