THE JACK
(1) GENERAL
The jack shall be round and coloured white or yellow and be made of a material approved by the E.S.M.B.A. Its diameter shall be not less than 63mm (2½”) or more than 70mm (2¾”). It shall weigh not less than 397g (14oz) or more than 907g (32oz).
(2) LIVE JACK
(a) A jack is live and may be played by a live bowl if the jack is within the live area or if any portion of it is within the live area when it is breaking the ditch line. A live jack may legitimately act upon a toucher in the ditch which shall remain in its new position which should be suitably marked so that it may be accurately replaced in the event of it being illegally disturbed.
(b) If any portion of the jack is in the live area when it is intersecting the ditch line, it can be played by a live bowl and this bowl would be determined to be a toucher if it remains within the live area, this includes the ditch. This also means that any live bowl which in its original course enters the ditch, without touching the fender or any bowl which is at rest within the ditch, and touches any part of the jack which is intersecting the ditch line and has a portion in the live area, will be determined a toucher and should be marked. Should it come to rest within the ditch its position should be suitably marked so that it may be accurately replaced in the event of it being illegally disturbed.
(3) DEAD JACK
The jack is dead if
(a) any portion of it comes in direct contact with the floor or any other non-playing surface other than the fender (except as in Law F12) or
(b) it is driven by a bowl in play beyond the boundary of the rink mat, i.e. over the fender, off the side, or over the dead line (see also Law C7 and Law C5) or
(c) after rebounding it comes to rest either wholly within the dead area or with any portion of it breaking the dead line.
If the jack is knocked to the edge of the mat and falls off during subsequent play without the action of another bowl hitting it, the end will be declared dead and will be replayed from the same direction.
(4) JACK DISPLACEMENT
(a) Displacement by a non toucher
(i) If a jack is disturbed by a bowl which
· has been delivered from a foot-fault position or
· strikes, contacts or passes over the centre block or
· being a non toucher rebounds from the fender or
· being a non toucher contacts it in the ditch (except as in Law C5)
it shall be restored as near as possible to its original position by the opposing player who is in charge of the head.
(ii) If the jack and the bowls are disturbed then the provisions of Law B4 (a) will apply.
(b) Displacement by a participating player
If the jack which is in motion or at rest on the rink mat be interfered with by a player, the opposing Skip shall have the following options.
· restoring the jack as near as possible to its original position or
· letting it remain in its new position or
· playing the end again from the same direction.
(c) Displacement by a non-player
(i) If the jack which is in motion or at rest on the rink mat be interfered with or moved by a non-player or by a jack or bowl from another rink mat or by any other object the players in charge of the head shall come to an agreement regarding its original position and the jack will be restored.
(ii) Should they fail to agree, that end will be played again and it must be from the same direction.
(d) Displacement by the Marker in a Singles game
(i) If the jack is moved by the Marker whilst measuring, it will be replaced as near as possible to its original position and both players will agree its position. If the players cannot agree, the end shall be played again from the same direction.
(ii) If a shot or shots have already been awarded, the player holding the shots shall have the option of accepting this as the score for that end.
(e) Displacement by a player measuring
Should a player in the act of measuring accidentally move the jack, the opposing player who agrees the shots shall have the following options.
· replacing the jack as near as possible to its original position or
· agreeing the shot or shots already claimed or
· agreeing or accepting the shot or shots already taken out or
· playing the end again from the same direction.
(f) Displacement by the Umpire
(i) If the Umpire accidentally moves the jack whilst in the act of measuring, he will replace it in its original position before completing his decision.
(ii) The Umpire will be the sole arbiter in the matter and his decision shall be binding.
(5) JACK DRIVEN OVER THE FENDER
If the jack is driven over the BACK or SIDES of the fender by a player, the opposing Skip shall have the following options.
· claiming 3 shots and counting the end as played or
· playing the end anew as in a dead end.
(6) DITCHED JACK
If a jack is driven into the ditch its position must be suitably marked with chalk so that it can be accurately replaced in the event of it being illegally disturbed. It shall not be moved except by a toucher.
(7) JACK OFF THE MAT
(a) In a game of 10 ends or more, each team (Single, Pair, Triple or Four) will be allowed to knock the jack off the side of the mat a maximum of 3 times without penalty. For each additional end on which they knock the jack off the mat, a 3 shot penalty will be awarded to the other team. In a 2 wood Singles game the penalty will be 2 shots.
(b) Non-penalty ends will be replayed from the same direction and will not count as ends played. All ends on which shots are claimed will count as ends played.
(c) In games of less than 10 ends, each team may knock the jack off the mat twice only before incurring a penalty.
(d) In all instances the non-offending team has the option of declining the shots awarded and playing the end again.
(8) REBOUNDING JACK
Should the jack be driven against the fender and rebound onto the live area or should it rebound from a toucher in the ditch onto the live area or after being played into the ditch it be moved by a toucher so as to find its way onto the live area it shall be played to in the same manner as if it never left the live area.
