Jackstones
A hand-and-eye coordination game where players toss and catch small jacks while bouncing a ball.
Players
• At least 1–4 players — it can be played solo or in turns.
• Great for small groups of friends!
Jacks (Stones or Tacks)
• 10 metal jacks (or small stones if no jacks are available).
• Traditionally, Filipino children used five small pebbles before metal jacks became common.
Ball
• One small rubber ball that bounces once on the ground.
• Any lightweight, bouncy ball will work — ping-pong size or smaller.
Flat Surface
• A clean, flat floor or smooth ground — indoors or outdoors.
• Avoid playing on uneven or slippery areas so the jacks don’t scatter too far.
1. Prepare the Jacks and Ball
• Place the 10 jacks on the ground in front of you.
• Keep the ball in your hand, ready to toss.
2. Decide Who Starts (Manuhan)
• All players hold the jacks in their hand, toss them in the air, and try to catch them on the back of the hand.
• The player who catches the most jacks starts the game.
3. Determine the Play Area
• Sit or kneel comfortably with space to move your hands.
• Keep the jacks and ball within easy reach so the game runs smoothly.
Goal of the Game
• The aim is to throw the ball, pick up a set number of jacks, and catch the ball after it bounces once — without dropping anything!
Round 1: Ones
• Toss the ball upward.
• While it’s in the air, pick up 1 jack, then catch the ball after one bounce.
• Transfer the jack to your other hand.
• Repeat until you’ve picked up all 10 jacks, one at a time.
Round 2: Twos
• This time, pick up 2 jacks at once with each toss.
• Continue until all jacks have been picked up.
Round 3: Threes (and so on)
• Continue playing rounds where you pick up 3 jacks, then 4, then 5, and so on.
• For the final toss in each round, pick up the remaining jacks left on the ground.
Winning the Game
• The first player to successfully complete all 10 rounds wins.
• Players who finish early can move on to exhibition rounds for fun tricks!
After completing the main rounds, players can show off special moves or “exhibitions.”
Here are five popular ones mentioned in the video:
- The Dot – Bounce the ball, pick up a jack, and touch the ground with it before catching the ball.
- The Cave – Create a “roof” shape with your hand and toss jacks through it while catching the ball.
- The Wall – Stack jacks like a wall before continuing the next toss.
- Basketball – Toss a jack into a small container or circle as if shooting a basket.
- Around the World – Circle your hand around the jacks before catching the ball.
A player’s turn ends if any of these happen:
- The ball bounces more than once before being caught.
- The ball hits a jack while bouncing.
- You pick up the wrong number of jacks for that round.
- You touch another jack that’s not being picked up.
- A jack falls while being transferred to the other hand.
🏆 Winning and Sportsmanship
• The first to complete Round 10 or all exhibitions is the winner.
• Players can replay rounds for fun — the focus is on hand-eye coordination, rhythm, and focus, not just winning!
- Huli mo! (HOO-lee moh) — “Catch it!”