What is the target ball called in Paralympic boccia?

In Paralympic boccia, the target ball is called the jack.

Players or pairs throw, roll or propel six coloured balls as close as possible to the white jack. One side uses red balls and the other uses blue balls. At the end of a frame, points are awarded for balls closer to the jack than the opponent’s nearest ball.

Boccia is a precision sport designed for athletes with significant physical impairments. Depending on their classification, competitors may deliver the ball by hand, foot or an assistive ramp, and some use a pointer attached to a helmet to direct the ball.

The jack is often confused with the pallino, a term used in bocce and related sports. The equipment and rules differ between boccia and bocce, even though both involve placing balls near a smaller target ball. Boccia has been on the Paralympic programme since 1984.