Jukskei scoring: the rules and a free score keeper

Jukskei is a truly South African sport, played at schools, clubs and provincial level, and around many a campsite. Players pitch wooden skeis at a peg (the pen) in the ground. The scoring has one famous twist: you must reach exactly 23. Our free jukskei scorer keeps the count, applies the burst rule and shows who pitches first.

Open the jukskei scorer

Watch: jukskei in action

Scoring points

• Peg: 3 points. A team scores three points every time one of its players knocks the peg over.
• Lies: 1 point each. When the round ends, the team with the skei nearest the peg scores one point for each of its skeis that is closer than the opponent's nearest skei.
• Only skeis lying within 460 mm of the peg count as lies.
• Only one team can score lies in a round. Both teams can score pegs.

Exactly 23: winning a set and bursting

A set is won by the team that has exactly 23 points at the end of a round. If a team has more than 23 at the end of a round, it bursts and its score goes back to 0. A team that goes over 23 during a round can still correct it with its remaining skeis, for example by knocking its own lies out of scoring range. That's why the app only applies the burst when you press End round, and warns you before that.

Rounds, order and match length

• Each player pitches two skeis per round, and the teams pitch alternately.
• The team with the skei lying nearest the peg pitches first in the next round. The app moves the Pitches first marker for you when you record lies. Use Swap first if no lies were scored.
• Under the International Jukskei Federation rules, a match is a maximum of three sets or a time limit (75 minutes, or 60 minutes for four-player teams), whichever comes first.
• Beginners' and school formats, such as Action Jukskei, often play to a set time, with the highest score winning. Set a time limit in the app for these.

How to use the jukskei scorer

1. Enter the team names, players per team, sets, points per set (23 by default) and an optional time limit.
2. During the round, tap Peg +3 each time the peg is knocked over, and Lie +1 for each scoring lie when the round is measured.
3. Press End round. The app adds the points, applies the burst rule, awards the set at exactly 23 and shows who pitches first next.
4. The result is saved under My results and can be shared. If the match ends with sets level, the points in the unfinished set decide it. Check your competition's tie-break rules.

These notes summarise the International Jukskei Federation game rules as used by Jukskei South Africa. For official competitions, follow the current Jukskei SA regulations.

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