The classic American game of "Jacks" is a traditional children's game involving a small rubber ball and 6 to 12 metal or plastic "Jacks". The object is to scatter the Jacks on a flat surface, throw the ball into the air, and pick up a set number of Jacks before catching the ball after one bounce.
The game of "Jacks" has no single inventor. It is an ancient game with roots dating back to ancient Greece, Rome, and Egypt.