Can anyone help me understand Article 7 as it relates to moving the circle when the opposing team has failed in three attempts to throw the jack? The Article says:

"At the following end, the jack is thrown from a circle drawn around the point where it finished at the previous end, except in the following cases:

The circle would be less than 1m from an obstacle or the boundary of the playing area.

The throwing of the jack could not be made to all regulation distances.

In the first case the player will draw the circle in the nearest valid position from the obstacle or the boundary.

In the second case, the player may step back, in line with the previous end’s line of play, until he or she is able to throw the jack any valid distance up to the maximum distance allowed, and not beyond. This may only be done if the jack cannot be thrown in any other direction to the maximum distance.

If after 3 consecutive throws by the same team, the jack has not been thrown correctly, it is then passed to the opposing team who also has 3 tries and who may move the circle back as described above.

After this, the circle cannot be moved again even if this team has not succeeded with its three throws."

I think I understand up until the part that reads, "...it is then passed to the opposing team who also has 3 tries and who may move the circle back as described above."

If the circle has already been moved along the previous line of play to a point that allows a valid throw, why would it then be moved "back" again? And to where? Thanks.

My understanding of this part of the article is this:
1 - suppose the circle would not allow the jack to be thrown at 9 to 10 meters. The player MAY step back ... but chooses to play it there. If after 3 consecutive throws by the same team, the jack has not been thrown correctly, it is then passed to the opposing team who also has 3 tries and who may move the circle back as described above.

2 - suppose the circle would not allow the jack to be thrown at 9 to 10 meters. The player steps back until he can throw the jack 9 meters away ( any valid distance up to the maximum distance allowed, and not beyond). If after 3 consecutive throws by the same team, the jack has not been thrown correctly, it is then passed to the opposing team who also has 3 tries (The throwing of the jack could not be made to all regulation distances - 9 to 10 meters) and who may move the circle back as described above.

The key words are ALL, MAY, and ANY valid distance.

HTH,
Guy

“In the second case, the player may step back, in line with the previous ends line of play, until he or she is able to throw the jack any valid distance up to the maximum distance allowed, and not beyond. This may only be done if the jack cannot be thrown in any other direction to the maximum distance.”

But they don’t have to if they don’t move the circle to the maximum distance (10m) the second team May chose to move the circle so a longer end can be played if they wish.

Thanks Guy and Don. I was making the mistake of assuming one team had already moved the circle far enough for a 10m throw of the jack. I understand now that they MAY, but that they don't have to do so. And that the second team MAY still decide to play a longer end if the first team passes the jack.