JAM rules for Soccer - 6's (Outdoor)

Soccer – 6’s (Outdoor)

There are two formats of Outdoor Soccer 6’s under JAM Rules. The major differences between the two formats are game lengths. Games are either two (2) 40-minute halves with a 5-minute break for half-time OR are 55 minutes in length. Check your specific program details and your online schedule for exact start and end times. Both formats are described in their entirety below. This rulebook will cover Mixed-Gender Soccer, Men’s Soccer, Women’s Soccer 6’s and Open programs.

JAM is for Everyone – Inclusion Statement

Our program offerings are designed to be inclusive for all members of the JAM community. Our goal is to create a welcoming gender policy that uplifts and supports each player where they are at. To ensure we can offer something for everyone, our programs may be offered in the following formats: Mixed-Gender, Women's, Men's, and Open.

Many of our league rules specify gender-based roster requirements, the goal of which is to ensure that each player has an equal opportunity to be included in gameplay.

Everyone participating in a JAM program is welcome to compete based on their gender identity and gender expression; regardless of their gender assigned at birth. Members whose gender identity does not align with the binary man/woman construct are welcome to play in all our mixed-gender and open programs.

Nonbinary, trans, genderqueer, and all other players who identify as a gender minority can count towards the roster minimums for either men or women in our mixed-gender leagues.

Game Time

There are two game time formats for Outdoor Soccer programs under the JAM. Games are either two (2) 40-minute halves with a 5-minute break for half-time OR are 55 minutes in length. Please check your specific program details and your online schedule for exact start and end times. Please arrive early to ensure you get the full use of your allotted field time. Regardless of when your game begins your game will always end on time to allow the succeeding games to begin at their scheduled time.

Time Keeping: The JAM Ambassador on site will be keeping track of time and will determine the end of your game. In this instance, you will receive a warning indicating the final five (5) minutes remaining in your game and a final signal for the end of your game. Once the final signal occurs your game is over. The same will apply for time warnings leading into halftime (if applicable). If you are playing without an JAM Ambassador on site, please designate one person to act as timekeeper and scorekeeper.

Halftimes: In the 85 minute game time format, there will be two 40-minute halves and 5-minute halftime for all games. For the 55-minute game time format, there is no stoppage for halftime unless requested by one of the teams. If a half-time is requested, then it must be accommodated by the opposing team.

Switching Sides: If one side of the field has a potential advantage, teams should agree BEFORE the game that they will be switching sides at approximately the mid-point of the game (and agree on the time to switch). A captain that requests a switch pre-game MUST be accommodated.

Timeouts: In the 85 minute game time format, teams may call a one (1) minute time-out per half if needed, except in the final 10 minutes of play. For the 55-minute game time format, teams may call a one (1) minute time-out if needed, except in the final 10 minutes of play.

Players

There are 6 players on the field at one time, including the goalie.

Roster Numbers: The following indicates the roster requirements for each specific soccer program:

Mixed-Gender (Formerly Co-ed)- Each team must have a minimum of two (2) men or gender minority players and two (2) women or gender minority players on the field at once. This includes any position on the field, including the goalie.
Men’s- Each team will consist of six (6) Men on the field at once
Open- Each team will consist of six (6) players on the field at once
Women’s- Each team will consist of six (6) Women on the field at once

Defaults: A default will occur if any team cannot field a squad by 15 minutes after the official start time. Teams can play with a minimum of 5 people. For Co-ed Leagues, a team can play with a minimum of 5 people if the roster minimums are met.

Exceptions: Captains may agree to waive the rules regarding roster requirements but this should be decided before the game starts. IF IT IS AGREED THAT THE GAME COUNTS, IT COUNTS!

Playing Area

All JAM Soccer 6’s Outdoor programs take place on either on artificial turf or natural grass soccer field. Depending on the time of year, some fields may not have visible lines - use pylons if necessary to mark the field.

Equipment/Set Up

Team captains are responsible for bringing a soccer ball, and ONLY if you are in the Cherry Beach soccer league, you will need to bring two field markers, and the portable net system. Captains must pace out the field so it is approximately 35 paces wide and 45 to 50 paces long.

*Note regarding set up of portable net systems: If you require the written instructions on how to put the portable net system together, click here for a PDF. Give yourself extra time for the first set up! Each team is responsible for ensuring the portable net system is on-site and setup. A failure to do so within 15 minutes of the official start time is considered a default.

Metal cleats are NOT allowed. Turf shoes are recommended.

Uniforms

Teams are required to bring both light and coloured shirts to every game. Team colours are posted on the JAM website in your schedule. If two teams have the same colour the team captains should contact each other to ensure that each team knows what colour to wear.

Defaults: There is no default for players that don’t wear the right colour. However, that player must do everything they can to ensure it’s not confusing for the opposition. Whether this means wearing a pinny, a hat, a teammate’s shirt, etc. Under no circumstances can a player purposely deceive the opposition.

Soccer 101

The following outlines the basis of the rules of Outdoor Soccer 6’s Programs:

General Rules:

In general, standard soccer rules apply to all JAM games. Notable exceptions are listed below:

Each half starts with one team initiating play by making a pass from the centre of the field
Substitutions can be made at any time, either while there is a stoppage in play, or "on the fly". However, (a) substitutions should take place within 5 metres ("substitution area") of the centre of the field, (b) the player coming off the field must 'tag' the on-coming playing stationed within the 'substitution area' and (c) the change cannot disrupt the flow of the game or give your team an advantage through substitution.
A handball infraction occurs when the ball hits any part of the player's arm, from the SHOULDER down. Players may use their arms to block the ball from hitting their groin area, and women can also use their arms to block the ball from hitting their chest without a handball being called. This rule will reduce the number of stoppages in play. Please don't abuse this rule.
All free kicks are indirect. To score off an indirect kick, the ball must first be touched by another player (offense or defense, but not the goalie) This is a modification of the original rule to deter players from blasting the ball at the goal in an attempt to hit the ball off the goalie and into the net. Defensive players cannot be within 3 yards of the ball when an indirect kick is being taken (in cases where an infraction occurs within 3 yards of the goal line, defenders can stand on the goal line, even if it means they are closer than 3 yards to the ball). Note: Corner Kicks and Goal Kicks are DIRECT Kicks that can be scored in the opposing net without an additional touch.
If a ball is kicked out of bounds along the sidelines, a kick-in is awarded to the opposite team.
If a ball is kicked out of bounds along the goal line by the offence, a goal kick is awarded to the defending team.
If a ball is kicked out of bounds along the goal line by the defense, a corner kick is awarded to the attacking team.
The offending player should call their own infractions, however, any players involved with the incident can also make a call. Players not on the field at the time of any incident cannot make a call at any time.
Teams may call a one (1) minute time-out per half if needed
Each team should bring both light and dark coloured shirts to each and every game.
Metal cleats are not allowed
A game can end in a tie during the regular season. In the playoffs, a game that is tied at the end of regulation time is decided by a shoot-out: three players on each team (minimum of 1 man or gender minority and 1 woman or gender minority players for mixed leagues) take one shot at a distance of eight paces. Anyone can shoot, including the goalie. The goalie that finished the game remains the goalie for the shoot-out. After three shots, if still tied, teams continue taking single shots with the SAME players until one team has scored (and the other team does not). The order of shooters must be maintained. Please note that playoff games should only be 50 minutes in length for leagues with a 55-minute game slot or 80 minutes in length for leagues with an 85-minute game slot, in anticipation of needing the extra time to settle a tie.
If a team feels they are at a disadvantage for any reason pertaining to the side they are on (i.e. net size, wind direction, field layout etc.) then teams must switch ends at half in order to provide both teams with equal advantage. Note captains must agree before the game starts as to whether or not they will switch sides at half time.

Sliding:

Even if contact is made with the ball first, sliding (whether on defence to stop an attacker or on offence to strike the ball) is not allowed under ANY circumstances. Exception: goalies can slide to make a save or block a loose ball. This can only be done within the goalie crease area and should be done with the safety of all players in mind.

Scoring:

To score a goal, the ENTIRE ball must pass over the goal line and into the net. If a discrepancy arises as to whether the ball was in or not, the person deemed to have the "best perspective" will ultimately make the call. Please remember that you are playing in a self-officiated, co-ed, social league, so any arguments or disputes should be kept to a minimum.

Off-sides:

There are NO off-sides. However, a strategy of consistently "cherry-picking" is considered to be unsportsmanlike.

Goalies:

Goalies can use their hands ONLY when they are within a "reasonable" distance from their goal. Due to the format of the field, there will not likely be a lined goal crease - please use your best judgment.
A goalie CANNOT pick up a ball with their hands if the ball has been played back on purpose to the goalie by a player on their team. This includes all forms of passing and kick-ins. The only exception is if the player directs the ball back to the goalie with their head - in this case, the goalie CAN pick the ball up with their hands. A violation of this rule results in an indirect free kick for the other team at the spot where the goalie inappropriately used their hands.
A goalie can "roam" as far from their goal as they want, but once outside of their "crease", the goalie CANNOT use their hands at any time.
If a goalie makes a save by catching the ball with their hands, they can do one of three things; (a) throw the ball out, (b) kick the ball (out of their hands), or (c) put the ball down on the ground (at which point it becomes a live ball). Please note that if a goalie elects to put the ball on the ground, the goalie cannot choose to immediately pick the ball up again.
If an infraction is disputed, a kick-in from the sideline is awarded to the offensive team.

Discrepancies/Disputes:

If an infraction is disputed, a kick-in from the sideline is awarded to the offensive team.
If a goal is disputed, an indirect kick is awarded to the offensive team from where the original shot was taken.
Please remember that you are playing in a self-officiated, co-ed, social league, so any arguments or disputes should be kept to a minimum.

Regular Season Matches

Games can be tied during the regular season.

Playoffs Eligibility and Tiebreak

There must be a winner in a playoff match. In the event that the match ends in a tie, teams will partake in the following tie-breaker until a winner is determined:

In the playoffs, a game that is tied at the end of regulation time is decided by a shoot-out: three players on each team (minimum of 1 man or gender minority and 1 woman or gender minority players for mixed leagues) take one shot at a distance of eight paces. Anyone can shoot, including the goalie. The goalie that finished the game remains the goalie for the shoot-out. After three shots, if still tied, teams continue taking single shots with the SAME players until one team has scored (and the other team does not). The order of shooters must be maintained. Please note that playoff games should only be 50 minutes in length for leagues with a 55-minute game slot or 80 minutes in length for leagues with an 85-minute game slot, in anticipation of needing the extra time to settle a tie.

Rough Play

Any rough or physical play will result in immediate expulsion from further league play and may result in a lifetime league expulsion. Please see the JAM General Policy for our official guidelines on this subject. It is recognized that incidental contact between players is inevitable; however, all players should go out of their way to avoid creating an unsafe play. This rule supersedes all others.

Please note that on-site staff members have full autonomy when supervising games. Games may be stopped entirely, players may be asked to leave the playing area or be removed from the game entirely under their discretion.

Alcohol

There are absolutely no alcoholic beverages permitted on JAM property. Any offenders will be asked to leave the league without refund. No exceptions.