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Soccer – 11’s (Outdoor)

There is only one format for Outdoor Soccer 11’s under JAM rules. It is described in its entirety below.

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

All Outdoor Soccer 11’s games are approximately 85 minutes in length, including two 40-minute halves and a 5-minute halftime. 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: If playing with an On-Site Coordinator, 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. If playing without an JAM Ambassador, please designate one person from your team to keep track of time and score.

Halftimes: There will be a 5-minute halftime in between the two 40-minute halves.

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: Teams may call a one (1) minute time-out per half if needed, except in the final 10 minutes of play.

Players

Teams are comprised of eleven (11) players with a minimum of four (4) men or gender minority and four (4) women or gender minority players on the field at all times. 

Roster Numbers: Teams are comprised of eleven (11) players with a minimum of four (4) men or gender minority and four (4) women or gender minority players on the field at all times. Anyone may play any position on the field.

Defaults: A default will occur if any team cannot field a squad by 15 minutes after the official start time. A team can play with a minimum of 8 people, as long as 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 11’s program takes place on a full-sized soccer field, either on artificial turf or natural grass. The net and field will be set up and ready when you arrive for your game. 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 Wilson soccer ball and pylons, as well as copies of the field permits (if necessary) to all of their game sites. Depending on the time of year, some fields may not have visible lines - use pylons if necessary to mark the field.

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 Indoor Soccer 6’s Programs:

General Rules

In general, standard soccer rules apply to all Sports and Social Club games. Notable exceptions are listed below:

• Each half starts with one team initiating play by making a forward pass from the centre of the field
• If a ball is kicked out of bounds along the sidelines, a throw-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 defence, a corner kick is awarded to the attacking team.
• Substitutions should be made only when a stoppage in play has occurred i.e. no changing on the fly
• 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.
• 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, but not in the last 10 minutes of each half.
• 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 one woman or gender minority and one man or gender minority players for mixed leagues) take one shot from the penalty spot (approximately 12 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 80 minutes in length for leagues with an 85-minute game slot, in anticipation of needing the extra time to settle a tie.

JAM Exceptions

Since this league will be self-officiated, a few rules have been altered to reduce the potential for discrepancies. Please respect the following rules in order to improve the experience for everyone

• Off-sides: There are NO off-sides.  However, a strategy of consistently "cherry-picking" is considered to be unsportsmanlike.
• Throw-ins: 'Foul throws' will NOT be enforced, and play should resume regardless of how the throw-in is performed. Proper technique: when throwing the ball back into play, the thrower should have both feet touching the ground, use both hands and deliver the ball from behind and over their head. It is expected that more experienced players will 'coach' newer players.
• All free kicks are indirect. To score off an indirect kick, the ball must first be touched by another player (offence or defence, but not the goalie). For all free kicks, the defending team must stay at least 10 yards away from the ball until it is touched. It is unsportsmanlike to delay the re-start of a game by encroaching on this space. NOTE: if the infraction takes place within 10 yards of the goal line (i.e. in the crease), the ball should be placed approximately 10 yards out from the goal line (i.e. not at the spot of the infraction) so that this 10-yard buffer between the ball and defenders can be maintained. Note: Corner Kicks and Goal Kicks are DIRECT Kicks, that can be scored in the opposing net without an additional touch. 
• Penalty shots will NOT be awarded at any time. Any infractions that occur within the goalie's crease will simply be indirect free kicks.

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 ball must fully cross the goal line, and enter the net.

Goalies

• Goalies can use their hands ONLY when they are within their crease area. If the lines for the goalie crease are not visible on the field, players should use their 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 immediately pick the ball up again.
   
   

Discrepancies/Disputes

• If an infraction is disputed, a throw-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 one woman or gender minority and one man 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 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.