JAM rules for Inner Tube Water Polo

Inner Tube Water Polo

There is only one format of Inner Tube Water Polo 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 Inner Tube Water Polo games are approximately 45 minutes in length. Please arrive early to ensure you get the full use of your allotted pool 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 of your game, a warning to play the final round, and a final signal for the end of your game. Once the final signal occurs your game is over.

Halftimes: 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.

Changing Sides: Teams will not switch sides unless agreed to by both captains before the game starts.

Players

Teams are comprised of seven (7) players including a minumum of two (2) men or gender minority and two (2) women or gender minority players. There must be six players in the tubes plus a goalie.

Roster Numbers: Each team must have a minimum of two (2) men or gender minority players and two (2) women or gender minority players on the court at once. Anyone can play goalie and goalies count towards roster numbers.

Defaults: A default will occur if a team cannot field a team of at least 6 players within 10 minutes of the official start time. Teams may play with a minimum of 6 players, as long 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!

Goalies: Goalies have the option of playing with a tube or without a tube but the decision cannot be changed mid-point. i.e. the goalie must wait for a stoppage in play to either discard their tube or get a tube.

Playing Area

All Inner Tube Water Polo games will take place in our designated pools.

Equipment/Set Up

Equipment including nets, inner tubes, balls, and swim caps will be provided and set-up each week.

There are different sizes of inner tubes. Teams must evenly split the big and small tubes at the beginning of each match.

There are not different coloured tubes for each team so one team should wear the water polo caps that are provided.

Uniforms

There are no different coloured tubes for each team so one team should wear the water polo caps that are provided to differentiate the teams.

Inner Tube Water Polo 101

The following outlines the basis of the rules of Inner Tube Water Polo Programs:

General Rules:

Ball possession to begin the game will be determined by a coin flip or rock-paper-scissors prior to the game. The game begins with all players touching the wall at their own goal line with the ball in the possession of the team that won the coin flip/rock-paper-scissors. The game begins with 3-2-1-go called by both teams.
Under no circumstances can one player directly touch another player. However, contact between tubes (accidental or otherwise) is allowed and can occur at any time.
A player cannot touch the tube of another player (with hands, feet or any other body part) if that player is not in possession of the ball. However, once a player is in possession of the ball, an opposing player may contact their tube (with hands or feet), but cannot touch the player's body or the ball. Dunking (i.e. tipping the ball carrier's tube) is allowed, but can only occur when a player is in possession of the ball.
Players must be at least one metre away from the goalie at all times, with two exceptions:
- (a) a loose ball is within one metre of the goalie (if the goalie takes possession of that loose ball the one-metre buffer is again in effect), or
- (b) the goalie is no longer within arm’s length of their net. (In this case, the goalie is treated like any other player)
A player can throw, catch or carry the ball with either one hand or two hands. Players may also put the ball in their lap in order to have both hands free for paddling.
A player can maintain possession of the ball for a maximum of fifteen seconds. A pass or a shot must be attempted within that time frame. Please do not abuse this rule.
All players must be sitting in their inner tube in order to play the ball or to dunk another player in possession of the ball. If a player not in their tube touches the ball or another player's inner tube then their team loses possession of the ball. The exception is a goalie that chooses not to play in a tube. They are still allowed to play the ball and dunk other players in possession of the ball without their team losing possession of the ball.
A ball leaving the pool is awarded to the opponents of the player who last touched the ball at a point closest to where it went out. A ball that goes out at the end of the pool is either given to the goalie (if thrown out by the attacking team) or is placed in the corner (if last touched by the defending team).
No splashing is allowed at any time.
The ball cannot be held underwater at any time.
Substitutions are permitted at any time (i.e. on the fly) but only when your team is in possession of the ball. Players must enter and exit beside the goal at their end. The only exception is that goalies' cannot change on the fly - they must wait for a stoppage in play (i.e. goal is scored, the ball is out of bounds, etc).
When the ball is re-entering the game through a change of possession, it must be passed to a teammate before a shot on goal can be taken. NOTE: the person who starts the play CAN carry the ball prior to passing. i.e. an initial pass does not have to occur from a static position.
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 three-person shoot-out with a minimum of one man or gender minority shooter and one woman or gender minority shooter. Each shooter takes one shot at a distance of approximately five paces (to be paced out on the pool deck). Only players in the pool at the end of the game can participate and the goalie that finished the game remains the goalie for the shoot-out. After 3 shots, if still tied, teams continue taking single shots (using players that finished the game in the pool, but who have not yet taken a shot) until one team has scored (and the other team does not).

Scoring:

To score, the ball must completely pass over the goal line, between the goal posts.
NOTE: A ball that hits the front edge of the goal (i.e. the wall that the net is sitting on) and bounces out without completely crossing the goal line is not a goal.
A ball that bounces off of the water and into the net is a fair goal.
After a goal has been scored, all players must return to their own side of the playing area before play can resume. At least one pass must be attempted prior to the next goal being scored.

Goalies:

Goalies may not go over centre.
Goalies are not allowed to score.
Goalies cannot sit on the side of the pool. One arm is the only part of the body that can be against the side of the pool for rest purposes only. There can be NO contact with the side of the pool when making saves.
Goalies can throw a pass across the centre line.
Goalies CANNOT be "pulled" in an attempt to utilize an extra attacker at any point of the game.

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 three-person shoot-out with a minimum of one shooter of each gender. Each shooter takes one shot at a distance of approximately five paces (to be paced out on the pool deck). Only players in the pool at the end of the game can participate and the goalie that finished the game remains the goalie for the shoot-out. After 3 shots, if still tied, teams continue taking single shots (using players that finished the game in the pool, but who have not yet taken a shot) until one team has scored (and the other team does not).

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.