JAM Toronto

Tournament Rules: Soccer (Turf)

The following rule book will cover all JAM Soccer Tournaments. 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/ Defaults

Please arrive 5 minutes prior to your start time to ensure that your games start on time.
Games are typically 25-30 minutes in length, with no stoppage for halftime. Time format may vary for a specific tournament; if so, changes will be noted in that tournament's schedule.
If one side of a venue has a potential advantage, the onsite Event Coordinator will notify teams before the game that they will be switching sides at approximately the mid-point of the game.
The Event Coordinator will act as timekeeper. A whistle will be blown to start and end the game.
Teams are comprised of six (6) players (five players, plus a goalie). Teams must play with a minimum of 2 men or gender minority players and 2 women or gender minority players.
Anyone can play any position on the field.

Team Format

Teams are comprised of six (6) players (five players, plus a goalie). Teams must play with a minimum of 2 men or gender minority players and 2 women or gender minority players on the field at once.

Equipment/Set Up

Equipment including nets and soccer balls will be provided. Teams should bring both light and dark and coloured shirts to each and every game.

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.
If a ball is kicked out of bounds along the sidelines, a kick-in is awarded to the opposite team. All kick-ins (or restarting of play) must be indirect. Defensive players may not be within 3 feet of the ball when an indirect kick is being taken.
If a ball is kicked out of bounds along the goal line by the offence, a goal kick is awarded to the defending team. All kick-ins (or restarting of play) must be indirect.
iv. If a ball is kicked out of bounds along the goal line by the defense, a corner kick is awarded to the attacking team. Corner kicks are considered a restart of play, and therefore must be indirect.
Player substitutions can be made at any time (i.e. changing on the fly is allowed). However, please ensure that the player coming off has completely entered the team bench before the new player joins the action and the change does not disrupt the flow of the game.
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)
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 game if needed except in the final 5 minutes of play.
Metal cleats are not allowed

Off-sides:

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

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 enter the net.
A game can end in a tie during round robin play.
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 player and 1 woman or gender minority player 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.

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. If there is a crease, goalies must use that as a guide for where they can and cannot use their hands.
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.

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, mixed, social league, so any arguments or disputes should be kept to a minimum.

Preliminary Round Matches

Preliminary Round games can be tied during the regular season.

Playoffs 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.

Rough Play

Any rough or physical play will result in immediate expulsion from further tournament play and may result in a lifetime tournament 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 tournament without refund. No exceptions.