JAM rules for All Sorts of Sports: Gym Soccer

© JAM 1996-2024

  

All Sorts of Sports: Gym Soccer

There is only one format of Gym Soccer 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 Gym Soccer games are approximately 55 minutes in length. Please arrive early to ensure you get the full use of your allotted court 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 you’re playing without an official score clock, 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 and a final signal for the end of your game. Once the final signal occurs your game is over.

Defaults: Teams will default a match if they cannot provide a full team 10 minutes after the scheduled start time.

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: If one side of a venue has a potential advantage (i.e. stage at one end, etc.), 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). If a switch requested, then it must be accommodated by the opposing team.

 

Players

Teams are comprised of five (5) players with a minimum of two (2) women or gender minority players and two (2) men or gender minority players. A default will occur if any team cannot field a squad by 10 minutes after the official start time. A team can play with a minimum of 4 people, as long as roster minimums are met.

Roster Numbers: Each team must have a minimum of two (2) men or gender minority players and two (2) women or gender minority players playing at all times.

Defaults: A default will occur if any team cannot field a squad of a minimum of 4 players 10 minutes after the official start time

Exceptions: Both teams can agree to play with any number of people on the court up to five (5) players, as long as roster minimums are met. If both teams agree then the game counts.

 

Playing Area

All Gym Soccer gyms vary in size and there is no set standard for an JAM Gym Soccer surface.

 

Equipment/Set Up

Team captains are responsible for bringing the supplied soccer ball to each Gym Soccer game.

Teams are also responsible for keeping track of the score. Please designate one person to keep track of the score.

 

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.

 

Gym Soccer 101

The following outlines the basis of the rules of Gym Soccer:

 

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

• Teams are comprised of 5 players (including goalie) with a minimum of 2 men or gender minority players and 2 women or gender minority players playing at all times.
• The game begins with one team initiating play by making a pass from the centre of the court
• 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.
• Goalies cannot change on the fly - please wait for a stoppage in play before substituting goalies.
• 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 (offence or defence, 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 if needed, except in the final 10 minutes of play.
• There is no longer a high ball rule. Instead, the ball can be played off of any wall at any height. Play is stopped if the ball hits the ceiling or a major obstacle (basketball hoop). An indirect free kick is then awarded to the other team from the spot where the ball was kicked. Since there are no longer high balls, a player MAY head the ball.
• Balls can be played off both back and side walls.
• A player should ONLY be using their hands on the wall to slow their momentum. A player can use ONE hand on the wall for support, but their arm should not obstruct an opposing player. A player should NEVER have TWO hands on the wall.
• It is the responsibility of all players to minimize the amount of "ball blasting" from occurring. Thus, while it is not forbidden to kick the ball hard, doing so with little control on a consistent basis makes the game less fun for everyone. Please use your best judgment.
• 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.

 

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 his/her hands if the ball has been played back on purpose to the goalie by a player on his/her 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 his/her 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.

 

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 3 minute sudden-death overtime period. If it is still tied, a shootout will commence as follows:

• Each of the five players on the floor (including the goalie) takes one shot each at a distance of eight paces.
• Only the players on the court at the end of the game can participate and the goalie that finished the game remains the goalie for the shoot-out.
• After five shots, if still tied, teams continue taking single shots 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.