JAM Toronto

Soccer – Officiated (Indoor)

There is only one format for Indoor Officiated Soccer under JAM rules. It is described in its entirety below. Please note: This Rule Book covers all Indoor Officiated Soccer Leagues, with the exception of Ballsports Leagues. Please find the Ballsports Officiated Soccer rules here. This rulebook will cover Mixed-Gender Soccer, Men’s Soccer, Women’s Soccer, and Open Officiated 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

All Indoor Soccer games are approximately 55 minutes in length. 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 clock inside the sports bubble (if applicable) will be the official game clock. If playing without an official game clock, the JAM Official 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.

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.

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 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 10 minutes past the official start time. A team can play with a minimum of 5 people. For a Mixed League, a team can play with 5 players as long as the roster miniums 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

The on-site Official will ensure your field is set-up for each game and will ensure the net is set up in the proper position. Please speak with the Official if anything needs to be adjusted in regards to the field.

Most turf fields have lines to indicate the sidelines and goal lines. If you are playing at a venue without the lines on the turf, the Ambassador will set up pylons to indicate the sidelines and end lines. Please speak with the Official if anything needs to be adjusted in regards to the field set-up.

Equipment/Set Up

Team captains are responsible for bringing a soccer ball to all of their game sites.
All teams should bring both a light and dark coloured shirt to all games.
Shinpads are not mandatory, but they are strongly encouraged.
Acceptable footwear includes clean outdoor cleats, turf shoes, indoor soccer shoes or running shoes.

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.

Role of the Referee

Start and end games on time. NOTE: If your team (or your opponents) are not ready to start on time, your game will still end on time.
Provide unbiased decisions and control the flow of the game.
Appropriately warn or penalize players for inappropriate conduct.
Make decisions before, during and after the match that take account the safety of all players and spectators.
Under extreme unsportsmanlike conditions, the referee has the authority to eject players and/or terminate a match before time has expired.
At the end of each match, the referee will submit a game report to TJAM administrators.

Soccer 101

The following outlines the basis of the rules of Indoor Officiated Soccer Programs:

General Rules:

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

The game begins with one team initiating play by making a pass from the centre of the court (forward or backwards).
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 as close as possible to the centre of the field, (b) the player coming off must completely enter the team area before the new player joins the action and (c) the change cannot disrupt the flow of the game or give your team an advantage through substitution.
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). 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. There will be NO throw-ins at any time.
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.
Teams may call a one (1) minute time-out if needed, except in the final 10 minutes of play.
If a ball hits the top or sides of the Bubble, an indirect kick is awarded to the opposite team. The ball should be placed at the spot on the field that is closest to where the ball made contact with the Bubble. i.e. directly underneath the point at which the ball hit the ceiling and on the sidelines for balls that hit the side of the Bubble.
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 in anticipation of needing the extra time to settle a tie.

Fouls and Penalties:

All decisions regarding fouls and penalties are at the sole discretion of the referee.
An indirect free kick will be awarded to the other team when there is inappropriate incidental contact, accidental handballs or minor obstruction.
Stalling and delay of game is not permitted in our leagues. If a ball has gone out of bounds, a player or goalkeeper has six seconds to put the ball back into play once the ball has been retrieved, otherwise the opponents will be given an indirect free kick. The six-second count is conducted by the ref, who will determine if/when the ball must be turned over.
When more serious fouls occur (aggressive tackles, dangerous plays, tackling from behind, purposeful handballs, handballs within the penalty area, or other fouls deemed serious by the referee), the offending player will be issued a 2-minute penalty.
During a 2 minute penalty, the offending player must stand next to the score clock, and can only return to the field of play once the 2-minute penalty has elapsed and the referee makes the signal that it is okay to return. During the 2 minutes, the offending player's team will play short one person.
Multiple penalties can be given to the same team with no limit.
If there are "off-setting" penalties given out by the referee (i.e. both teams receive a 2-minute penalty at the same time), the teams will NOT play shorthanded.
Any player that receives TWO penalties during the same game (for any reason) is ejected from that game.
For fouls that are judged by the referee to be violent, overly aggressive and/or completely avoidable, a player may be ejected (without warning). The offending player's team would still play short for 2 minutes.
What the referee says/calls goes: Any arguing with the referees or scorekeeper will not be tolerated and could lead to an unsportsmanlike penalty or a game misconduct penalty.

Slide Tackles:

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.
A player that attempts a slide tackle will immediately be given a 2-minute penalty.
The decision as to whether a player committed a slide tackle or simply fell to the ground is at the sole discretion of the referee.
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. The referee's decision is final.

Off-sides:

There are NO off-sides.

Goalies:

The player acting as the goalie (as well as substitute goalies throughout the game) must wear a shirt different in colour than their teammates and opponents.
Goalies can use their hands ONLY when they are inside the lined goalie crease.
When inside the goal crease, 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 their lined 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.

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 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.