(I will work on getting photos of can soccer fields, etc as soon as possible)
Can soccer originally used a tennis ball, but, as can be expected, in a crowded schoolyard, it is easy to lose a tennis ball forever. Also, it is much easier just to crush a can and use that, than to rely on someone to bring a ball. Also, as the game went on, and the violent side came out, the often jagged edges of the can became a bonus. Another advantage of the can, is that it is really easy to kick a tennis ball to the horizon and beyond, where as a can will slide, and is generally much more suited to the style we played.
It started off basically the same rules as general soccer, but in a very confined space. As we played more, we began to get a little more violent, and develop more of a team environment. In the area we played in originally, it was a three person game, but ended up evolving into a 5/6 person game (as we used a larger playing field).
The game ended up being played on concrete, with solid brick or concrete walls. The general size was about 3-4 meters wide, by about 7-10 meters long. The goals are at the end of the field and generally the walls stop at the end of the field (or there is a drop at each goal end) As the violence grew, it became a very physically demanding game, and we developed game times. The game was split into two halves, either 10 minutes or 15 minutes, depending on the teams fitness etc. and level of the game. This may seem to be rather short, but the reason becomes clearer when one looks at the game itself. (Read the rules section for further details) The rules were only rather recently developed, but were designed to keep the integrity of the game. As such, it remained a very violent (sometimes temporarily incapacitating) game. Full and hard physical contact is not only permitted, it is almost a key part of game play. Frequently we had injuries and often, by the end of the game, teams were down to 3, and sometimes even only 2 players, due to a shockingly high crippling injury rate. For example, I have played with a broken ankle against people with open wounds and severe body injuries. Although there have been none confirmed, in most of the really tough games we play, there have been at least one suspected broken rib.
The few set positions are goalkeeper, defenders, blockers and shooters. (Although, a team may not have all of these)
The goalkeeper has a small area near the goal where he can handle the ball. Often, the goalkeeper will also double as an attacker when needed.
Defenders are only really used in a very tough game. Defenders will stay in the back half of the field, in case of a quick break or a lucky shot. Defenders are also opportunity attackers (ie. if there is a collapse or a gap where the can is, they will attack from there.
Blockers are a very valuable commodity and almost a necessity in any game. The name 'blocker' is a little misleading. Blockers are the people that try to clear a path to the goal. They are the assault troops of can soccer. No punches are allowed, but almost everything else goes. Blockers also may take out the keeper, so a team with decent blockers should do well. Many of the injuries in game will come from blockers.
Shooters have a deceptivly hard job. They have to be a defender, a blocker and more, all in one. They have to wait behind the blockers, and be ready to shoot at the smallest opening, also they need to be able to stand up for themselves against an enemy blocker (sometimes more than one) and need to have a keen eye to jump into a brawl if needed. Thier primary job though, is to get the can past the goal line.
Photos
Rules
Field outline
Game strategies
