Kan Jam Rules: A Game Review and How to Play Kan Jam

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Outdoor Games
kan jam rules

Kan Jam rules are simple and engaging, making this game a popular choice since its invention in 1980, with a spike in popularity in 2005.

The game is slowly becoming a household name, and it’s very easy to store, unpacking to a flat plastic board with minimal storage requirements.

The rules of Kan Jam are super easy to learn, and the game can be played by all ages.

It’s an exciting activity that might have you chasing a runaway Frisbee or jumping in the air to smack down your partner’s Frisbee for extra points. You’ll have a blast with this game!

Kan Jam consists of 2 black circular bins, each with a mail-slot size opening in the front, and 2 frisbees.

The goal, according to Kan Jam rules, is to get the Frisbee into the mail slot or have your partner hit the Frisbee into the top of the bin, which acts as your goal bin.

So, next time you think of playing with that boring old Frisbee, reach for your Kan Jam instead!

Kan Jam Rules Infographic

Learn How to Play Kan Jam

We first discovered KanJam at a beach BBQ and this was a perfect game to bring to the beach.

Most people had never played KanJam before and before the end of the BBQ, almost everyone was either playing or waiting in line to play with a group of spectators.

At first, this outdoor game looks awkward and clunky to store but the black bins easily are dissembled and sit as a thin plastic sheet taking up hardly any room at all.

It’s a game that is a ton of fun, can be quite active so you get some exercise at the same time, and can spark a lot of fun competition among teams.

We would definitely recommend KanJam for your next Backyard BBQ.  It was one of the top games that inspired us to start Backyard Games, find it in our Top 5 Backyard Games too.

What is included in the Game Box

  • 8 pieces of plastic sheets with puzzles joints in each for quick assembly. 4 sets up one bin, so you will have 2 black circular bins in total
  • 2 yellow Frisbees
  • Instruction book with Kan Jam Rules

How to Setup Kan Jam

KanJam is a very easy and simple setup. Simply take the 4 plastic sheets and place them together interlocking the puzzle joints in each so they sit securely and make an enclosed circle with open and no ends. 

Place the bins 50 feet apart and get out the frisbee.

How far apart should the kanjam setup be

How to Play Kan Jam

For Kan Jam rules there are actually a number of different versions out for KanJam, tabletop Kan Jam for those rainy days, splash Kan Jam, there’s even glow-in-the-dark Kan Jam! KanJam is played with 4 people, 2 people on each team.

Each person on the same team stands at a different end so you are standing opposite each other.

The first person throws the frisbee as the Thrower, then switches roles and the next person is the thrower before passing the frisbee to the opposing team.

Kan Jam Rules: A Game Review and How to Play Kan Jam 1

Choose which team plays first by quick traditional games like Thumb War, choose a number, or other fun games to see who goes first.

Or simply choose up or down, and flip the frisbee to see who goes first.

The person who goes 2nd is called the Hammer.  It’s considered to be an advantage to be the Hammer team.

To play, stand behind the goal line to throw your Frisbee, then throw your Frisbee aiming to have your Frisbee just above the black bin.

Your partner standing on the other side of the playing field is the Deflector and must knock the Frisbee into the pin with their hand.

Ideally, you want to use a flat palm from above the Frisbee to control the direction the Frisbee goes in.

If you are successful in getting the Frisbee into the mailslot of the front bin you receive an instant win!

Kan Jam Rules

1. You must stand behind the goal line, if you do not, your points for that round are not applied.

2. The Frisbee cannot hit or bounce off the ground.

3. The deflector cannot double-hit or grab the Frisbee with 2 hands.  You can only use 1 hand.

4. If the other team interferes with the Deflectors, 3 points are awarded as a penalty to the other team.

5. The winning team must reach the exact score of 21.

6. Each team, completes the same amount of rounds. AKA, if the Hammer team gets to 21 first they win. However, if the team that threw first gets to 21, the Hammer team has an opportunity to throw. If the hammer team gets to 21 then it goes to an overtime round.

7. In the event of a tie, there is an overtime round. In the overtime round, the team with the most points wins the game. If the score is tied, there is another overtime round until one team wins.

The Points System for Kan Jam

The points system for KanJam is pretty simple.  If the Thrower throws the Frisbee and hits the Kan, the team receives 2 points.

If the Thrower misses the bin, but the Deflector hits the Frisbee and the Frisbee then dings the Kan, that is 1 point.

You get a Slam Dunk if the Deflector is able to deflect the Frisbee into the top of the Goal which is 3 points.

It’s an Instant win if the Thrower gets the Frisbee in the mailslot of the goal! In the event of an Instant Win, the other team does not get a redemption throw.

How to score Kanjam Points

Are you ready to play? Click here to check the price on Amazon.

For a twist, try our Kan Jam dinking rules here: