7 on 7 Rules
Field Dimensions:
• Field Length - 45 yards long
• End Zone - 10 yards deep
• Two games per field
Referees:
• Two referees will officiate each game for all age groups
• One referee will keep time/score, while second referee will run game
Safety:
If a coach, official or league member suspects that an athlete may have sustained a concussion, the player should be removed from play immediately. The player should not be left alone, and the parent/guardian should be notified so they can follow up accordingly. Player cannot return to play until a licensed physician has signed off on their participation.
***REQUIRED EQUIPMENT: Mouth pieces and soft helmets are required to be worn by each player. No sharing. ***
Starting the game:
• A central timekeeper will be designated. All games will begin and end on this person’s instructions. He will also announce the time remaining at the 10, 5, and 2-minute mark.
• Coin flip determines first possession.
• No team will be allowed to participate without shirts.
• Coaches will be responsible for coordinating/providing matching team jersey for each player
• Football Size: 5th & 6th: TDJ Football Junior Football or equivalent, 3rd-4th: Peewee designation
• Player is to bring their own helmet and mouthpiece (required to play). No sharing of equipment.
• Team will consist of 7 players, minimum of five players always on the field.
Moving the ball:
• Offensive plays must be forward passes
• Field is marked at 15-yard intervals with cones.
• Possession always begins at the 45-yard line.
• No penalty will be assessed pass the 45 yd line. On an unsuccessful or successful offensive play from the 45 yard line resulting in an offensive penalty: The ball will be returned to the 45 yard line and 1st down will become 2nd down; 2nd down will become 3rd down; and 3rd down will result in a turnover.
• For a false start on the 45-yard line, it is a loss of down. Any other false start occurs outside of the 45-yard line, it is a 5-yard penalty. Again, no penalty will be assessed pass the 45-yard line.
• Offenses always move in the same direction.
• All passes must be forward. A pass caught behind the line of scrimmage must be a forward pass.
• Once a forward pass has been thrown past the line of scrimmage, a backward pass (lateral) is allowed
• No flea flickers or double passes
• Center responsible for setting ball back on the line of scrimmage.
Special Rules:
• No blocking.
• Receiver/ball carrier is legally down when touched with one or both hands below the neck. (Excessive force by shoving, pushing, or striking a blow will be penalized by automatic first down and 5 yards. Expulsion of a player(s) if ruled unsportsmanlike & flagrant).
• Fumbles are dead balls at the spot with the last team retaining possession. A muffed snap is not a fumble/dead ball. The 4.0 second count remains in effect on snaps.
• The QB is allowed 4.0 seconds to throw the ball. (3rd/4th grade is 4.5) The Official timekeeper starts a stopwatch on the snap of the ball from center and stops the watch as soon as the QB releases the ball.
If release is under 4.0 seconds, the play goes on.
If the timekeeper sees that the clock has exceeded 4.0 seconds, he waits until the play is over (the play is not blown dead), then brings the ball back to the original line of scrimmage with loss of down.
The only infractions possible when a 4 second count is called are unsportsmanlike acts.
• Defensive pass interference will be a spot foul (1st down at the spot).
• Responsibility to avoid contact is with the defense. There will be NO chucking. Deliberate bumping or grabbing. These actions will result in a "tack on" penalty at the end of the play (5-yard penalty)
• Offensive pass interference is the same as NCAA rules. (15-yard penalty)
• Offensive team is responsible for retrieving and returning the ball to the previous spot or the new scrimmage spot in a timely fashion. Failure to do so can result in a delay of game penalty.
• The offensive center is not an eligible receiver (teams must have a center).
• The center will be responsible for setting or re-positioning the Referee's cone at the line of scrimmage. On change of possession, the team moving to offense will ensure the cone gets to the new scrimmage line. (centers on both teams responsible).
• No taunting or "trash talking". (5-yard penalty & expulsion if flagrant).
• The offense must gain at least 15 yards in the first 3 or less plays or the defense takes over. Four down territory occurs only after offense proceeds to or inside the 15-yard line cone (third quadrant).
• No line at the end of game for shaking opponents’ hands (due to COVID social distancing policies). Waving is recommended alternative.
• Fighting: the player(s) involved will be ejected from the game. If a team fight occurs, the teams involved will be ejected from the tournament and denied participation in any league play or tournament.
Scoring:
• 7 points for TD
• Interceptions will be an automatic 3-point score, as well as change of possession back on 45 yard line.
• Official score is kept by field referee.
Tie Breaker:
• There is no OT in regular season
Play-offs:
• After coin flip to determine first possession, teams will alternate 3 down series from the 10-yard line.
• A winner is determined when one team scores during its possession and the other does not.
Time:
• 30-minute games with running clock. (Unless there is an injury)
• 5 minutes between games.
• Games start/end at the same time.
• Teams must be on site and ready to play when scheduled.
• If a team(s) is late and cannot start when the tournament officially starts, they will begin play with whatever time is left on the tournament.
• Forfeit will occur after 10 minutes into game.
• Injury time outs may reduce game times or time between games to maintain the game schedules.
Field Dimensions:
• Field Length - 45 yards long
• End Zone - 10 yards deep
• Two games per field
Referees:
• Two referees will officiate each game for all age groups
• One referee will keep time/score, while second referee will run game
Safety:
If a coach, official or league member suspects that an athlete may have sustained a concussion, the player should be removed from play immediately. The player should not be left alone, and the parent/guardian should be notified so they can follow up accordingly. Player cannot return to play until a licensed physician has signed off on their participation.
***REQUIRED EQUIPMENT: Mouth pieces and soft helmets are required to be worn by each player. No sharing. ***
Starting the game:
• A central timekeeper will be designated. All games will begin and end on this person’s instructions. He will also announce the time remaining at the 10, 5, and 2-minute mark.
• Coin flip determines first possession.
• No team will be allowed to participate without shirts.
• Coaches will be responsible for coordinating/providing matching team jersey for each player
• Football Size: 5th & 6th: TDJ Football Junior Football or equivalent, 3rd-4th: Peewee designation
• Player is to bring their own helmet and mouthpiece (required to play). No sharing of equipment.
• Team will consist of 7 players, minimum of five players always on the field.
Moving the ball:
• Offensive plays must be forward passes
• Field is marked at 15-yard intervals with cones.
• Possession always begins at the 45-yard line.
• No penalty will be assessed pass the 45 yd line. On an unsuccessful or successful offensive play from the 45 yard line resulting in an offensive penalty: The ball will be returned to the 45 yard line and 1st down will become 2nd down; 2nd down will become 3rd down; and 3rd down will result in a turnover.
• For a false start on the 45-yard line, it is a loss of down. Any other false start occurs outside of the 45-yard line, it is a 5-yard penalty. Again, no penalty will be assessed pass the 45-yard line.
• Offenses always move in the same direction.
• All passes must be forward. A pass caught behind the line of scrimmage must be a forward pass.
• Once a forward pass has been thrown past the line of scrimmage, a backward pass (lateral) is allowed
• No flea flickers or double passes
• Center responsible for setting ball back on the line of scrimmage.
Special Rules:
• No blocking.
• Receiver/ball carrier is legally down when touched with one or both hands below the neck. (Excessive force by shoving, pushing, or striking a blow will be penalized by automatic first down and 5 yards. Expulsion of a player(s) if ruled unsportsmanlike & flagrant).
• Fumbles are dead balls at the spot with the last team retaining possession. A muffed snap is not a fumble/dead ball. The 4.0 second count remains in effect on snaps.
• The QB is allowed 4.0 seconds to throw the ball. (3rd/4th grade is 4.5) The Official timekeeper starts a stopwatch on the snap of the ball from center and stops the watch as soon as the QB releases the ball.
If release is under 4.0 seconds, the play goes on.
If the timekeeper sees that the clock has exceeded 4.0 seconds, he waits until the play is over (the play is not blown dead), then brings the ball back to the original line of scrimmage with loss of down.
The only infractions possible when a 4 second count is called are unsportsmanlike acts.
• Defensive pass interference will be a spot foul (1st down at the spot).
• Responsibility to avoid contact is with the defense. There will be NO chucking. Deliberate bumping or grabbing. These actions will result in a "tack on" penalty at the end of the play (5-yard penalty)
• Offensive pass interference is the same as NCAA rules. (15-yard penalty)
• Offensive team is responsible for retrieving and returning the ball to the previous spot or the new scrimmage spot in a timely fashion. Failure to do so can result in a delay of game penalty.
• The offensive center is not an eligible receiver (teams must have a center).
• The center will be responsible for setting or re-positioning the Referee's cone at the line of scrimmage. On change of possession, the team moving to offense will ensure the cone gets to the new scrimmage line. (centers on both teams responsible).
• No taunting or "trash talking". (5-yard penalty & expulsion if flagrant).
• The offense must gain at least 15 yards in the first 3 or less plays or the defense takes over. Four down territory occurs only after offense proceeds to or inside the 15-yard line cone (third quadrant).
• No line at the end of game for shaking opponents’ hands (due to COVID social distancing policies). Waving is recommended alternative.
• Fighting: the player(s) involved will be ejected from the game. If a team fight occurs, the teams involved will be ejected from the tournament and denied participation in any league play or tournament.
Scoring:
• 7 points for TD
• Interceptions will be an automatic 3-point score, as well as change of possession back on 45 yard line.
• Official score is kept by field referee.
Tie Breaker:
• There is no OT in regular season
Play-offs:
• After coin flip to determine first possession, teams will alternate 3 down series from the 10-yard line.
• A winner is determined when one team scores during its possession and the other does not.
Time:
• 30-minute games with running clock. (Unless there is an injury)
• 5 minutes between games.
• Games start/end at the same time.
• Teams must be on site and ready to play when scheduled.
• If a team(s) is late and cannot start when the tournament officially starts, they will begin play with whatever time is left on the tournament.
• Forfeit will occur after 10 minutes into game.
• Injury time outs may reduce game times or time between games to maintain the game schedules.
