GOTTA BELIEVE 7v7 2025 Playing Rules


1. Field Dimensions:
A. Field Length—40 yards long
B. Field Width—Normal HS football field width
C. Hash marks—Normal HS hash marks (if available)
D. End Zone—10 yards deep

2. Starting the game:

A.A Coin toss with take place to see who gets the ball first
B.A horn will signal the start of the game for all games.  All games will start and end at the same time.  Game length is 25 minutes running time.
C. All teams report to their respective fields 15 minutes before game time wearing their team colors and shorts.  Prior to each game that takes place after pool play is completed, the field supervisor will notify a team if their light or dark t-shirt need to be worn.
D. Referee will announce score before each offensive possession begins.
E. A HORN WILL END EACH GAME AS WELL
F. Soft helmets are recommended, but not required at this time.  

MOUTH PIECES must be worn at all times except for the QB.  If a player does not have a mouthpiece they cannot participate until they do.  Helmets must be fully fastened for every play.

3. Moving the ball.

A. 30 second play clock enforced for the offenses.  If longer there will be a delay of game and loss of down.  Offensive plays must be forward passes.  No Running/Kicking.—must be real football plays.

B. Field is marked with 40-25-10 yard intervals with cones. There are 3 downs to reach a first down at or inside the 25 yard line and 3 downs to reach a 1st down at or inside the 10 yard line. There are 3 downs to score from the 10 yard line to the goal line.  Failure to convert a 1st down in any possession will result in a change of possession.

C. Possession always begins at the 40 yard line in the middle of the field/or a hash.

D. No penalty will be assessed in excess of the 40 yd line. On an unsuccessful or successful offensive play from the 40 yard line resulting in an offensive penalty: The ball will be returned to the 40 yard line and 1st down will become 2nd down; 2nd down will become 3rd down; and 3rd down will result in a turnover.

E. Offenses always move in the same direction.  You can run your jet sweeps because those are passes.

F. All passes must be forward. A pass caught behind the line of scrimmage must be a forward pass. Backward pass becomes a dead play and loss of down.

G. THERE ARE NO HANDOFFS for RUNNING PLAYS and there is no BLITZING.

4. Special Rules

A.No blocking.  No blocking.  Blocking will result in a loss of a down.
B. We will be following all NFHSA rules when it comes to Mouth pieces and Jewelry
C. You have to be wearing a mouth piece to play.  
D. No Jewelry is allowed for safety of other players and yourself
E. Receiver/Ball carrier is legally down when touched with one or both hands. (Excessive force by shoving, pushing, or striking a blow will be penalized by automatic first down and 5 yards. Ejection of a player(s) will result if ruled unsportsmanlike & flagrant).

F. 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 affect on snaps.

G. Each team will have 30 seconds to snap the ball once it has been blown dead from the previous play. The count starts at the end of one play until the snap of the next play.

H. Two delay of game penalties in the same possession results in a turnover. A delay of game penalty on the extra point try results in a turnover.

I. The QB is allowed 4.0 seconds to throw the ball. Officials will enforce 4.0 sec rule after confirming time violation occurred.

1. If release is under 4.0 seconds, the play goes on.

2. If the release has exceeded 4.0 seconds, the official will blow the play dead.
3. Pass Interference will be a spot foul (1st down at the spot).

K. 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)  You can use your hands.  PLAY FOOTBALL

L. Offensive pass interference is the same as NCAA rules. (15 yard penalty)

M. Interceptions are worth 1 pt to the intercepting team and a change of possession will occur. The play is dead immediately, and the ball in placed on the 30 yard line.

N. 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.

O. The offensive center is not an eligible receiver (teams must have a center or snapper). The ball must be snapped from the line of scrimmage to the QB, but does not need to go through the center’s legs.

P. The center will be responsible for setting or re-positioning the Referee’s bean bag at the line of scrimmage. On change of possession, the team moving to offense will ensure the bean bag gets to the new scrimmage line. (Centers on both teams responsible).

Q. No taunting or “trash talking”. (5 yard penalty & expulsion if flagrant).WE WANT GOOD SPORTSMANSHIP

R. The offense must gain at least 15 yards or a first down by penalty in the first 3 or less plays or the defense takes over. (There is no kicking). Everything is 3 down territory.

S. Fighting: the player(s) involved will be ejected from the game and the tournament. If a team fight occurs, the teams involved will be ejected from the tournament and denied participation in any future games.

T. Any dead ball foul on a play that results in the defense getting the ball will result in a loss of down penalty. The defense, now the offense, would be starting play with 2nd down.

U. There will be an area referred to as the tackle box that extends 3 yards on both sides of the center and extending 3 yards deep into the backfield. No eligible receiver may align within the tackle box.
V.  DPI in end zone Ball will be placed at the 2yd line automatic first down.

W. A live ball foul on a scoring play can only be assessed on an extra point. A dead ball foul on the defense can be assessed on the extra point or it can be 2nd down for the new offense. A dead ball foul on the offense after a scoring play can be assessed on the extra point or new series for the defense.

5. Scoring:

A. 6 points for TD you can choose to take 7 pts, or you can go for 2 pts from the 10 to try and earn 8, if you miss you only get 6 pts
B. 2 point PAT from the 10 yard line.
C. 1 pt for an interception on a scrimmage down. Play is dead and results in a change of possession. After an Interception you get the ball at the 30 as well.
E. Official score is kept by field referee and/or field supervisor.
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6. Tie Breaker (for Single Elimination Tournament/No Tie Breaker for Bracket Play):

A. Each team receives one offensive play from the 40.
B. Winner of a coin flip decides who has possession first
C. The team gaining the most yards on its offensive play wins the game and advances if pass interference is called the team gets the yardage and another play.   The 2 get added together.  IF THERE IS AN INTERCEPTION THE TEAM THAT INTERCEPTED THE BALL WINS.
D. No yardage gained by both teams and the process continues until there is a winner.
Note: Pool Play games tied when the horn sounds will be recorded as a tie, with no tie-breaker.

7. Time:

A. 25 minute game-running time with no time outs

B. Injuries on game field will halt until injured player can be removed during single elimination tournament.   During pool Play games clock will continue to run.

C. All Pool Play games will start at the same time.  An air horn will start and finish the game. During single elimination tournament referees will keep official time

D. If a team is late and is not ready to play when the game officially starts, they are subject to forfeiture.  Field supervisor will make all forfeiture decisions.

8. Secondary Coverages:

A. Coverage will be the choice of each participating team executed with the rules of the game of football.

9. Squad Members


A. Team Sideline: Sideline is to consist of team players and coaches only.  This rule will be enforced.

B. Seven offensive/defensive players on the field at a time.
C. One Offensive/One Defensive Coach may be on the field of play-behind the line of scrimmage. REFEREES will enforce the 4.0 second clock only-behind the line of scrimmage.  NO PLAYERS BEHIND THE HUDDLE/ NO EXCEPTIONS

D. No PLAYERS RUNNING ON TO THE FIELD TO CELEBRATE AFTER TOUCHDOWN OR INTERCEPTION / No exceptions /Unsportsmanlike Penalty will be enforced

10. Officials: (2)—Referee and Back Judge

A. QB Release: An opposing coach or referee will keep the 4 second clock.

B. Officials will enforce all game rules.  It is the intent of the tournament to keep the game moving.  Huddles may occur, but if you huddle you still only get 30 seconds to get the play off.

C. All Official decisions are final. Any unsportsmanlike conduct from players or coaches will not be tolerated.
SPECIAL RULES

JERSEYS MUST MATCH to field administrators’ discretion.

NO capes, no loose material, etc. per field administration.

Excessive celebration is not allowed and will not be tolerated. If a team clears the sideline to celebrate a touchdown and delay the game they will be penalized 15 yards on defense on the next opponent's offensive drive/possession . If on an extra point the team will be penalized 15 yards on defense, and the extra point will not count.
•     ABSOLUTLEY NO CELEBRATIONS THAT TAUNT THE OPPOSITION!!!

FIGHTING WILL NOT BE TOLERATED any punch thrown player is ejected and is done for the day and has to leave the complex.

GBAC staff has to right in an extreme case to throw out any player or team if necessary to the safety of the tournament.

We do have undercover security at every event.