7v7 Football Rules

• Games shall be comprised of (2) 20 minute running time halves with a 5 minute halftime
  • There shall be NO overtime during the regular season
• Fields will be 40 yards long with a 10 yard end-zone
  • 6-7-8 teams will play on a standard width field
  • 3-4-5 teams may shorten the field to play sideline to far hash
• First team listed shall be the visitors and wear their WHITE jerseys; second teams listed on schedule shall be home and wear their COLOR jerseys.
• Teams shall line up on the SAME side of the field
  • HOME (dark jersey) Team shall sit between the 10-20 yard lines
  • AWAY (white jersey) Team shall sit between the 30-40 yard lines
• Parents and specatators shall sit on the OPPOSITE side of the field from the players

• Prior to the season there will be a “practice session” for all registered players
• After that practice session teams will be formed with the following considerations:
  • Competative balance is of the upmost importance
  • Player/Coach requests will be honored where possible
    • Requests made in an effort to create “super” teams will not be tollerated
  • All teams are to be Coed to the fullest extent possible
• Althletes will be divided evenly into teams with roughly 10 players per team
• Regular season will consist of 9 games over 12 weeks
• Playoffs will be after the regular season
  • All teams will make the playoffs

• Each player will be given a reversible game jersey
• All players MUST wear sneakers or standard athletic cleats (metal cleats are NOT permitted)
• Players are permitted to wear mouth guards.
• Players are permitted to wear gloves, elbow &/or knee pads at their discretion
• Players are permitted to wear soft helmets at their discretion
  • Standard tackle football helmets are NOT permitted
• Players MUST remove all jewelry
• Players are permitted to wear face coverings or masks.

• Each team shall field (7) players on the field
• Visiting team shall call the coin toss
  • Winner of the coin toss can elect to kick or receive in the first half
• Game will be comprised of two 20 minute running clock halves.
• At the start of the game, start of the half and at each change in possession the ball will start on the 40 yard line going into the endzone
  • An interception will result in a change of possession and the offense will assume the ball at the 40 yard line going into the endzone
  • If an interception is returned for a touchdown the original offense will retain the ball on the 40 yard line
• First down can be obtained at the 20 yard line, or by penality
• Teams have (4) downs to make the line to gain (or score)
• Teams shall have 30-seconds between plays
• Teams are allowed (1) timeout per half, the game clock will stop
• (1) Offensive and (1) Defensive coach will be allowed in the huddle
  • Once the teams come to the LOS the coaches shall leave the field of play
• Teams are required to play all players the same number of snaps throughout the game
  • Teams are encouraged to utalize at least (1) underclassman at quarterback for a portion of each game

• General & Formations
  • Offense shall be comprised of the following positions:
    • (1) - Center
    • (1) - QB
    • (5) – Receivers/ Backs
  • All players (excluding quarterback) are eligible to catch a pass
  • There is NO blocking
  • (3) Players, including the center, must be on the line of scrimmage when the ball is snapped
  • Only 1 player may be in motion prior to the snap of the ball
    • Motion CANNOT be made towards the line of scrimmage
  • Snaps can be shot-gun between the legs or shot-gun side snap
    • Direct snaps under center are not permitted in 2020
  • Once the ball is snapped the QB has (4) seconds to pass or hand-off the ball
    • After (4) seconds the ball is dead on the LOS
  • Once a player is in possession of the ball beyond the LOS all offense players are to remain motionless
    • Picks, screens or blocking is NOT permitted

• Running:
  • The QB is NOT permitted to run the ball past the line of scrimmage
  • The center is NOT permitted to run the ball
  • The ball may NOT be handed off and then passed
  • The ball may only be handed off ONE time per play from scrimmage
    • Once a runner is past the line of scrimmage the ball cannot be handed off
  • There is a “NO RUNNING ZONE” 5 yards from the end-zone & first down marker
  • Once the ball is handed off all defensive players are eligible to rush
  • Players are NOT permitted to leave their feet (no diving or jumping to avoid a defender)
  • A fumbled ball is dead where the ball is dropped

• Receiving:
  • All players (excluding quarterback) are eligible to catch a pass
  • A player must have (1) foot in bounds for a legal catch
  • Interceptions are returnable
  • Once a receiver catches the ball they become a runner (see rules above)

• General & Formations
  • The defense may play zone or man-to-man defense
• Blitzing
  • There will be NO blitzing.
• Dead Balls
  • A play is over when:
    • Ball carrier flag is pulled
    • Ball carrier steps out of bounds
    • Ball carrier falls to the ground
    • Ball carrier knee hits the ground
    • Ball carrier crosses the end zone
    • Ball is fumbled or touches the ground
    • Play reaches 4-seconds and the QB is still in possession of the ball

• Touchdown – 6 points
• Extra Points – (ball on the 5 yard line) – 1 point
  • No run plays
• Extra Points – (ball on the 10 yard line) – 2 points
• Interception – 3 points
  • No points on an interception of a PAT
• Interception Returned for a Touchdown – 6 points + 3 points for the interception
• Turnover on Downs – 2 points

• Defensive Penalties:

• Offensive Penalties: