The Basics of 7-on-7 Football
7-on-7 football is something that many middle and high schools have adopted during the off-season. It’s played with less protective gear due to the rules and receivers are down by a one-hand touch instead of a full tackle. It’s focused on passing only and there are no offensive rushing plays. Defenders also cannot rush the quarterback. In most cases, teams will usually have uniforms to help separate them.
The purpose of 7-on-7 is to train skills that football players need to succeed in their regular games. However, it can also be a fantastic sport on its own that can be played in an organized 7-on-7 league format.
In this article, we’ll be looking at the basics of 7-on-7 football.
Positions in 7-on-7 Football
For offense, there is a single center that snaps the ball, a quarterback and a combination of tight ends, running backs and wide receivers. This essentially means all of the players on a regular offense with the exception of offensive guards and tackles. All offensive players have to align themselves according to regulation football (2 receivers on the line of scrimmage and other receivers within at least one yard off the line of scrimmage).
For defense, all 7 players can be a mix of linebackers, safeties and cornerbacks.
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No Running Plays
Despite there being a running back on the offensive side, you are not allowed to call running plays.
Keep the Quarterback from Holding the Ball
Since there is a rule against rushing the quarterback, you may be wondering how to keep them from holding the ball.
This is done by the 4-second rule that follows each snap. The quarterback must throw the ball within 4 seconds of the snap. In most cases, an official will use a stopwatch and call for time and keep track of how long the quarterback is holding the ball.
Equipment Involved
Teams will usually wear uniforms to differentiate between themselves. In most cases, you’ll also be asked to wear a mouth guard despite 7-on-7 being a non-contact sport. Collisions may still occur, which is why it’s important to keep the mouth guard.
There are many more intricate rules depending on the school and where it is played. However, these basic tips should give you some idea of what 7-on-7 football is like and if it has a serious future or not. There are already 7-on-7 all-star teams around, so it’s only a matter of time before 7-on-7 football starts to get some recognition.
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