Official football is one thing, but seven on seven football is a whole other world! This game is a friendly alternative to football that could easily be played by families with kids but is still popular among real athletes as well. If you have ever wondered how to play seven on seven football, you have come to the right place!
Seven on seven football is often employed by athletic teams in the off-season to continue their practice. The main difference between seven on seven and regular football is that emphasis is placed more on routing and passing rather than tackling. This is why non-athletes can play seven on seven too.
If you aren’t quite sure how to go about playing seven on seven football, there is no need to worry. Here you will be able to find a thorough explanation of the rules, different positions, leagues, and tournaments. Hopefully, you’ll be able to understand the sport just a little bit better after reading below!
What Is Seven on Seven Football?
Before anything else, let’s talk a little bit about what makes seven on seven a little different from normal football. As mentioned before, athletic teams will often play seven on seven during their off-season so they can still practice their sport and stay in shape.
The game is stripped down considerably. There is no tackling and offensive players are considered out when touched or tagged below the neck. This is one reason why seven on seven can be modified for families to play. It’s just a tad easier than the real thing, especially for younger kids.
What you will see when watching seven on seven football will not be a whole lot different from regular football except that the players won’t be wearing gear and, again, they won’t be doing much tackling. Seven on seven football is designed to test the players’ routing and passing. Without the gear and the worry about being tackled, it provides a perfect opportunity for players to really practice their running and passing game. Plus, with no tackling, there is a minimal risk of injury to the players.
While most football games are about sixty minutes long, seven on seven football games are usually half that time (twenty to thirty minutes long). Seven on seven is played on a forty-yard field (usually a forty-yard segment of a regulation 100-yard field), although some leagues do choose to make use of additional space. Families and casual players can just use empty fields or backyards if that’s easier for them.
The Rules
The games are most commonly played on a forty-yard field in about 20-30 minutes. The teams are usually comprised of 10-14 players. As the name suggests, only seven players are allowed on the field at once per team. There are seven defenders and six offensive players with one player to snap.
A coin will be tossed to determine which team will start with possession of the ball. Possessions will all start on the forty-yard line when going in for the first time. The official’s whistle will announce both the beginning of the game and the end of the game. The clock will never stop unless an injury has been inflicted or the referee calls a timeout. An official will usually announce when the clock is under two minutes.
Referees will keep the score and time on the field for each game. The players are not typically required to wear any kind of gear, but they are required to wear a soft helmet at all times. Players will not be allowed to participate without one, the quarterback (QB) being the only exception to the rule.
The offensive team will, as mentioned before, start the game on the forty-yard line with their choice of hash, and the same is true after any change in possession. Every single snap at the forty-yard line must be made off the QB-TEE and not as a shotgun. The offensive team has three tries to gain their first down. The markers for the first down will usually be at the twenty-five and ten-yard lines. Once the offensive team has made it inside the ten-yard line, they will have three tries to make a touchdown.
The quarterback will always be the first person to control the football after it comes off the QB-TEE. The quarterback will never be eligible to run and is only allowed to make one exchange (pass, handoff, toss, etc.) during a down. This means no toss passes, hook and ladder, or reverses. The team may run the ball as many times as they want to during any down of the game, but the quarterback cannot.
Positions and Tournaments
The first position, as you have probably guessed, is the offensive position, which is made up of a center, a quarterback, and a receiver/back. The center’s job is to snap the ball at the beginning of the game. The center is the only player that remains ineligible throughout the game. The center will deliver the football through a pistol or shotgun formation and must remain in position except in the case of a turnover.
The quarterback’s job is to receive the ball from the center after the snap. After the snap, the quarterback will initiate the play through either a handoff or a pass. To be able to run across the line of scrimmage, a quarterback must first hand off the ball to another teammate and then receive a handoff or pass in return.
The rest of the players who do not initiate or receive the snap are considered to be backs or receivers. Two of these receivers must stand on either side of the line of scrimmage in a slot or running back position. Only the quarterback is allowed to line up within three yards of the center.
The defensive position is made up of seven players, all of whom are eligible to rush the quarterback. However, any players who rush the quarterback (rushers) must always be at least seven yards behind the line of scrimmage before the snap. If the field being used does not have marked lines, officials will usually be standing by to mark those lines for you.
Tournaments for seven on seven football follow the aforementioned rules. In order to join a league or watch a tournament, you will have to find a league and/or tournament near you. It may take a little time to register or take all the necessary steps, but don’t worry. It will all be worth it!