7on7 Association Rules and Policies

GENERAL RULES

·       Soft shell helmets are required.  They must be strapped and velcroed during game play.  QBs do not need to wear one.

·       Mouthpieces are required.  Players must have them in during game play.  QBs do not need to wear one.

·       We have a zero-tolerance policy when it comes to fighting.  Any punches or kicks will be an automatic ejection from the game AND tournament. Final judgment will be made by Field Supervisor and head 7on7 Association staff.

·       Offense can spot the ball on the hash or in the middle of the field for each snap.

·       No double passes.

·       Every team is guaranteed 4 games: 3 in pool play and 1 in elimination rounds.

·       All games are 20 minutes in length with a running clock.

·       Ball starts on the 40-yard line.  Offense has 3 plays to get to the 25-yard line.  From there 3 plays to get to the 10-yard line.  And from there 3 plays to score.

·       QB has 4 seconds to get the ball out of his hand.  If any part of the ball is still contacting QBs hand when buzzer goes off, it is a sack.

·       QB Tees are used to spot the center and LOS.  Countdown stopwatches are used by our back ref to determine sacks.

·       All passes must be thrown past the LOS unless they are thrown outside the tackle-to-tackle box.

·       In elimination games the clock stops for a 2-point conversion attempt with less than 2 minutes remaining in the game(unless the game is not within 14 points).  The clock will then restart on the snap of the next offensive play.

·       In elimination rounds, the clock will stop in the final 15 seconds after a TD if the game is within 8 points.  The clock will start on snap of the next offensive play and continue running until game is over unless a timeout is called or there is a defensive penalty which would result in 1 untimed down.

·       A game cannot end on a defensive penalty.  If it does occur it will be enforced against the defense and then there will be an untimed down to end the game.

·       A game can end on an offensive penalty because the clock stays running.

·       If an inadvertent whistle is blown by a ref while still in the QBs hands, the play will be a do-over.  If a whistle in inadvertently blown while a player is running with the ball, the ball will be spotted down at the exact location the ball carrier was when the whistle blew.

·       Players are allowed to play on multiple teams in a tournament.  It cannot be in the same age division though.  If this occurs, all teams the player has participated with will forfeit all games and be ejected from the tournament.

·       If a parent that is not a coach on the coaches roster given to us before the tournament steps foot on the playing field during a game for any reason, it is an automatic unsportsmanlike conduct penalty on that team.  A 2nd offense by any parent or fan of that team is an unsportsmanlike conduct and the ejection from the facility of the offender.  If they refuse to leave, the team automatically forfeits the game.

·       Players are allowed to play up in higher age divisions.  Players are not allowed to play down at younger age divisions.  If this occurs it will immediately result in the ejection of that entire program from the 7on7 Association.

·       If a QB passes the LOS scrimmage before throwing, it is a dead ball and play over.

·       If an object or person interferes during a play, regardless of the result of the play, it will be a do-over on the down.

·       7on7 Association staff reserves the right to make any judgement decisions for situations that are not listed or covered in our rules and policies.

FUMBLES

·       If a ball carrier fumbles the whistle is immediately blown and play called dead.  The ball is spotted where the fumble occurred for the next play.

·       No one can recover a fumble

·       If a QB drops the snap and picks it up before it crosses the LOS, the ball is still live until the 4 second clock beeps

·       If a QB drops the snap and it crosses the LOS, the ball is dead and play over. 

REFEREES

·       Pool play games will have 2-3 refs plus a field supervisor.

·       Elimination games will have 2-4 refs plus a field supervisor.

·       Refs get graded based on feedback from coaches, field supervisors, and 7on7 Association staff assessments.

·       Highest rated refs will be given elimination round games to do.

FIELD SUPERVISORS

·       There will be a field supervisor for every field.

·       A field supervisor assures all penalties called are enforced properly.

·       Any issue a coach or player has during a game should be addressed to the field supervisor.

·       A field supervisor cannot make standard calls or overturn calls made by the refs in a game.

·       A field supervisor does have the ability to penalize a team for unsportsmanlike conduct by a player, coach, or parent.

·       In extreme circumstances a field supervisor can eject a player, coach, or parent from a game or for the tournament.

BLOCKING

·       As a safety measure the offense is not permitted to block

·       1st offense results in the play being called dead and ball spotted where the ball carrier was when the block occurred.

·       2nd offense will result in the ball going back to the LOS and a loss of down.

·       If the 2nd offense occurs on 3rd down, it will result in a turnover on downs.

STARTING GAMES

·       Teams have 5 minutes from completion of previous game to start of new game.

·       Captains will be called immediately following previous game.

·       Pool Play: Captains will do Rock-Paper-Scissors to determine who gets ball.

·       Elimination: Highest seed gets ball first.

·       Overtime: Captains will do Rock-Paper-Scissors to determine who gets ball.

·       Teams must be set up on opposite sidelines before the game can start.

·       If a team is playing back-to-back games, they stay on the current sideline.

COACHES

·       Defensive coaches are not allowed to be on the field.  They can be on the sideline or behind the back of the endzone.

·       An offensive coach can be in the huddle and on the field with the offense.

·       Only 1 coach for the offense is allowed on the field.

·       The offensive coach on the field is allowed to audible and talk to his kids at the LOS.

·       An offense must wait until the offense of the opponent gets a first down past the 25-yard line before they can walk out onto the field. They must remain behind the 40-yard line.

TIMEOUTS

·       No timeouts in pool play games.

·       Each team receives 1 timeout in elimination round games in the final two minutes of the game.

·       No timeouts in overtime, it must be used in regulation.

·       Timeouts are 30 seconds in length and the clock starts on the next offensive snap.

BLITZ

·       There are no blitzes allowed.

RUNS

·       There are no runs allowed.

FORMATIONS

·       We do not enforce numbers on the LOS or players being covered up with alignments.

·       Offense cannot load 5 players to one side.  Either by alignment or motion to/away from it. First offense will be a replay of the down.  Second offense will be a loss of down.  If it occurs on 3rd down, it will result in a turnover on downs.

MOTIONS

·       Illegal motion is an automatic loss of down.

·       If committed on 3rd down it results in a turnover on downs.

·       Offensive players can move and reset.

·       A player in motion can go sideways or backwards.

·       If a player in motion angles, leans, or starts moving forward it is a penalty.

CELEBRATIONS

·       Absolutely no “sprinkling” or making any kind of contact with an opponent or invading their space. If this occurs the players involved will be ejected from the game.  If it happens after the game, the players involved will be ineligible for the next game. If as a result a team does not have enough players to compete in the next game, it will result in a forfeit.

·       After a score (TD or 2 point-conversion) there is a 5 second celebration window and then a 10 second wait until offense can snap the ball.

·       There is no launching, throwing, or kicking the ball in celebration of an interception by the defense.  This will be a penalty for unsportsmanlike conduct and result in that teams offense losing their first down on the upcoming offensive possession (they will start on 2nd down at the 40 yard line).

·       A penalty will be called if an offensive player throws the ball at an opponent after scoring a TD.  A flag will also be thrown for any cursing at opposing teams players, coaches, or parents.  These penalties will result in the opposing offense starting on the 30-yard line with a 1st and 5.

TAUNTING

·       A player can have a flag thrown for taunting and it is enforced as an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty.

·       A coach can have a flag thrown for taunting and it is enforced as an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty.

·       A parent can have a flag thrown for taunting and it is enforced as an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty.

·       A 2nd flag for the same thing results in an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty plus an ejection. 

INJURIES

·       The game clock continues to run in pool play for an injury.

·       The game clock stops for an injury in elimination rounds.  It starts back up on the next offensive snap.

DIVING

·       Diving or leaving feet to make a tag on defense or reach the ball forward on offense is not permitted.

·       If an offensive player leaves his feet and dives forward, the play will be blown dead at the spot he left his feet.

·       If a defensive player dives to make a tag, the runner can continue until tagged.  A 1st warning will be given to the defense.

·       A 2nd offense will result in an unsportsmanlike penalty called (unless declined by offense).

·       Offensive players can reach the ball forward if he is upright and on both feet.

·       Offensive and defensive players CAN leave their feet to dive to catch or bat down a ball.

FALSE STARTS

·       False start penalties result in a loss of down.

·       False start on a 3rd down results in a turnover on downs.

PASS INTERFERENCE

·       Offensive pass interference is a loss of 10 yards and a replay of the down.

·       If offensive pass interference occurs from the 40-yard line it is a loss of down.

·       If offensive pass interference occurs from the 40-yard line and it is 3rd down, the result is a turnover on downs.

·       Defensive pass interference is an automatic 1st down at the spot of the foul.

·       Defensive pass interference occurring in the endzone results in an automatic 1st down and the ball being spotted at the 1-yard line.

·       A defensive player is allowed to jam the offensive player within the first 5 yards of the LOS.

·       If contact is made past 5 yards it will be considered a holding penalty.  That results in 5 yards from the LOS and an automatic first down.

·       If contact is made past 5 yards and the ball is thrown to that specific receiver, it will be called a pass interference.  That results in a spot foul and an automatic first down.

·       1st offense of an offensive pass interference on a 2-point conversion results in the ball being moved back 5 yards to the 15-yard line and the down being replayed.  If a 2nd offense occurs, the 2-point PAT is no good.

·       1st offense of a defensive pass interference on a 2-point conversion results in the ball being moved to the 5-yard line and the down being replayed.  If a 2nd offense occurs, the ball is moved to the 1-yard line.  If a 3rd defensive pass interference is called it results in the offense automatically awarded the 2-point conversion.

DELAY OF GAME

·       Offense has 35 seconds from the end of the previous play to snap the next play.

·       The back ref in the secondary will keep this clock every play.  With 10 seconds left, they will call it out.  With 5 seconds left they will raise their arm and count down to 0 before blowing the whistle and throwing a flag.

·       A delay of game results in a loss of down.

·       Delay of game on 3rd down results in a turnover on downs.

·       No delay of games in overtime.

UNSPORTSMANLIKE CONDUCT

·       If called against the offense it is a 10-yard penalty and a loss of down.

·       If on the 40 yard line it is just a loss of down.

·       If on the 40 yard line and it is 3rd down, it is a turnover on downs.

·       If called against the defense it is a 10-yard penalty and an automatic first down(inside 10-yard line ball is placed half the distance to the goal line).

·       If any player receives a 2nd unsportsmanlike conduct in the same game, he will be ejected for the remainder of the game.

·       All coaches will be given a verbal warning by the ref/field supervisor before having a penalty called.  After that, a 1st offense results in an unsportsmanlike penalty against their team.  A 2nd offense results in an unsportsmanlike penalty plus that coach being ejected for the game.

 OFFSIDES/8-MEN ON THE FIELD

·       8-Men on offense is a loss of down.

·       8-Men on defense is a 5-yard penalty and replay down(offense can decline).

·       Offensive offsides is a loss of down.

·       Defensive offsides is a 5-yard penalty and replay of down.

HELMET/MOUTHPIECE

·       All helmets must be worn, strapped, velcroed and located under the chin to avoid an unsportsmanlike penalty.

·       All mouthpieces must be used in game play to avoid an unsportsmanlike penalty.

·       1st offense results in a team warning.

·       A 2nd offense will result in an unsportsmanlike penalty,

·       A 3rd offense will result in an unsportsmanlike penalty and the players ejection from the game.

SCORING

·       TDs are 6 points.

·       The offense can take the automatic 1-point or go for a 2-point conversion from the 10-yard line.

·       Offenses can choose where they want the ball spotted for a 2-point conversion attempt.

·       INTs are 3 points.

·       No returns on INTs.

·       No points are given for any defensive stops.

HUDDLE

·       Offense can have up to 8 players in the backfield.

·       Offensive subs in the backfield must be 5 yards behind QB and need to take a knee.

·       If offense breaks the huddle and then substitutes, the defense gets 5 seconds to match.

·       If offense breaks the huddle with more than 6 players, it is given a warning.  A 2nd offense results in a loss of down penalty.  If this occurs on 3rd down it is a turnover on downs.

OVERTIME

·       All tied scores at the end of regulation go to overtime.

·       Captains will be called to do Rock-Paper-Scissors for ball.

·       Winner chooses offense or defense.  Whatever they choose and announce is final, no changes.

·       Each team gets exactly 1 offensive play from the 40-yard line.

·       Longest yardage wins.

·       Any INT is an automatic game winner.

·       If another overtime is required the team on defense first now goes to offense first.

·       A 2nd round of overtime starts at the top again and captains are called out.  We repeat this process until there is a winner.

·       No Blitz, Handoff, or Timeout in overtime.

·       There is no game clock or play clock in overtime.  There is still a 4 second QB timer.

·       Illegal motion or a false start by the offense results in a loss of down.

·       Offensive pass interference is a replay of down.  A 2nd consecutive violation is a turnover on downs.  If a defensive pass interference occurs and the ball is moved up, then an offensive pass interference takes place, the ball will be moved back 10 yards and the down replayed.  2nd consecutive offense results in a turnover on downs.

·       A defensive holding is a 5-yard penalty and replay of the down.  For that yardage to count, the offense must gain at least 1 yard on the next play.  The total yardage is credited wherever the offensive player gets tagged.

·       A defensive pass interference gets spotted where the penalty occurred.  For that yardage to count, the offense must gain at least 1 yard on the next play.

·       Offense can decline a defensive holding or pass interference call and take the yardage gained on the play.

MEDIA

·       Anyone on the field taking pictures or getting video must be on the coach/media list given to us before the tournament.

·       Any media representative for a program is not allowed to do any coaching, or have any communication with the refs or opposing team.  A warning will be given.  A 2nd offense results in an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty for the team they are part of, as well as their rights to on field access stripped for the tournament.

·       The only media allowed to be on the defensive side of the field is our own 7on7 Association staff, both photographers and videographers.