1.  Dimensions/Specs

     A.  40 yards in length – 25 & 10 are the first down lines

     B.  Between 145’ - 160’ in width

     C.  10 yards deep in End Zone

     D.  Field hash marks are of high school dimensions

 

2. Team Members

     A.  Players

1. Each team has a maximum of 24 players.  Players will not be accepted into the event as individuals.  All players must be a part of a team.

2. Teams are not required to utilize an offensive center.

3. If utilizing one, the offensive center is not an eligible receiver.

4. The center will be responsible for setting or re-positioning the football at the line of scrimmage. If no center, the QB will be responsible.

5. Age Requirements - Every player must have a valid player card which certifies birth date (using birth certificate) before participating in the event.

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• 18U Division (Varsity):

1. Players must be 18 years of age or younger on January 1 of current year.

2. Players that are 19 on January 1 are ineligible for the 18U Division. (All players must be under the age of 19. Seniors are eligible if they meet the age requirement.)

• 15U Division:

1. Players must be 15 years of age or younger on January 1 of current year.

2. Players that are 16 on January 1 are ineligible for the 15U Division.

• 14U Division:

1. Players must be 14 years of age or younger on January 1 of current year.

2. Players that are 15 on January 1 are ineligible for the 14U Division.

• 12U Division:

1. Players must be 12 years of age or younger on January 1 of current year.

2. Players that are 13 on January 1 are ineligible for the 12U Division.

• 10U Division:

1. Players must be 10 years of age or younger on January 1 of current year.

2. Players that are 11 on January 1 are ineligible for the 10U Division.

• 8U Division:

1. Players must be 8 years of age or younger on January 1 of current year.

2. Players that are 9 on January 1 are ineligible for the 8U Division.

 

     B.  Coaches

1. Each team has a maximum of 4 coaches.  Coaches will be allowed on the sidelines only during games.

2. One offensive coach may be in the huddle with players between plays but when the huddle breaks the coach must move outside the hash on the side of his team bench so as to not interfere with the operation of the official or game play.

3. Defensive coaches are not allowed on the field at any time.

 

3.  Officials

     A.  Each game will have a minimum of two (2) officials. Positions are: Referee/Field Judge and Back Judge.

     B.  Each game will have a scorekeeper/timekeeper.

     C.  Each game will have a Field Manager.

1. Field Manager will assist with crowd, player, coach, and referee control on/around the game fields.

 

4. Game Times

     A.Teams must be onsite and ready to start on time.

1. If a team is late or cannot start on time, the game clock will begin and whatever time is left on the clock will be where the game starts. The team that is late will begin on defense.

2. If a team is late by 10 minutes or more, they will forfeit the game.

     B.  Games are played with an eighteen (18) minute running clock, with last 2 minutes per regulation football.

1. After the initial 18 minutes, the last 2 minutes are played as regulation football game with clock stoppages per regulation NFHS football rules. During the last two minutes, all completions must be advanced past the line of scrimmage, otherwise the clock will stop.

     C.  One (1) timeout per team (30 sec) – during tournament bracket play only

     D.  Overtime: During tournament bracket play only

1. If overtime is required, teams will alternate three (3) plays from the ten-yard line.  Each team has an attempt to score in each overtime period.

2. Starting with the 3rd and subsequent overtimes, all PAT’s must be 2-point attempts from the 10-yard line.

3. Overtime periods are not timed.

4. Each team is awarded one timeout during overtime period.

 

5. Scoring

     A.  Six (6) points for a touchdown

     B.  One (1) point for a Point After Touchdown “PAT” from 5-yard line

     C.  Two (2) points for a PAT from 10-yard line

     D.  Two (2) Points for Defensive Stop on downs

     E.  Three (3) Points for Interception (no runbacks or “pick 6” for safety reasons)

     F.  Turnover on a PAT is dead ball (including Interception)

     G.  Official scores will be kept by field referee and displayed by sideline scorekeeper.

 

6. Penalties

     A.  Offense

1. Off-sides/False Start = Loss of Down

2. Delay of Game = Loss of Down

   • Each team will have 25 seconds to snap the ball once it has been marked ready for play; delay of game penalty will be assessed.

3. Blocking = Loss of Down

4. Pass interference = 5-yard penalty and Loss of Down

5. Fumble = dead ball; possession at spot of fumble

6. Unnecessary Roughness / Unsportsmanlike conduct = 15 yard penalty and loss of down

7. No penalty may be assessed in excess of the 40-yard line. If a penalty would move the offense beyond the 40-yard line, the offensive team shall be charged with a loss of down.

8. If the referee sees that the clock has exceeded 4.0 seconds, the play is blown dead. The ball should be returned to the original line of scrimmage with loss of down. If the QB proceeds to throw the ball after the play has been blown dead, a penalty for offensive delay of game will be assessed.

9. Offensive team is responsible for retrieving and returning the ball to the previous spot or the new scrimmage spot. Clock does not stop and any delay by offense in retrieving the ball will result in a delay of game.

     B.  Defense

1. Off-sides = 5-yard penalty and repeat of down

2. Defensive Holding = 5-yard penalty and first down

3. Defensive Pass Interference will be a spot foul and first down at the spot.

   • If Defensive Pass Interference occurs in the end zone, it will result in a first down at the 1-yard line.

4. Any dead ball penalty on the defense AFTER a change of possession would result in a loss of down for that team’s offense when they begin their ensuing possession.

5. Responsibility to avoid contact is with the defense. The defense is allowed an INITIAL disruption, and then must cover. Excessive or prolonged contact will result in a “tack on” penalty at the end of the play (5-yard penalty).

6. Unnecessary Roughness / Unsportsmanlike conduct = 15-yard penalty and first down

 

7. Turnovers/Dead Balls

     A.  Receiver/Ball carrier is legally down when touched below the neck with one or both hands.

1. Excessive force by shoving, pushing, or striking a blow will be penalized by automatic first down and 15 yards. Player can be expelled if ruled unsportsmanlike & flagrant.

     B.  Fumbles that hit the ground are dead balls at the spot with the Offense retaining possession.

1. A muffed snap is not a fumble/dead ball. The 4.0 second count remains in effect on snaps.

     C.  The QB is allowed 4.0 seconds to throw the ball.

1. Time starts on the snap of the ball and stops as soon as the QB releases the ball. If release is under 4.0 seconds, the play continues. Play is blown dead after 4.0 seconds.

     D.  Interceptions may not be returned – 3 points are awarded on interception.

1. Points for defensive stop and interception are not “added together”. One or the other ends a possession with defensive points.

     E.  The offense must gain at least 15 yards in the first 3 or less plays or the defense takes over.

1. No 4th downs. Three (3) downs in all zones.

 

8. Appeals

     A.  If during game play a coach disagrees with an official’s rules interpretation, they may stop the game for review with all referees.

1. Ultimately, the Lead Referee on the field has the final call.

     B.  Only the Head Coach may approach an official with a discrepancy with an official’s call. 

1. No other coaches are allowed on the field to approach officials.

     C.  For any further consideration, the coach must report all game play ruling discrepancies to the Field Manager.

1. Further consideration must be requested no more than 20 minutes after that game has ended.

2. Any reversal or game-changing decisions will be made at the Tournament Coordinators’ discretion.

 

9. Additional Game Format Rules

     A.  Pool Play - Determines bracket play seeding.

     B.  Bracket Play - Higher seed gets choice of offense/defense for opening possession.

     C.  No kicking or punting.

     D.  No blitzing.

     E.  No blocking.

     F.  No passer may run with the ball.

     G.  All passes must be thrown forward. 

1. A pass caught behind the line of scrimmage must be advanced by that receiver past the line of scrimmage in the final 2:00 minutes or the clock stops. The only laterals that will be allowed will be laterals that occur after the completion of a forward pass.

     H.  Hand offs in the backfield are not allowed.

     I.  All offensive formations must be legal sets. Receivers’ alignment should respect the tackle box.

     J.  No taunting or "trash talking." Depending on the offense a player could be removed from the game or the tournament.

     K.  Fighting: ZERO tolerance.

1. If a player throws a punch, he is ejected immediately and can NOT return to the game.

2. If players are involved in pushing or shoving, they will be ejected immediately from the game and cannot return.

3. If a team’s bench clears, resulting in a fight, both of the teams are ejected from the tournament.

4. The referee has the right to throw out any player, players, or team from the game. A referee can also give a 15-yard Unsportsmanlike Penalty.

5. The ENDZONE 7on7 staff has the right, in extreme cases, to throw out players and teams from the tournament. And they will have to leave the complex immediately.

6. If Law Enforcement is called to the tournament, it WILL result in arrest. ZERO tolerance.

 

10.  Tiebreakers

     A.  If two teams are tied at the end of Pool Play, the tiebreaker is head-to-head records.

     B.  If three or more teams are tied at the end of Pool Play, the following criteria will be used to determine winners:

1. Head-to-head records

2. Points allowed

3. Points scored

4. Coin flip

 

11.   Uniforms / Equipment

     A.  All teams are to wear their own uniforms.

     B.  Players are permitted to wear standard football cleats with plastic or rubber spikes. No metal spikes are allowed.

     C.  Mouth pieces are required for all players.

     D.  Teams may use their own balls.