1. Field Dimensions/Specs 

a. 40 yards in length – 40, 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 

  • i. 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. 

  • ii. Teams are not required to utilize an offensive center. 

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

• 2. The center will be responsible for setting or repositioning the football at the line of scrimmage. If no  

• center, the QB will be responsible. 

  • iii. Boys Only 

  • iv. Age Requirements - Every player must produce a copy of their  original birth certificate before participating in the event. 

    • 1. 18U Division (Varsity): 2025 Update 

      • 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.) ​

• 2. 15U Division: 2025 Update 

  • 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. 

• 3. 14U Division: 2025 Update 

  • 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. 

• 4. 12U Division: 2025 Update 

  • 1. Players must be 14 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. 

• 5. 10U Division: 2025 Update 

  • 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. ​

• b. Coaches 

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

  • ii. 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. iii. 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. Field Manager – will be assigned to each field to 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. 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. 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. 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. Sacks in the last two minutes  stop the clock as well. 

• c. 1 timeout per team (30 sec) – during tournament bracket play only d. Overtime: During tournament bracket play only 

  • i. 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. 

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

  • iii. Overtime periods are not timed. 

  • iv. Each team is awarded one timeout during overtime period. 

 

5. Scoring 

• a. Six (6) points for a touchdown 

• b. One (1) point for a PAT from 3-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 INT) 

• g. Official scores will be kept by field referee and sideline scorekeeper.

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6. Penalties 

• a. Offense 

  • i. Off-sides = Loss of Down 

  • ii. Delay of Game = Loss of Down 

• 1. 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. 

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

  • iv. 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. 

  • v. 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. 

  • vi. 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 and returning the ball TO THE REFEREE will result in a delay of game and will be a 5-yard penalty from the succeeding spot. vii. If defensive holding occurs on the same play as a sack, the  defense will be penalized and the sack is void. 

• b. Defense 

  • i. Off-sides = 5-yard penalty 

  • ii. Defensive Holding = 5-yard penalty 

  • iii. Defensive Pass Interference will be a spot foul (1st down at the  spot). 

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

  • iv. 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.​

  • v. 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). 

 

7. Turnovers/Deadballs 

• a. Receiver/Ball carrier is legally down when touched below the neck with  one or both hands. (Excessive force by shoving, pushing, or striking a  blow will be penalized by automatic first down and 5 yards. Player can  be expelled if ruled unsportsmanlike & flagrant). 

• b. Fumbles that hit the ground are dead balls at the spot with the last team  retaining possession. 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. 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. 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. No 4th downs. (3) downs in all zones. 

 

8. Appeals 

• a. If during game play a coach or player disagrees with an official’s  judgment call, they may not dispute that call with the official at that  time. 

• b. If during game play a coach or player disagrees with a rules  interpretation, they may stop the game to determine with the officials  and field manager 

• c. For consideration, the coach must report all game play ruling  discrepancies to the Field Manager no more than 20 minutes after that  game has ended. Any reversal or game-changing decisions will be made  at the Field Manager’s discretion.

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9. Additional Game Format Rules 

• a. Pool Play. 

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

• c. No kicking or punting. 

• d. No passer may run with the ball. 

• e. All passes must be thrown forward. 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. 

• f. Hand offs in the backfield are not allowed. 

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

• h. No blocking. 

• i. No taunting or "trash talking." (Depending on the offense a player could  be removed from the game or the tournament.) 

• j. Fighting: ZERO tolerance. If a player throws a punch, he is ejected  immediately and can NOT return to the game. If players are involved in  pushing or shoving, they will be ejected immediately from the game and  cannot return. If a team’s bench clears, resulting in a fight, both of the  teams are ejected from the tournament. The referee has the right to  throw out any player, players, or team from the game. A referee can also  give a 15 yard un-sportsman penalty. 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. 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: 

• i. Head-to-head records 

• ii. Points allowed 

• iii. Points scored 

• iv. Coin flip 

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11. Uniforms 

• 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.

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