Here are the official rules for 7-on-7 Football, as approved by the state's Board of Directors and endorsed by the UIL.

1.  Field Dimensions

• Field Length - 45 yds long
• Field Width - 160 ft (60 feet to hash mark, 40 feet between)
• End Zone -10 yds deep

 
2.  Starting the game

• A central time keeper will be designated. All games will begin and end on this persons instructions. He will also announce the time remaining at the 10, 5, and 2 minute mark
• Visitors will have first possession and wear white (top team in bracket or first team listed will be the visitor). The home team will have first possession the 2nd half and wear a dark color (bottom team in bracket or 2nd team listed will be the home team). NO TEAM WILL BE ALLOWED TO PARTICIPATE WITHOUT SHIRTS!
• All teams will have two jerseys (white/dark jersey, T-shirt, etc.)
• Ball always placed on right hash mark when at the 45 yard line.

 
3.  Moving the ball

• No kicking/punting.
• Field is marked at 15 yard intervals with cones. (3 first downs without a penalty would result in a touchdown).
• Possession always begins at the 45 yard line at the right hash.
• Offenses always move in the same direction
• NO PASSER MAY RUN WITH THE BALL. ALL PASSES MUST BE FORWARD.

 
4.  Special Rules

• No blocking.
• Receiver/Ball carrier is legally down when touched below the neck with one or both hands.
• Fumbles 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 affect on snaps.
• Each team will have 25 seconds to snap the ball once it has been marked ready for play; delay of game penalty will be a 5 yard penalty.
• The QB is allowed 4.0 seconds to throw the ball. The Official timekeeper starts a stopwatch on the snap of the ball from center and stops the watch as soon as the QB releases the ball.
  1. If release is under 4.0 seconds, the play goes on.
  2. If the timekeeper sees that the clock has exceeded 4.0 seconds, he waits until the play is over (the play is not blown dead), then brings the ball back to the original line of scrimmage with loss of down.
  3. Game manager - placed on the 50 yd. line to keep score for his field (both games) and to assist with crowd/player control.
• Defensive Pass Interference will be a spot foul (1st down at the spot).
• Responsibility to avoid contact is with the defense. There will be NO chucking, or deliberate bumping or grabbing. These actions will result in a "tack on" penalty at the end of the play (5-yard penalty).
• Interceptions may be returned ("no blocking" rule applies). If an interception is returned beyond the 45 yard line (the offensive origination point) it is a touchdown and point after attempt should ensue.
• 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.
• The offensive center is not an eligible receiver (teams must have a center). The center is responsible for establishing the succeeding spot as designated by the Referee.
• The center will be responsible for setting or re-positioning the Referee's bean bag at the line of scrimmage.
• The offense must gain at least 15 yards in the first 3 or less plays or the defense takes over. (There is no kicking). Four down territory occurs only after offense proceeds to or inside the 15-yard line cone (third quadrant).

 
5.  Scoring

• 6 points for TD, 1 point for PAT from 3 yard line, 2 point PAT from 10 yard line
       (interception on PAT is dead ball). Official score is kept by field referee and game manager.

 
6.  Tie Breaker

• After coin flip to determine first possession, teams will alternate 4 down series from the 15-yard line. A winner is determined when one team scores during its possession and the other does not. If a second overtime period is necessary, each team must then go for two points on the conversion attempts.

 
7.  Time

• 20 minute halves (continuous clock for each half--see: "starting the game").
• No time outs. (EXCEPTION: Injuries. Both games on the Field will halt until player(s) can be removed as soon as safety dictates).
• 10 minute half-time/10 minutes between games.
• 7 on 7 tournaments require that all games start/end at the same time. If a team(s) are late and cannot start when the tournament officially starts, they will begin play with whatever time is left on the tournament clock. (Not to exceed 10 minutes of 1st half. Forfeit will occur after 10 minutes of the 1st half) IT IS IMPERATIVE TO KEEP TO THE TOURNAMENT TIME SCHEDULE. Teams must be on site and ready to play when scheduled. Injury time outs may reduce the amount of time between halves and/or between games to maintain the game schedules.

 
9.  Tournament

• Maximum of 20 players per team. Minimum of 12 players.
• Each participant must pay $10 to play in a state qualifying tournament ($200 for a team of 20 members, $120 minimum)

 
10.  Coaches-Fathers.

• No high school coach may serve as a coach or stand with the team on the sideline.
• Each team must have a coach accompany it to any/all events to serve as a school Administrator on duty for their particular team(s).

INTERNET VISITORS SIGN IN