7-ON-7 | Wanna know more about it? Here’s your guide, before the state tourney starts Thursday

EDITOR’S NOTE: In this story, we once again explain more about the rules and format of 7-on-7 football. For the news on this year’s state tournament, as far as starting times, pools for different teams, and so on, go here: 7-ON-7 STATE TOURNEY PREVIEW: Who’s in the pool with Kilgore, who from East Texas is in: your need-to-knows.

So, you’ve never been to a 7-on-7 football game, let alone the state tournament, and you don’t know what to expect.

We’re about to fill you in.

With Kilgore headed back to the Texas State 7-on-7 Tournament in College Station on Thursday, then competing there two days (Thursday and Friday) at Veterans Park and Athletic Complex, we want you to be as prepared as possible for what you’ll see.

Some of this has appeared on ETBlitz.com before; if you’re a 7-on-7 veteran, you probably won’t want to re-read it. Our apologies. This story may not be for you. If you want a refresher, though, read on.

1. Where’s Veterans Park and Athletic Complex? Well, it’s at 3101 Harvey Road, College Station, Texas, 77845, to be specific, about a 3-hour, 8-minute drive from Kilgore.
2. What does it cost to get into the Texas State 7-on-7 Tournament? Nothing; admission is free.
3. Do they have concession stands? They did last year, but you’re encouraged to bring your own water, just in case. It gets awfully hot. There’s a lot of walking, normally, because…
4. What’s the format? Kilgore, and all of the teams, will play pool games on Thursday, three, to be exact. Kilgore’s first pool game is Thursday at 10:45 a.m. Then on Friday, beginning at 8:45 a.m., they’ll begin bracket play. Once bracket play begins, it’s single elimination. You can’t lose, or you’re out.
5. How long is each game? Games are 15-minute halves, so roughly 30 minutes, and there are no time-outs except in the case of injuries.
6. Is there tackling? No, 7-on-7 is touch only. There is no blocking, and no tackling; the ball-carrier or receiver is down when touched with a hand, or two hands.
7. Exactly how “fast-paced” is this? The offense has 40 seconds between plays to snap the ball, and the clock starts as soon as an official rules a play dead. And you’d better stick to it, because two delay-of-game penalties on the same possession is a turnover.
8. What is this about a passing league? 7-on-7 is strictly a passing league. Running plays aren’t called, and the quarterback cannot scramble. Quarterbacks are allowed four seconds to throw the ball, and there is an official timekeeper. If he goes over that four seconds and throws the ball, then regardless of the result of the gain, the ball comes back to the original line of scrimmage.
9. What is this about the field being shorter? The field that the 7-on-7 game is played is just 45 yards long, and 160 feet wide, so when played on a regular 100-yard football field, cones are used to mark off the dimensions. So two games are normally played at once, and that’s what will happen at the state tournament this week.
10. Do they wear helmets or pads? No. Players were soft-shell helmets and wear mouthpieces – there’s no sideline-to-player communication devices in the helmets.
11. If there are no kickoffs or punts, and no field goals, how is possession determined? Possessions begin at the 45-yard-line, and both offenses in a game move in the same direction downfield. You can’t have two forward passes on one play, but laterals are permitted.
12. Who coaches this? The regular, normal high school coaches don’t coach. They can sit in the end zones, but on the sidelines are others who can coach, typically former players. Last year, Kilgore’s coach was former KHS running back Isaiah Ross. Each team does have to have a coach accompany them to events, to serve as an administrator.