Complete Rules Document For 2023
7v7 specific rules
Special Rules:
1. NO blocking is allowed in the game. This means shielding, picking or obstructing. Once a pass is completed all offensive players are required to stop moving in their existing location.
1.1 Blocking will result in a loss of down and return to the previous spot.
2. Face guarding is allowed however, pass interference rules will apply for contact that obstructs the receiver.
3. The ball carrier is legally down when touched below the neck with one hand. A defender may leave his feet to make a tag.
5. Fumbles (including snap) are dead balls at the spot with the offensive team retaining possession at the spot. The ball is turned over if the offensive team is out of downs and did not make a first down.
6. Offensive teams will have 25 seconds to put the ball into play. Delay of game is a loss of down.
7. The offensive team is responsible for retrieving and returning the ball to the official. The clock does not stop, and any delay of the offense in retrieving and returning the ball to the official will result in delay of game.
8. Defensive pass interference or defensive holding will result in a first down at the next first down marker regardless of the distance of the foul from the next first down marker. If the foul occurs when the offense is within the 10 yard line, the offense is granted first down at the 1 yard line.
9. Offensive pass interference will result in a return to the previous spot plus a loss of down.
10. The QB is allowed 4.0 seconds to throw the ball. Referees will stop play if 4.0 seconds are surpassed. Only when the defense blitzes the 4.0 second clock is not in play meaning the QB can avoid the rush for as many seconds as needed but he is still not allowed to run past the line of scrimmage.
11. The defense is allowed one (1) blitz in the entire game (including overtime), meaning if you don’t blitz during the 25 minute game it carries over to overtime, but if you used your blitz in the 25 minute game you do not have a blitz for overtime.
12. An interception will result in an immediate stoppage of play and a change of possession, with the interception team gaining possession at the 40 yard line.
13. Excessive celebration is not allowed and will not be tolerated. If a team clears the sideline to celebrate a touchdown and delay the game, they will be penalized a first down on defense on the next opponent’s offensive drive/possession. If on an extra point, the team will be penalized a first down on defense and the extra point will not count.
14. A game cannot end on a defensive penalty. If this occurs, the offense will have an untimed down if time has expired. The down will be played from the location of the assessed penalty meaning the first down location that the ball will be placed will be the location of the one untimed down.
15. Fighting will not be tolerated. If a player throws a punch, they are ejected immediately and can NOT return to the game. If players are involved in pushing or shoving the initial incident will be penalized as a loss of down on the offensive team or first down on the defensive team. However, if the issue persists, participating players will be ejected immediately from the game and cannot return for the rest of the game. If a team’s bench clears, resulting in a fight, both teams are ejected, resulting in a forfeit of the game by both teams. The referee has the right to eject any player, players, or team from the game for fighting. The Iowa 7v7 staff has the right in extreme cases to expel players and teams from the remainder of the tournament. The expelled group will have to leave the complex immediately and not return to the event.
SCORING AND POINT VALUES:
1. Offensive touchdown is worth 6 points.
1.1 Teams may choose to take 1 point
1.2 Teams may choose to run a play from the 10 yard line for a chance to score 2 extra points. If the team succeeds the total is 8 points. If the extra point fails the team does not get any more than the base 6 points added to their score.
3. Tiebreaker victory = 1 point.
4. The ball must be touching or across the goal line for a touchdown to be scored. If it is deemed by the officials that the ball was caught by a player whose body is in the end zone, but the ball did not touch the goal line before the player with possession is touched down by a defender. It is not a score. The ball is placed short of the goal line.
5. The defense is awarded 2 points for intercepting the ball and awarded the ball at the 40 yard line. There are NO interception returns. The whistle is blown when the interception is completed
PENALTIES:
Offensive Penalties – Ball placement – Assessed Result
False Start/Illegal Motion – Line of Scrimmage – Loss of Down
Delay in Game – Line of Scrimmage – Loss of Down
Blocking – Line of Scrimmage Loss of Down
Definition: The offensive player obstructs one or more defensive players from closing in and or tagging an offensive player that is an active ball carrier.
Pass Interference Line of Scrimmage Loss of Down
Unnecessary Roughness – LOS Loss of Down
Illegal Play – Loss of Down
Un-Sportsman – 15 Yards Loss of Down
Defense Penalties – Assessed Result
Encroachment/ Neutral zone – 5 yards and repeat the down unless the yardage results in a first down
Holding Defense- First down at the next first down marker or at the 1 if inside of the 10 yard line.
Pass Interference – First down at the next first down marker or at the 1 if inside of the 10 yard line.
Unnecessary Roughness – First down at the next first down marker or at the 1 if inside of the 10 yard line.
Illegal Blitz – 5 yards and repeat the down unless the yardage results in a first down
Unsportsmanlike conduct – First down at the next first down marker or at the 1 if inside of the 10 yard line.
Eligibility
Multiple Teams in the same event:
Organizations with multiple teams in the same age group: During check-in, each player will be given a different color wristband to represent their team. Once a team is eliminated from tournament play that disqualifies those players on the losing team from further play during that day. Wristbands are not interchangeable among players. All players from multi-team organizations must have a wristband to be eligible to compete. This will be monitored by Field Generals and tournament staff. Any players/teams that are caught switching wristbands or competing without a wristband will be automatically eliminated from the tournament. PLAYERS CANNOT PLAY ON MORE THAN ONE TEAM FOR THE ENTIRETY OF THE EVENT.
Age Rules For Iowa 7v7 Football
Reasoning:
- It’s not easy to verify a grade but I can verify an age
- If the age is cut-off is set for the end of the season there is still a chance that a kid could age out during the season
- If we set the age cut-off for before the event is played we would be spending hours checking birth certificates and licenses.
Age cut off
We have followed other 7v7 organizations and set the cut-off for the beginning of the year as the season does run spring through summer so valid ages will be applied to the entire season. So a player is the age they were January 1 of the current year.
Application of the cut-off rule
High School – 18U Division
– No player that is older than 18 on 12/31 of the previous year is eligible to play. Your age must be 18 or younger as of January 1 of the current season.
Freshman – 15u Division
Players must be 15 or younger on January 1 of the current year
Middle School Division – 14U Division
Players must be 14 or younger on January 1 of the current year.
Youth Division – 12U
Players must be 12 or younger on January 1 of the current year.
Child Division – 10U
Players must be 10 or younger on January 1 of the current year.
Age Verification during events
Coaches are asked to keep a binder or some sort of media with them containing identifying copies of information for all team participants.
Acceptable forms of identification documents printed or digital
- Birth Certificate
- Drivers License
- School ID with Birthdate
- State ID
Football Sizes
3-4th grade – TDJ
5-6th grade – TDJ
7-8th grade – TDY
Freshmen and High school – Regulation NFHS ball